Matthew Chapters 6 thru 16-34

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Mathew 6:16-18 Mathew chapters 5, 6, 7

Please read Mathew 6:16-18 first,

The first two verses Mathew 6:16-18 are about fasting. I can tell you right off I am terrible at fasting. I have tried sometimes successfully and other times not so much. I have done it for doctors but that doesn’t count. You can fast for a meal, all meals, it has even been suggested to me that you can fast from other things. Things like Television, internet or other daily enjoyments that you give up to please God. That kind of fasting may not be what the Lord was looking for, but if that is what you can do then try.

What Jesus is saying is do not show others that your are fasting. Make yourself look good as if it were a normal day. Again, this is between you and the Lord. If there are physical reasons you cannot fast with food then use the alternatives, a meal, or television. I am sure that the Lord will understand your predicament.

Matthew 6:19-22 These verse are wonderful. They are not suggesting that you sell everything you have and live on the street. What you have should be shared or used by the Lord. When I was young we had a house of about 850 square feet. Small by todays standards and there were 4 of us all together, Mom, Dad, my sister and I. We had missionaries stay there frequently. Basically we had a bed in the basement and myself and my sister would be down there for a few days. Now compare that to the most expensive estate for sale in America, $150 million dollars and 53,000 square feet.  Feed my Starving Children can make 535,714,285 meals for that kind of money that’s 1,467,710 meals a day. Do you think that would help? do you think the world know more about Christ because of a Christian charity?

Matthew 6:24-26

I printed these out because they are important. The first one is you cannot serve two masters. If money is your top priority in life where have you put God? Other things can take you attention away from God. Evaluate your life and put that before God and see what the answer is.

These verses are not saying that you should starve yourself by giving all you money away. There are biblical principles that should be followed around this about taking care of you family and church.  It also is not saying that rich people do not love God first. Bill and Melinda Gates have The Gates Foundation. I do not know where they spiritually but they are really giving back. I know most if not all of us are not that financially well off, but what can you do to help? If not money how about service in the Lords name? Things  like Stacking chairs at church, delivering meals for the elderly etc.

Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Mat 6:25  "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Mat 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

 

Matthew 6:27-34

These last verses should be read and thought about. How glorious are things such as flowers, fall leaves, the beauty of a sunset.  These verses show how God can take care of the earth. He can take care of you. Worrying about things can harm your health, finances or anything else does not make it better it only gets between you and what you should be doing. If it is health use your efforts to see if there is something you can do. It is the same for everything that you are worrying about. Will you get rid of all your worry, no most likely you will not, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Pray about it and give the worry to God. I know that is hard I experience that difficulty every day of my life, but I try so should you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Agape

Dave