Matthew 6:24–34
No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
I miss the word Mammon.
I think it helps keep Jesus’ words at arms length.
Don’t serve Mammon?
Right, wouldn’t think of it.
Mammon, sounds like a monster on Star Trek.
MAMMON, ONE EYED RULER OF THE ZARONQ DYNASTY ON THE PLANET PHORTAK.
No, you can count on me, never will serve Mammon, the ugly brute.
Money?
Not so good.
I liked the suggestion of my Methodist colleague - that verses 24 and 34 seem key in interpreting this pericope. He, of course, did not use the word “pericope,” he’s well into his fifties, and such terminology is a bit elusive for him now. . . but I digress.
Mammon.
Money.
Two masters.
Serve one.
Today’s trouble is sufficient.
A couple things:
1. How do we NOT worry?
What do we make of the fear mongering all around us.
I am struck that - for many years I have sought to not participate in the rampant fear mongering in our politics and our culture - probably since the fear mongering of a certain president who just turned 100. (Speaking of which, when he died, the day of his funeral was a state holiday in Wyoming. . . . hmmmmm)
Here is what is striking - given that I’ve considered turning to fear a mistake for most of my adult life,
Why is it that I find myself thinking and saying “I’m afraid that. . .”
Why is it that I find myself thinking and saying “I’m afraid that. . .”
Why is it, that fear is our default setting when addressing our world???
I went to text study in another state yesterday. As we spoke, it seemed that folks were quite reluctant to name worry or fear as a sin.
I guess I am too.
2. I’m thinking that this is one of those texts where one can preach themselves into a corner. I expect that there is homiletical fruit in messing with this part of Jesus’ words:
But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
We who know well that our membership in the Kingdom is a gift of God’s grace might want to run from this, but I wonder if that doesn’ t mean that this is exactly where we have to go with this text.
I’m not sure what to do with it . . . but I think this striving might well need a gracious re-interpretation in the lives of our hearers. And perhaps our own.
We had a snowy Sunday - and thus lower attendance last week. (I wish I had remembered this line by Willimon - who said “I love preaching on snow Sundays because you weed out the idly curious from the truly committed.”) I kind of suspect that the truly committed, upon hearing this part of the Sermon on the Mount will have one of two reactions.
Either
a. wish they did a better job of striving for the kingdom
b. are exceedingly glad they do such a great job of striving for the kingdom
Sort of two different homiletical issues, isn’t it?
And what of the idly curious? Aren’t they going to hear this and wonder at how they can join in the striving?
I’m afraid that’s the homiletical issue for this Sunday.
Do not worry. . .
Do not worry. . .
4 comments:
FDR in his first inaugural address said
"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. . ."
on RevGalBlogPals - this was a good comment touching on how our fears are not as real as those whom we are called to love. . .
MaineCelt said...
For me, this is a powerful "down and dirty" passage: Jesus tells us to focus on the basic things, the roots, the very dust and soil at our feet, rather than the airy angst and social stresses that distract us from an honest, humble, and joyful God-centered life.
I've been reading Hauerwas' commentary on Matthew. He has some things that make me think. he has this to say will summing up this passage and especially on 6:33.
"Possessed by possessions, we discover that we cannot will our way free of possessions. But if we can be freed our attention may be grasped by that which is so true, so beautiful, we discover we have been dispossessed. To seek first the righteousness of the kingdom of God is to discover that that for which we seek is given, no achieved."
I thought that was pretty good...and the more I read it, the more I like it.
aahh wheathopper
- that Hauerwas quote brings to mind this line:
"That dog will hunt"
mostly because I don't understand that either.
No.
I am fairly sure that in my preaching on Sunday, I will be addressing the seeking of the kingdom.
It is pretty central here.
Nice, then, Hauerwas'
"that for which we seek is given..."
Indeed
And how is it given?
and by whom
and to whom
and when
and
and
and
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