Mars Hill Fellowship

The Seat Belongs to God

SERIES |

Navigating Through The Ups and Downs of real.life

SCRIPTURE |

Matthew 6:19-21; 6:25-34

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.  Last week, we focused on the principle that: How we appraise our value in God’s sight determines the quality of life that we live on this earth. By nature, we choose our actions based upon our perceived appraisal of worth. Therefore, those who understand their own value and worth in God’s sight will trust in His abundant care throughout the ups and downs of life.

II.   In this discourse, Jesus asks a very important rhetorical question. “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25)

1. This question is not an attempt to devalue or sway individuals against food or clothes. Rather, Jesus is making a case for His extraordinary care for His people by stating a logical deduction.
2. PROOF:  If God makes provision for life and our body then He will also make provision for our daily necessities (food and our clothes).

III.   Later, in verse 30, Jesus asks another fundamental question: Will [God] not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)

1. Ultimately, God allows us to go through circumstances to reveal the true condition of our heart.
2. The source of much of our worry is really rooted in a fundamental question of the heart – Does God really care about me? As a corollary, we also must wrestle with whether our faith is strong enough to trust in God’s promises above the weightiness of our circumstances.
1. The measuring line of whether God cares about us is not based on the presence of temporary thrills, material accumulation or a perceived level of comfortability. We can determine whether God care by His faithfulness.

IV.   Understanding the riches of our value to God

1. Our value is not only evident in God’s actions towards us but also in how He has created us. Psalms 139:13-18 records wonderful truths of our beautiful and valuable design.
2. The purpose of knowing our value is not to puff us up. Instead, Jesus uncovers our value to us so that we are not careless with whom we entrust our life to.

V.   Jesus, knowing our great value to God, could have simply forbidden us to worry and expect that we comply. However, God shared with us His instructions to not worry and also gave us (1) reasons why we shouldn’t worry and (2) instructions how not to worry.

1. What instructions does Jesus give about worry?
1. To worry means to feel distressed, agitated or to be troubled over actual or potential difficulties. (Oxford English Dictionary)
2. Jesus simply says, “^{MATTHEW 6:31} Do not worry!” Worry is different from concern. Jesus instructs us to be aware of things that are going on around us, and to share God’s heart towards those things. (Matthew 10:16; Romans 12:9)
2. Why shouldn’t we worry?
1. “^{MATTHEW 6:32} For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
2. Worry elevates our circumstances above God.  Our circumstances become idols that we serve at their feet. Pagans have a fundamental goal of getting what they want. Yet, believers recognize that they have far greater goals for which they must strive.
3. Worry devalues our trust in God’s faithfulness. Jesus declared that “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Jesus knows and is concerned with our deepest needs.
3. How do we avoid worry?
1. It is impossible to avoid worry by (1) avoiding everything natural or (2) removing all expectations of God so that we are not disappointed. The only antidote to worry is to replacing worry with faith
2. STEP 1: Know your value to God and constantly affirm that He cares for you throughout the ups and downs of life.
3. STEP 2: Entrust God with the care for your life. Let Him be Lord! Something of great value cannot be entrusted to anyone/anything. If we are not vigilant, we will entrust our lives to the Lordship of self, riches, approval by others or ambition, to name a few.
1. We entrust God with our lives when we: ³³ Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

1. We seek him first …. With our time (Ephesians 5:15-16)
2. We seek him first …. With our talents (1 Corinthians 12:7)
3. We seek him first …. With our resources (Proverbs 3:9)
4. We seek him first …. With our choices (Proverbs 3:5-6)
5. We seek him first …. With our attitude (Psalms 42:5)

1. Worry is inevitable when we refuse to entrust God with our lives and instead put self, people, or things in the seat of responsibility that ultimately only belongs to God.

Sermon: The Seat Belongs to God