NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR JUNE 6, 2021 : TOPIC – NO WORRIES
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THE NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
June 6, 2021
NO WORRIES
Devotional Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16
Background Scripture: Matthew 6:19-34
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34
GOLDEN TEXT
… Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:32b-33
Objectives: By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
• Define what it means to be worried and the health risk involved;
• Identify the antidote to worry, according to the lesson;
• Reflect on the lessons they have learned from nature about God’s provision.
INTRODUCTION
It was another long vacation and Bassey decided to visit his grandfather in their village. One day, he insisted on going to the farm with his grandpa very early in the morning. As they walked along the bush path, Bassey saw some beautiful and colourful birds flying from one tree to another. Having observed the birds for some time, he wondered how the birds feed, as they looked healthy and strong. In the midst of his confusion, he broke the silence and said to his grandfather, “Who feeds these birds? They always remain strong and smart.” Before his grandfather could respond, Bassey asked another question, “Who bathes them and where do they sleep? His gandpa was amazed at Bassey’s intelligent questions, However, he explained that the birds are part of God’s creation They have been created not to plant or labour before they eat. Therefore, they do not worry about what they will eat, where they will sleep or about the future because God knows their needs and takes care of them from day-to-day. Little Bassey nodded and said, Then we should not also worry about our needs because God who takes care of the birds will also provide for our need.
One thing is common to humankind: worrying about some basic necessities of life like what to eat; what to wear; shelter; success in life; failure and even the unknown. To worry is the same as to be apprehensive, to feel uneasy or to be burdened about some things. Human beings are prone to worry because they do not know what will happen in future. As a result, many people no longer trust in God, their Creator. However, the focus of today’s lesson is how God used other creations to encourage us on how we can be free from worry and the need to seek His kingdom first before every other material thing
THE LESSON EXPLAINED
A. Admonition Not to Worry Matthew 6:25-27
In the previous verses, Jesus Christ taught His followers how to perform their religious duties of prayer, fasting, and the importance of storing their riches in heaven. He also taught them right attitude about God and possession, with a strong assertion that no one can serve both God and man (v.25). The implication is that God does not allow rivals. It is either we serve Him totally or not. In verse 25, He gave reasons why they should not worry about their life, in relation to what they would eat, drink or wear. He said their lives are worth more than food, and their bodies are far more than clothing. In verse 26, Jesus gave an illustration with the birds of the air, in relation to basic needs of life. He said,”… they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” In other words, if God is concerned about the lives of birds and takes care of them, how will He not meet the needs of humans that are more valuable than birds. The admonition is necessary because no one can live longer by worrying about meeting the essentials of life (v. 27).
Nevertheless, we should know that Jesus did not mean Christians should not give attention to how to get food, clothing and shelter because they are unimportant. But rather we should not focus on the acquisition of these things and forget God who can provide them. It is also a pointer to having total trust in God as one desires to have these things. Since God knows that human beings need all these things, He wants them to look unto Him for adequate provision. Jesus’ admonition not to worry is applicable to believers because of the health hazards that are associated with it. Some people have been diagnosed of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and other common diseases as a result of worry. We should remember that we did not create ourselves; therefore, we cannot add a day to our life. The admonition, here, is that no one should worry unduly about lifes necessities because it reduces one’s life span. Our heavenly Father knows what we need and how to make them available to us.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Discuss some earthly things people worry about most and why?
2. Let a class member narrate how God recently provided for him/her at the point of getting worried about a particular thing.
B. Lessons from Nature. Matthew 6:28-32
As Jesus continued in His admonition against worry about the provision of life’s necessities, He became more assertive in verse 28. He said, “And why do you worry about clothes?
He used natural things like the lilies (the wild flowers that grow on their own) to illustrate His points. As beautiful and admirable as these plants are, they do not work or make clothes for themselves. In His comparison, Jesus said “… not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.” He concluded that it is God who naturally clothes these ordinary plants that can be uprooted and thrown into fire at any time. If God provides for these plants, how much more would He beautify the people He created in His image and provide basic needs of life like food and clothing for them. Jesus described them as people of “little faith.” Again, He reaffirmed His initial admonition not to worry about the source of their food, drink or clothes because these are the things pagan run after. He added that our heavenly Father knows we need these things and He is ready to provide them.
The implication of Jesus’ teaching is that if God can take care of lesser things like grasses, He will definitely provide the needs of humankind in terms of what to eat, drink and wear. His teaching is based on two important things: the need to trust God for our daily needs (v. 28), and the fact that God is already aware of our needs. Therefore, we can say that faith in God is the antidote for worry as well as the source of provision for these basic things of life. Whenever we are worried about our source of supply, it shows we have no faith in what God can do. Nevertheless, Jesus did not downplay the importance of human obligation to engage in productive work. What is important is that while we work, we should also trust Him to bless our labour.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. Let a class member discuss how God is providing for animals and plants around them. They can use the birds in the introduction as example.
2. Differentiate between a state of being worried and planning for one’s future.
C. The One Important Thing. Matthew 6:33-34
Jesus summed up His teaching with the admonition to seek what is important in life instead of getting worried about earthly things. Having assured them that God knows their needs, He then encouraged them to seek first His kingdom and righteousness and He will provide every other thing (food, clothes, shelter etc.). Apostle Paul puts it in another way. He said, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2) Jesus reaffirmed His initial appeal not to worry in verse 33 by saying, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself i.e. tomorrow will surely take care of itself because each day has enough trouble of its own. Jesus’ statement in verse 34 does not mean that we, as Christians, should neglect the reasonable and daily duties that help sustain our lives. What is important is that we should be more concerned about kingdom principles and God who knows our needs will prove Himself as our Provider. It can also be interpreted as to seek salvation because it is of greater value than the world’s possessions.
Jesus’ admonition to pursue heavenly things above every other thing is in contrast with the people of the world. It seems the priority of the world is how to acquire ephemeral things. So, people easily get worried about what God should ordinarily provide for them. However, the attitude of Christians toward the acquisition of basic needs of life should be different. Our priority should be to seek God’s salvation and His righteousness. We should endeavour to live in obedience to His Word and Share the good news of the kingdom with others. When this is done, God will fulfil the promise of constant provision according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Therefore, there is no need to get worried over our well-being.
DISCUSSION TIME
1. How will you convince someone about the importance of the kingdom of God and His righteousness as against the acquisition of earthly possessions?
2 Ask class members to look at their daily schedule and consider whether they are seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness above all else.
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activities
• Share practical ways that you can apply the instruction Do not worry” in your life’s endeavours.
• Discuss the meaning of “You cannot serve two masters.”
Take Home
• God knows our needs.
• God cares for all creatures.
• We can only be free from worry when we put our trust in God.
• Worrying cannot solve our problems, rather it adds to them.
• The God who provides for animals and plants is more than able to provide for us whom He created in His image
• God is always ready to glorify Himself in the lives of those who trust in Him.