SOAP

SOAP is an acronym for: Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you prepare for participating in City Group this week, we invite you to write down your thoughts in a journal. Journaling is a great way to record and process your thoughts & what God is sharing with you.

OVERVIEW

Beautiful People – Episode 6: How do you see? Eyes of Trust or Fear?

This Sunday we explored Matthew 6:19–34 through three connected ideas: treasure, eyes, and worry.

Jesus challenges us to examine the lens through which we see God, other people, and the resources He has entrusted to us. A “good eye” sees with generosity, abundance, and trust, while a “bad eye” sees through scarcity, criticism, and fear. How we see matters because what we see determines what we do. Our treasure reveals where our heart is, while our worry reveals what we believe about God.

Jesus invites us to loosen our grip on what we have, to trust our Heavenly Father to provide what we need, and seek first His Kingdom.

Beautiful People live with open hands and eyes of trust because they believe that God sees them, God cares for them, and God is enough.

KEY POINTS

Jesus connects our treasure, our perspective, and our worry because all three reveal something about our hearts.

Our treasure reveals what we value. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” How we use our time, energy, finances, abilities, and possessions reveals whether we see them primarily as something for ourselves or as resources entrusted to us for God's purposes.

Our eyes reveal how we see. A “good eye” sees abundance, notices the good in others, recognizes needs, and responds generously. A “bad eye” sees scarcity, focuses on what's wrong, and becomes consumed with protecting what it has.

And our worry reveals what we believe about God. When fear says, “There won't be enough,” Jesus reminds us that our Father sees us, knows what we need, and is faithful to provide.

Ultimately, the question is: Am I seeing my life through eyes of fear or eyes of trust?

SCRIPTURE

1. Jesus teaches that “the eye is the lamp of the body.” How would you describe the lens through which you currently see life; abundance or scarcity, generosity or self-protection, trust or fear? Why?
2. “What we see determines what we do.” How has your perspective recently affected the way you live, give, serve, or love the people around you?
3. The message Sunday said, “Our treasure reveals how we look at people, but our worry reveals what we believe about God.” What is one area where worry may be revealing that you are struggling to fully trust God's goodness or provision?
4. What would “seeking first His Kingdom” practically look like in your life this week? Is there something God has entrusted to you, time, finances, energy, attention, abilities, or love, that you could hold more loosely and use more generously for someone else?

APPLICATION

I can begin by asking myself: How are my eyes?

Am I constantly noticing what I don't have, what's wrong with others, and what could go wrong? Or am I looking for God's goodness, seeing the humanity and needs of others, and recognizing what God has already placed in my hands?

Instead of allowing worry to make me cling tighter, I can choose to trust God and live generously. My treasure, my time, energy, finances, attention, abilities, and love, doesn't exist simply to serve me. God has entrusted it to me so I can participate in His Kingdom purposes.

This week, when fear says, “What if there isn't enough?”, I can answer with the truth: God sees me. God knows what I need. God is faithful. God is enough.

Then I can ask: “Where is God's Kingdom at work around me, and how can I participate?”

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You that You see me, You know me, and You know exactly what I need.

Forgive me for the times I have allowed fear, worry, criticism, or scarcity to shape the way I see my life and the people around me. Give me a good eye. Help me see Your goodness, recognize the needs of others, and live with open hands.

Teach me to trust You without reservation. When I am tempted to cling tightly to my time, energy, finances, abilities, or possessions, remind me that everything I have ultimately belongs to You.

Help me seek Your Kingdom first. Replace my fear with faith, my scarcity with generosity, my criticism with compassion, and my worry with confidence in Your goodness.

Holy Spirit, help me see people the way You see them and use what You have placed in my hands to serve the least, the last, and the lost.

Today, I choose to trust that You see me, You care for me, You will provide what I need, and You are enough.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

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