Have you ever been attacked by a wild or tame animal? If so, what happened?
How would you define fear & anxiety?
Sometimes life attacks. We all experience pain & struggle. Cars break, accidents happen, we get sick, someone we love gets sick, or we lose something or someone. When life attacks, it hurts. Jesus knows that when life doesn’t go our way, that we have a tendency to be overwhelmed with anxiety, worry, & discontentment. Notice how many times Jesus uses the word worry as we read Matthew 6:25-34.
In v.25, what does Jesus say about food and clothes? What is His point?
Idea: Vic’s opinion, life is more than those things. Your thoughts?
In v.26, Jesus illustrates the lesson by talking about the birds of the air and the storing of resources in barns. What is Jesus’ point here?
Why is it dangerous to live with the idea that we “live to eat”, “live for clothes”, or “live to store up resources”?
When we live that way we make clothing, food, and resources our god. We put our faith in things when we live for them. Why would living for things cause worry?
IDEA: It causes worry because we are afraid we will lose those things.
READ 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
“9 Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.” 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NKJV
Why was Jabez given his name?
How would you like it if you were defined by the pain that you caused others?
What struggle do you allow to define you as person?
Notice in the NKJV that Jabez asked God to bless him so that he will longer cause others pain. It is possible that the guilt of causing his mother pain caused him great pain. **Some thoughts here were inspired by Bruce Wilkerson the author of "The Prayer of Jabez".
Why do we allow guilt, fear, and anxiety to define who we are?
Because of his faith and prayer life, Jabez is no longer synonym nous with pain, but with blessing. Prayer has the power to redefine who we are and what we do. If we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness as Jesus said we should in Matthew 6 we will have the power to overcome the storms and struggles that life may throw our way. Close in Prayer.
1 comment:
Fear is a great motivator to hang on to things. Change is sometimes hard to face. If we keep our eyes on Christ we will be able to ride the waves without worry. Easier said than done but so true.
Post a Comment