Joe Barnett

Do to others what you would have them do to you.                                     —Matthew 7:12 This is one of those verses that most everyone knows—and that most everyone turns a deaf ear to in practice. It is one of […]

Ask and it will be given to you.                —Matthew 7:7 Jack LeVein asked Sir Winston Churchill, “Why did you choose me to be your film biographer?” “No one else asked me,” answered the Prime Minister. Can you imagine? Only one person asked for the privilege of filming the

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?                                       —Matthew 7:3 It doesn’t take the intelligence of a turnip to see

In the same way you judge others, you will be judged.       —Matthew 7:2 Neither Moses nor God could do anything right—every discomfort was their fault and sent the Israelites into grumbling tantrums. And the church barely got its legs before there was grumbling that some of the widows weren’t getting a fair

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.                            —Matthew 7:1 There are two reasons we should take a pass on judging others. First, we don’t know enough to judge. Unless we have all the facts (which we never do), and the

Do not worry about tomorrow.               —Matthew 6:34 “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Jesus asked (Matt. 6:27). The answer is obvious, right? What does worry accomplish? Nothing. Well, that’s not quite right—there are a few things that worry can do

Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”                                   —Matthew 6:31 Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6:24). Are we trying to live with one

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?          —Matthew 6:27 “Do not worry about anything,” Paul wrote (Phil. 4:6). Just before that he had written, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Then, in case we missed it, he added, “I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).

Do not worry about your life.              —Matthew 6:25 What was your main worry twenty years ago? Ten years ago? One year ago? Don’t remember? Even if you do, it’s probably not the same thing that’s needling you now. What happened to the worry that had your heart racing and

You cannot serve both God and Money.                      —Matthew 6:24 Satan hasn’t met much resistance in enticing us to worship money. Our self-image is linked to our assets. So is our evaluation of others. We measure their worth by their possessions: the size of their house,