 You have 10 minutes to rescue a few items from your house before you escape the fire.  What items will you take (besides family members and pets)?  We need God’s guidance in how to avoid being overcome with anxiety about our “stuff.”  Today we look at how to care for our needs without worry

Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

[21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [22] "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. [23] But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! [24] "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

 According to this passage, what is wrong with gathering earthly treasures?  What kinds of things do we own that deteriorate, depreciate, or become outdated?  What kinds of things are easily susceptible to being stolen?

 So when might wealth be OK? And when is it wrong?  According to Jesus, why can’t a person serve two masters?  Why can’t we divide our loyalties and give both masters at least some allegiance? Wealth is WRONG when …Wealth is OK when …

 In what ways does money try to be our master?  What do you think Jesus means when He says, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?  How do you “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven?”

Matthew 6:25-32 (NIV) "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? [26] Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

[27] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? [28] "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. [29] Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [30] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field,

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

 What things does Jesus say not to worry about?  What things of God’s creation are well fed and well clothed by God?  In light of this passage, what would be some good principles on food and clothing for us to follow?

 Jesus discourages his followers from worry, but what might be some positive reasons for worry?  What can be some bad results of worry ? › Physically › Emotionally › Spiritually  What are some ways we can conquer worry?

Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 According to this passage, what should be our priorities in life?  How is an earthly kingdom different from God’s kingdom?  How do we make God’s Kingdom a priority in our lives? Earthly KingdomGod's Kingdom

 God’s righteousness is God doing the right thing, God acting justly.  Consider that we as sinful creatures can seek after the perfect righteousness and holiness of God …  Corrie Ten Boom said “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” How is our strength better put to use?

 What issue in your life do you tend to worry about?  If you could measure your “worry pressure” how would it read?  Remember that absolute financial security is an illusion.