Don't Try The Impossible
Introduction:
A. Can you...
1. Touch your ear with your elbow?
2. Be in two places at the same time?
3. Catch your own shadow?
4. Make yourself younger?
B. There is something else you cannot do - Matthew 6:24.
1. Some people try, but they might as well be trying to touch
their ear with their elbow.
2. God says "no man" can serve two masters, and if God
says no man can do it, it must be impossible.
Since so many people try to do exactly that, let's consider what
God has to say about it (Matthew 6:24-34).
I. God says no man can serve 2 masters (24).
A. God tells us what will happen if we try.
1. We will hate the one, and love the other, or we will
hold to the one, and despise the other.
a. If you have 2 masters, and both of them want you
to do something at the same time, you are going to
have to choose which one you are going to serve.
b. If this was a constant, ongoing thing, you would
have to make this decision over and over again,
for you cannot serve both at the same time.
2. He is saying we will make a choice between the two.
a. We will prefer one over the other.
b. Many employers do not want their employees to
have other jobs, for they want 100% of the persons
energy, and ability, but if the person is working 2
jobs, they will not get 100%.
B. What He really wants us to see is that we cannot serve Him,
and mammon.
1. Many people try to serve both.
a. They give themselves totally to their jobs, it is the
priority in their lives.
1) They constantly work overtime.
2) Even when they are not at work, they are working at it.
b. Then they try to say they serve God at the same time, but:
1) If it is a choice between working overtime or going to
services, they choose working overtime.
2) They don't have time to study God's word, because
they are to tired from working all the time.
3) They do not have time to: teach a class; do evangelism;
be involved in benevolence; or visit a brother or sister
that is discouraged, or sick.
2. They may not realize it, but they have made a choice, and it
is not God.
a. God wants, and expects us to work - II Thess.3:10.
b. But, He wants us to make Him our master, not or jobs.
c. You might say we need to work to live, not live to work.
d. We need to work to provide for ourselves, but we need
to make sure we have enough time to serve Him.
3. When God made Adam, He didn't tell him to work night
and day. He:
a. Put Adam in the garden to "dress it, and keep it" (2:15).
b. Created a woman to share his life with.
c. Commanded them to be fruitful and multiply.
d. Gave them the fruit of the garden to "freely eat" (2:16).
e. He made the trees of the garden pleasant to the sight (2:9).
f. Also took time to talk with Adam.
II. God says, don't worry about food, and clothing (25-31).
A. He will provide for you.
1. There are lots of people who constantly worry about
money, even though they...
a. Have a nice home.
b. Transportation.
c. Plenty of clothes.
d. Food in the pantry.
e. Money in the bank.
2. God says there is no need for worry.
a. Life is more than food, drink, and clothing (25).
b. The birds of the air don't punch a time clock, but
they always have enough to eat (26).
1) Because God provides for them.
2) And, you are more important than they are.
c. Flowers do not toil, and spin (they do not labor at
earning wages to by clothing) yet they are beautifully
clothed.
1) Because God clothes them.
2) Solomon, one of the riches men that ever lived,
was not dressed as beautifully as the flowers.
3) If God clothes these flowers, that are only around for a
little while, shall He not also clothe you?
3. And, worry will not accomplish anything (27).
a. Can worry make you any taller, or will it make you
live any longer? (both are possible meanings of stature)
b. Is worry going to make your bills go away?
c. Is worry going to put food on the table, or clothes on
your back?
B. Instead of worrying, trust in God (31-32).
1. "Take no thought (KJV)," "do not worry (NKJV) (25)."
a. Command form.
b. If we are all the time worrying about what we shall eat,
drink, or wear (money), then we will be distracted from
serving God.
c. So, to try to serve mammon keeps us from serving God,
and to worry distracts us from serving God.
2. We should not worry.
a. We need to work - I Thessalonians 4:11-12.
b. There is nothing wrong with making plans, as long as
we do not leave God out of our plans (James 4:13-15).
c. But, we should not worry, but trust in God - Eph.3:20.
III. He knows what we need, and He will provide (32-33).
A. God does know what we need.
1. He knows we need: food, drink, clothing.
a. Jesus has already told us not to worry about these
things.
b. Jesus pointed out that God provides the birds of the air,
and the lillies of the field with what they need.
c. And, He know what we need as well.
2. We, as God's people, ought to understand that God knows
what we need, just as He did with the children of Israel.
a. What did He do when the people of Israel needed water
in the wilderness? (He brought water out of a rock)
b. What did He do when they needed food? (He gave them
manna for 40 years).
c. Nor did their clothes wear out those 40 years(Deut.29:5).
B. And, He will provide....IF (33).
1. This is a promise.
a. He has promised to provide us with what we NEED.
b. And, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
c. We need to trust in this promise, and therefore, not worry.
2. But, it is also conditional.
a. We must seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness.
b. We must put them before anything else.
1) Mammon (as per the context of these verses).
2) Hobbies, and entertainment.
3) Family, friends, or self.
3. What are some of the things we should do if we are putting
first the kingdom?
a. Be faithful in our attendance.
b. Study His word.
c. Serve Him with our time, and abilities.
4. And, don't forget the second half of this conditional phrase:
"seek first...His righteousness."
a. We must strive to live righteously.
b. Ephesians 5:11.
c. I Thessalonians 5:22.
d. II Timothy 2:22.
e. I Corinthians 15:33.
Conclusion:
A. It is just as impossible to serve God and mammon as it is to touch
your elbow to your ear.
1. If you try to do both, you will end up putting mammon before God.
2. Instead, you need to serve God.
3. You do this by seeking first His kingdom, and His righteousness.
B. Are you putting first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness?
1. The first step is by obeying the gospel so you are a part of His
kingdom.
2. After that you need to: put the kingdom first (attendance, study,
service).
3. And, you need to put first His righteousness (living godly).
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