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Seek First Part 3
Seek First
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) – [25] “Therefore I tell you, do not WORRY about your life… [33] But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) – [38] As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [39] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. [40] But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” [41] “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are WORRIED and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (AMP) – [38] Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. [39] And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching. [40] But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]! [41] But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; [42] There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.
Worry (merimnao) means anxious care, troubled; to think earnestly upon, to be cumbered with many cares; to have an anxious concern based on apprehension about POSSIBLE danger or misfortune; to have a distracting care, perpetually uneasy.
THE CAUSE OF WORRY
1. Being overly occupied
Luke 10:38 (TM) – [38] As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.
2. Being too busy
“Whenever demands exceed abilities, stress is bound to follow. Multitasking is especially stressful when the tasks are important, as they often are on the job. The brain responds to impossible demands by pumping out adrenaline and other stress hormones that put a person ‘on edge.’ These hormones provide a quick burst of energy, but energy won't make multitasking easier… Over time, the stress of multitasking may even become dangerous. A steady flow of stress hormones can strain the body and threaten health.” (David Meyer, PhD, professor of psychology, cognition and perception, University of Michigan)
“Our work ethic demands that we always be busy doing something. Doing nothing has a bad rap… So we are caught, then, between the body’s need for rest and society’s need to keep us busy.” (Hart, The Anxiety Cure)
3. Becoming distracted
Distracted (perispao) means to drag all around; to draw different ways at the same time, hence, to distract with cares and responsibilities.
4. Feeling overwhelmed by overcommitments
Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV) – [33] “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ [34] But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. [36] And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. [37] Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
“In other words, if we say yes to God or anyone else when we really mean no, we move into a position of compliance. And that is the same as lying. Our lips say yes, but our hearts (and often our half-hearted actions) say no... Say yes to the best, and sometimes you may need to say no to the good. (Cloud & Townsend, Boundaries)
5. Thinking God doesn’t care
Mark 4:37-38 (NIV) – [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
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By Bakersfield First Assembly
5
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Seek First
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) – [25] “Therefore I tell you, do not WORRY about your life… [33] But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) – [38] As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. [39] She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. [40] But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” [41] “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are WORRIED and upset about many things, [42] but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (AMP) – [38] Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received and welcomed Him into her house. [39] And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching. [40] But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]! [41] But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; [42] There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.
Worry (merimnao) means anxious care, troubled; to think earnestly upon, to be cumbered with many cares; to have an anxious concern based on apprehension about POSSIBLE danger or misfortune; to have a distracting care, perpetually uneasy.
THE CAUSE OF WORRY
1. Being overly occupied
Luke 10:38 (TM) – [38] As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.
2. Being too busy
“Whenever demands exceed abilities, stress is bound to follow. Multitasking is especially stressful when the tasks are important, as they often are on the job. The brain responds to impossible demands by pumping out adrenaline and other stress hormones that put a person ‘on edge.’ These hormones provide a quick burst of energy, but energy won't make multitasking easier… Over time, the stress of multitasking may even become dangerous. A steady flow of stress hormones can strain the body and threaten health.” (David Meyer, PhD, professor of psychology, cognition and perception, University of Michigan)
“Our work ethic demands that we always be busy doing something. Doing nothing has a bad rap… So we are caught, then, between the body’s need for rest and society’s need to keep us busy.” (Hart, The Anxiety Cure)
3. Becoming distracted
Distracted (perispao) means to drag all around; to draw different ways at the same time, hence, to distract with cares and responsibilities.
4. Feeling overwhelmed by overcommitments
Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV) – [33] “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ [34] But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; [35] or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. [36] And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. [37] Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
“In other words, if we say yes to God or anyone else when we really mean no, we move into a position of compliance. And that is the same as lying. Our lips say yes, but our hearts (and often our half-hearted actions) say no... Say yes to the best, and sometimes you may need to say no to the good. (Cloud & Townsend, Boundaries)
5. Thinking God doesn’t care
Mark 4:37-38 (NIV) – [37] A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. [38] Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”