MATTHEW 6:25-34
Thought 2. A man will do anything to save his body if it is threatened. Therefore, two critical questions need to be
asked.
1) Why does a man allow himself to become enslaved by possessions? If he does not have and possess, he is
miserable, sometimes to the point of being physically sick with ulcers, high blood pressure, or migraine
headaches. He is driven to seek and pursue and get. He is so enslaved that he misses out on real life.
2) Why does a man allow himself to become so enslaved to possessions that he neglects the eternal care
of his life? He seeks and pursues thing after thing...
• ignoring and neglecting God.
• failing to lay hold on eternal life.

“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which
while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves
through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay
hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses” (1 Tim.6:8-12).

3
(6:26) Necessities—Life, Necessities of: do not worry about food and shelter. God gives food and shelter to the birds of
the air. “Behold”: look at them and study them. Use your eyes and learn thoroughly—learn from what you see around
you. The providence of God takes care of the birds. Learn that God will likewise take care of the believer who really trusts
Him. Note two points.
1. The believer is better than the birds.
a. Man is a higher being, on a much higher level of creation, than animals. He is more noble and excellent, a
spiritual being made in the image of God and capable of a personal relationship with God. (See outline and
notes—Ro.5:6-11.)

“Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls
of heaven?” (Job 35:11).
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and
female created he them” (Gen.1:27).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever belie-
veth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn.3:16).

b. The believer is a child of God. God is the Creator of birds, but He is the Father of believers.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the
Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children” (Ro.8:15-16).
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your
hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal.4:4-6).

c. The believer is an heir of God. He is to receive all that God possesses in that glorious day of redemption.

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if
children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with
him, that we may be also glorified together” (Ro.8:16-17).
“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life” (Tit.3:7).

2. Four things can be said about the person who is preoccupied with material things.
a. He is covetous.

“Let your conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb.13:5).

b. He is not as wise as the birds.

“Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane
and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of
the LORD” (Jer.8:7).

c. He is a backslider who has forgotten what Christ said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Heb.13:5).
d. He is not “seeking ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Mt.6:33).

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