How Jesus Heals Money Sickness and Worry

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Last week Jesus diagnosed the illness of the rich fool who used money to try to buy security.  This week he diagnoses the illness of everyone who doesn’t have enough money and worries too much about it.  Jesus is a good surgeon, and like any good surgeon he gets down deep to cut and then to heal. 

MONEY MAKES US ANXIOUS 

  • Vs. 22 – “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.” 
  • Fear is response to danger whether real or perceived.  Some fear is understandable.  Jesus is addressing unreasonable fears about money.
  • Ultimately he says money can be a heart problem, vs. 34 – “For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  Jesus is a heart surgeon. 

THE LIE THAT JESUS CUTS OUT  

  • That we are orphans in the universe, vs. 24-31.  You have more value than birds or lilies!
  • That money can replace God.  We err when we think that money can provide us with value and security.
    1. The rich man (see 12:13-21) finds that his money cannot give him security
    2. The birds and the lilies teach that security come from your heavenly Father.

THE TRUTH THAT MENDS US

  • That you need a heavenly Father, vs. 30
  • That the heavenly father has an inheritance to give you, vs. 31
  • It is the job of the Holy Spirit to reveal this to you, Romans 8:15-17

THE OBEDIENCE THAT MENDS US

  • Give to the poor, vs. 33
  • Give to the work of the kingdom, vs. 33
  • One of the marks that the kingdom has come to you is that you become more generous