A Year of Increase! Matthew 6:31-34
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Jesus is saying that open-ended questions aren’t healthy when the question is tied to fear. Eat. Drink. Wear. Listen, Corporations aren’t looking for someone to ask questions. No, Corporations look for solutions to the questions! Jesus Christ is the answer to every question! Jesus is saying if you will trust in me you do not have to worry about food, water, shelter or clothing! He’s saying only Gentiles (pagans) worry, and worry and faith are oxymoron!
Listen to vs. 32b For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
This year, let us stop pursuing dead issues; (Here’s 3 things we have to do) admit them, quit them and forget them!
Admit them: I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Quit them: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (No other option!)
Forget them: Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Suppose someone offered us a tremendous sum of money, perhaps billions of dollars, but the exact amount would be determined by how well we could learn to speak German in two month’s time. We would embark on the most intense crash-course program of learning in our life! We would study from morning to night, burn the midnight oil, listen to language tapes, carry flash cards wherever we went, and seek out fluent German-speakers so we could practice with them. During those two months, no one could drag us near a time-wasting television program. We would probably allow nothing to interfere other than necessary physical activities to sustain life itself. All for money!
Jesus say’s, seek first, be diligent, love Me, worship Me, and I will bring addition to you!
Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
To delight in the Lord means to, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with. Have contentment. Be in peace. To delight!
Every day another 24 hours or 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds is credited to our account, and we have to spend them.
Remember Matthew 25: 1-13 Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Jesus is talking about His kingdom. He’s got one thing on His mind and that is His kingdom!
Ten virgins- five wise and five foolish!
Five foolish took their lamps but no extra oil! The five wise virgins took their lamps and their vessels of oil!
While the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (They weren’t perfect.)
Verse 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’
The five wise arouse and trimmed their wicks and poured some more oil!
The five fools ask for oil too late! When they came back the door was shut, and Jesus said, I do not know you!
God’s desire is to give you increase, but can you receive it?
I Am Second’ Campaign Puts God First
If you happen to drive in and around the Dallas area, you may notice billboards with both famous and non-famous individuals proclaiming that ‘I am second.’ The billboard campaign comes from a nondenominational ministry in Plano, Texas. Its aim is to remind individuals that God should come first in our lives. Individuals participating in the ads include Josh Hamilton, Joe Gibbs, Steven Baldwin, Darrell Waltrip, and others.
Instead of struggling to change what can’t be changed, let God’s transforming power sweep through our lives and sever the ties between you and all those tormenting thoughts from your past. Let them go today in Jesus’ Name!
Prayer
