Armando V. Munoz

SCF Ministries

December 10, 2014

God is Good

             “GOD IS GOOD!”  “ALL THE TIME!”  “AND ALL THE TIME,” “GOD IS GOOD!”  Jesus, after He had been baptized, tested, and anointed for the ministry, went out preaching the Kingdom and healing all manner of disease.  Multitudes from all over Judea and Galilee followed and flocked to Him that they might be healed or to hear the wisdom of God.  The King had been revealed and His kingdom was at hand!  As He withdrew from the crowds up into a mountain, His disciples followed Him.  Alone, He began to teach them the ethics of the Kingdom in His famed “Sermon on the Mount.”

He spoke of the poor, broken, and oppressed as those who were blessed of the Lord.  He spoke of the Law of Moses, how He would fulfill it perfectly.  He spoke of its prohibitions to murder, adultery, divorce and raised God’s standard for morality to its originally intended position.  He spoke of the necessity of reconciliation over retribution, and perfectly explained the law of love.  He spoke of how the principles were to be practiced from the heart.  In coming to our text, He spoke of being single-minded on heavenly riches rather than earthly (Matthew 5:1, 6:24).  From this backdrop our text begins with Jesus saying:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not worth much more than they?  And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?  Any why are you worried about clothing?  Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?  You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear for clothing?”  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all of these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34).

The theme of this passage is no need to worry for God is good.  This passage reveals God’s goodness through His benevolent love for His creation.  Jesus, the express image of the Godhead in bodily form, began by demonstrating love for His people through healing, teaching, preaching, and the working of miracles.  Jesus was revealed as the King having kingdom authority and showing forth wisdom that could have only come from heaven.  The oppressed, broken, and poor were at the forefront of God’s concern.  These were the most prone to worry for their food, drink, and clothing.  Their unique position before God moved them to come to Him, and Him with compassion to provide all of life’s necessities.

If God is good, then Jesus must be the exact representation of it by meeting the needs of His people.  He did not judge by appearance.  He did not discriminate.  He knew that if they came to Him, it was because the Father had drawn them. It is God’s goodness which leads a man to repentance.

After demonstrating God’s care and concern for the sick, diseased, demon possessed, and the outcasts of society, He taught them about His care for the least of His creation.  He taught of the Father providing for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.  Daily the birds were given sufficient food.  The lilies of the field were arrayed beautifully in their season.  Although their existence is a fleeting moment, they declare God’s glory by showing forth their beauty for all the world to see.  In this way, they worship God for what He has provided for them.  If for no other reason, but to declare to us we can trust our loving Father.  The birds also glorify God each morning for their meal as they sing with joy.  How awesome it is to see God’s attributes of love and benevolence displayed in His creation!!

God acts simply because they are in need.  If God provides for the birds and the lilies, howmuch more would He provide for those created in His own image?  How much more for whom the King Himself came to die as a ransom from all their sin.  Moreover, if the lilies and the birds praise Him for His goodness, how much more should His people who can truly appreciate all He does for us.  If God is faithful inthe little things, then we know He is faithful in the great things.  To worry then is to demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s goodness and ability.

Worry is inconsistent with the kingdom and nature of God.  A God who is all powerful, all knowing, and present everywhere does not worry.  God is neither surprised nor troubled for He knows the end from the beginning and His plans cannot be thwarted.  Moreover, God is love (I John 4:8)and loves truly and perfectly.  Biblical love (agape) is doing what is right and good for the beloved. Then God,out of love, cares for His children.

Worry, being rooted in fear, demonstrates we doubt God’s perfect love for us.  This is because fear involves torment.  Fear and torment was rooted in their political environment during the times of Jesus and, therefore, cultured into the people.  Israel was in Roman captivity in the New Testament times and the people were customarily oppressed of them.  When people know nothing but captivity, the occurrences that are common in that environment are accepted as normal.  Fear and worry become commonplace and because accepted, they are assumed to be legitimate.

However, the King came to secure a kingdom.  Therefore, the people of the kingdom would have to renew their minds.  The King is not to oppress His people, but to provide and to care for them.  To give His people a proper understanding of God’s perfect love, they would have to see it.  God would have to reveal it to them to trust (faith) Him to meet their needs.  Trusting the Lord would be demonstrated by doing what He commands rather than being consumed with worry for one’s self.  Seeking primarily to meet one’s own needs is evidence of self-focus, self-centeredness, and selfishness.  The “self” focus is against the Bible’s instruction to be kingdom focused and to serve others.  This prevents us from functioning in kingdom righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.  In the context of, and in this passage, Christ is the standard.

Besides putting off worry, Christ said they should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness as a practice.  This was not to earn God’s provision.  Rather, the provision was available so they could use their time and energy to seek the kingdom and His righteousness.  The kingdom and His righteousness is God’s rule and reign.  Therefore, seeking God’s reign is to voluntarily submit to His sovereignty, thereby, demonstrating the Kingdom of God.  Seeking His righteousness is to ascertain His judgment on all matters and to put into practice what He made us positionally. We are to permit God to determine every aspect of our life without rebelling, complaining, ormurmuring.  It is not only trusting God for every need and desire, but through every situation and circumstance.

These principles are for us today.  First, God is good and able to meet all our needs and desires according to His will.  Second, God only wants what is best for us.Finally in trusting God we should seek to abide in the kingdom of God in every area of our lives doing only those things that bring righteousness, peace, and joy I the Holy Spirit.  As we walk in this way there really is no need to worry.  Worry only demonstrates we are not trusting in God’s goodness, power, or willingness to provide all we need.  Only God loves us selflessly, therefore, we should seek to establish His reign and righteousness in ourselves and in all the earth by sharing the good news of the kingdom to all who will listen.  “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…”

Bibliography

1. Module VI, Capstone Curriculum
2. Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, King James Version, Scripture Review
3. Companion Bible Dictionary, Kingdom, righteousness
4. Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Kingdom, righteousness
5. Vine’s Expository Dictionary, “Agape”
6. Finally, but most importantly, the Doctrine is not my own, but that which I have received of the Father…