Don’t Worry VS Be Responsible

January Sermon Series:    New Year, New You;  Be Responsible.

[Rom 12:1 ESV] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

[Rom 12:2 ESV] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

First Week: 

Do not Worry VS Be Responsible. 

There was a trending hashtag yesterday:  #ResistCapitalism 

Ignorant people blaming economics. Suggesting a form of socialism to provide equally for all. 

Isn’t that Godly, Love thy Neighbor to provide for their needs?

Not necessarily.  If you provide something for someone which robs them of their need to become responsible, you are hurting and hating them.  

If a grown up is not taking responsibility to provide their own food, shelter, clothing, etc. They are practicing evil. If you help them practice their evil, how are you loving them?

AA and Al Anon calls that Enabling. 

When a government enables people to be Irresponsible, it’s called Socialism. 

Do Not Worry. 

[Mat 6:25 ESV] "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

[Mat 6:25 ESV] "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

[Mat 6:26 ESV] 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?

[Mat 6:27 ESV] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

[Mat 6:28 ESV] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

[Mat 6:29 ESV] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

[Mat 6:30 ESV] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

[Mat 6:31 ESV] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

[Mat 6:32 ESV] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

[Mat 6:33 ESV] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

[Mat 6:34 ESV] "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The Key word here is Anxious/ Worry

to be anxious

to be troubled with cares

verb (used without object), worried, worrying.

to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.

Anxious:

full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous:

Think of what worry does to you.

You can’t work good

In a work environment worry makes you adopt the CYB mindset. 

Less productive, which increases the very risk of the very thing you are worried about. 

It messes with your relationships. w/ spouse, children, family. 

When family challenges come, worry makes you mean, impatient and unstable with the people closest to you. 

[Pro 12:25 ESV] Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Jesus did not say, Do not Work, He said, Do not worry. 

When we worry, we are demonstrating we are NOT trusting in God to provide. 

[Psa 20:7 ESV] Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

The Phrase: 

God helps those who help themselves popularized by Ben Franklin, which is not a Bible Verse. 

Now concerning Salvation: This is very Untrue. It does not apply.  God helps the helpless. 

Salvation is 100% work of God. 

Concerning one’s Daily needs. Food, Clothing, Shelter. 

I believe this Truth falls into General Grace & God’s Universal Truths. 

[Mat 5:45 ESV] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

That is why there are many wealthy and affluent God haters. 

For Christians Especially, We are Commanded to Work! 

[2Th 3:6-15 ESV] 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 

10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 

11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 

12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 

14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.     

[1Ti 5:8 ESV] 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

[1Th 4:11-12 ESV] 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 

Aspire:   to strive earnestly, make it one's aim

12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

A Christian is Synonymous with Becoming Responsible.