Trusting God for Tomorrow and Today
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Trusting God for Tomorrow and Today
Welcome to Pathway Church! Whether you’re here in person, at the Moon campus, Classic venue, or joining online, I’m glad you’re with us as we conclude our Generous series today. This series emphasizes the “us” part—learning to live generously as individuals and as a church to impact our community. Trust is key, not just in choosing clothes (as a USA Today survey showed), but in every area of life, especially our finances. Let’s explore how to trust God for today and tomorrow.
Who Do We Trust? Insights from Surveys
A USA Today article revealed that 37% of women trust themselves with clothing decisions, 26% trust their husband, 13% their friend, 11% their daughter, 5% their mother, and 5% their sister. For men, my own survey found 26% trust their wife or girlfriend, 9% themselves, 7% a random woman passing by, and 58% avoid buying new clothes altogether! These stats highlight our reliance on others’ opinions, but trust goes deeper—especially when it comes to finances and faith.
The Generous Series: Heart and Finances Aligned
Over the past few weeks, we’ve explored ownership, investment, and using our resources for God’s kingdom. Jesus promises blessings for faithfulness, often in abundance. Today, we tackle a core issue: fear. Many hesitate to give generously because they’re afraid of not having enough. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 6, teaching us to replace fear with trust. Let’s dive into three principles from His Sermon on the Mount.
1. The Waste of Worry: A Paralyzing Fog
Worry gets us nowhere—it increases stress without solving problems. Jesus starts in Matthew 6:25, saying, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Even a small amount of worry can paralyze us, like a dense fog covering seven city blocks contained in a glass of water. It stops us from being faithful with our finances. Worry focuses on lesser things, leading to a deficient life. Instead, trust God today for your needs—He values you more than the birds He feeds (Matthew 6:26) or the flowers He clothes (Matthew 6:28-30). Can worry add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:27) No—it’s a waste.
2. The Peace in God’s Provision: Rest in His Care
Worry steals peace, but Jesus offers a better path. In Matthew 6:31-32, He says, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… Your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Pagans chase these things, but as Christians, we’re called to trust God’s provision. Life involves risk—50,000 people are injured yearly by desk accessories, 400,000 by furniture, and 142,000 by clothes! Yet the safest place is in God’s will, including our finances. Holding onto resources for security doesn’t work—people always want “just a little bit more.” True peace comes from obedience, letting God meet your needs as you live generously.
3. The Security in Seeking God: A Promise Fulfilled
Security isn’t in hoarding—it’s in seeking God. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Pursue what’s holy, investing your life and resources in God’s kingdom. The promise? He’ll provide food, clothes, and security. Matthew 6:34 adds, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Plan for the future, but don’t let fear paralyze you today. Avoid the “as soon as” life—waiting for a raise or inheritance to be generous. Jump in now. Test God with tithing or another step of trust. I’ve never heard anyone regret it—only stories of God’s faithful provision.
A Challenge to Live Generously
I challenge you to pray and take a step of faith. If you’ve never tithed, start there for three or six months. If you do, ask God for the next level of trust. It’s not what I want from you—it’s what I want for you, what God promises. As we align our hearts, we’ll experience fullness together as a church, impacting our community with the gospel. Trust God for tomorrow and today—He’ll add all these things to you.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive us for pushing aside Your call and relying on ourselves. Help us see the irony of chasing security ourselves and missing Your fullness. As we trust You with our finances, grow our faith and draw us closer to You. Give us courage to live obediently, stepping into Your better plan. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.
SERMON DETAILS
Speaker: Jeff McNicol
Series: Generous
Sermon Title: Trusting God for Tomorrow and Today
Date: Jan 26, 2025
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 6:25–34
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