The Great “Squeeze out”
2004041
Subject: 1335
Introduction:
A. Demands of life can sap our energy & every minute of time we have.
1. Anyone got time & energy to waste?
2. People of all ages declare they can’t do “one more thing” and then they fit “one more thing” into their schedule.
B. We often move w/the best of intentions. Then:
1. A critical need arises. Emergency!
2. Someone refuses to take “no” for an answer.
3. Soon – immediate squeezes out the important.
4. Things that are necessary “at the moment” take over what we know to be important in life.
C. How do we usually react? Stress out? Worry? Anxiety takes over life?
D. Jesus says that happens because we forget life’s true priorities.
1. Mt. 6:31-34
I. There has never been an age where life is not demanding!
A. Life has always been uncertain, stressful, and full of opportunities for anxiety!
1. We wonder – wouldn’t it be wonderful to go back in time when life was simpler?
2. We wish we could take today’s lifestyle in a time when today’s standards would permit us to live w/o that age’s common problems.
B. Do we explain away Mt. 6:31-34? When we read it, do we cast it off by saying “Life was so much simpler then.”
C. David Chadwell in his writing on Matters of Priority says:
II. Life involves more than physical existence!
A. Physical existence is just 1 area of existence.
1. Physical life will end – but life will continue. Hebrews 9:27
2. Physical life is concerned about existence in this world.
a) But existence in this world is not permanent.
b) Living in a manner that is physically considered to be “living well’ is not assurance that you will “live well” in the existence that is not physical.
B. Total life is concerned about existence in God’s world.
1. That is existence is permanent.
2. Living well with God is not dependent on living well physically!
C. You & I will continue to exist in God’s world after we die!
1. Our level of existence in that world depends on our priorities in this world.
2. Our priorities NOW will determine whether that life is miserable or poor!
III. What does Mt. 6:31-34 teach us?
A. The Christian’s priorities must be different. While people of the world concentrate on physical – God’s kind of Christian concentrates on the spiritual.
1. Those who know & trust God seek to be under God’s rule as a matter of priority!
2. We must welcome God’s rule in our lives!
a) Does God rule your existence?
b) Is God’s ruling in your life your highest priority?
B. Those who know/trust God seek to be righteous people, not by their own definition, but by God’s definition.
1. That was the entire point of the SOM. Religious leaders then based righteousness on physical works.
2. If we make God’s issues our priorities:
a) God will see that we do not starve, thirst, and are provided with our basic needs.
C. We must not waste life by letting our anxieties concerning the future control life.
1. Anxiety (worry) changes nothing.
2. Anxiety about tomorrow will not eliminate troubles of tomorrow.
3. Every day has its own troubles & no amount of worrying will make tomorrow trouble free.
D. This does not mean that we adopt a “happy go lucky” approach to life.
1. Stress & the anxiety produced by worry are not the answer.
2. 6:27
E. The cure to worry/stress is allowing God to control your life & seeking to be righteous by God’s definition.
F. Our goal is to let God rule our life, transforming us into His righteous person.
1. The key to a full life is faith in God, not anxiety!
IV. An Important Application:
A. Godly priorities determine a Christian’s behavior.
1. If my priorities belong to God, the behavior will belong to God!
2. If my priorities belong to God, it will be seen w/the way I arrange my life!
B. The spiritual is most important!
1. We often let physical squeeze out the spiritual!
2. Easy to squeeze out church activities!
a) fall seminar; bible class; worship; bible study; fellowship; work of the church
C. When our priorities are right we will be serious in our commitment to godliness!
1. God has entrusted us to so much!
2. Mt. 25:14-30 – What are we doing w/what God has blessed us with?
3. Misplaced priorities cause us to be like the unprofitable servant.
a) When we’re too attached to the physical, we can squeeze out our spiritual work.
b) Squeezing out the spiritual hampers our relationship with God
c) We become less likely to move by faith.
4. We must learn to be risk takers for God! Serving God not always popular.
5. Too often we do the safe thing individually! As a congregation.
6. We must stay away from the “lets play it safe’ mode! (usually boils down to doing nothing)
7. Where did we form the conclusion that the safest way to please God is to do nothing? To take no risk? To not take God seriously?
D. When God built his church on the foundation of Jesus Christ, God did not build a building.
1. What God built was not centered in a building.
2. What God built was not dependent on a building.
E. What God built was a people, a people who sought God’s best interest!
1. Know God!
2. Know the enormous investment God made in His church!
3. When we have our priorities right, we will take what God entrusts to us & use it for His glory!
Conclusion:
A. We come to this building to honor God with worship, to study His will, and to encourage each other.
1. We leave here to function as God’s people, to assume the responsibilities of godliness, to make a spiritual difference wherever we are!
2. Go honor God! Go be spiritually responsible! Get your priorities right.
3. Don’t be part of the great squeeze out! There’s no excuses!
B. We can be a positive influence for good when our priorities are right.
C. YOU have great ability – through Jesus!
D. How’s your life? Are you concentrating on the physical or the spiritual?
E. I N V I T A T I O N
