1. Today we’re in Matthew 6:19-24 where Jesus talks about our priorities. Specifically in regards to money. It’s always funny to me when people say churches shouldn’t talk about money. Have you heard that rule? I realize some churches abuse this teaching to take advantage of people. But to create this rule that b/c some people do the wrong thing that we can talk about something that’s both Biblical and relevant would be really stupid. And we’re trying not to do stupid here. Not always successful, but we’re trying. So, yes, we’ll be dealing with money issues today b/c that’s what Jesus is talking about in Matthew 6:19-24.
2. In the first part of this teaching, Jesus does some comparative valuation between two investments – storing up treasure down here and storing up treasure in heaven. Two contrasting investment strategies and Jesus breaks down the differences between the two. You can either invest in eternity and never have to worry about your investments or you can get your heart wrapped up down here, storing up stuff for yourself and it’s going to rust, and be eaten and destroyed and you’re going to be left with nothing. Jesus says make the better choice.
3. And he’s not just being figurative here. In the first century, that’s literally what would happen to people’s stuff. You didn’t have a lot of options for hiding or protecting your belongings, so what would you do? You’d put your jewels under your bed. W/out an alarm system or locking doors, it was pretty easy for a thief to break in and steal that. You could bury your precious metals, but they would rust. You have nice clothes or fine linens in the closet, the moths or rats would eat away at them.
4. Not just first century either. I remember at our old house we had a storage shed in our backyard. A permanent one, matched the house. Nice little shed. Well, I decided to use it and over time I moved more and more stuff out there. (You know “stuff” – we all have stuff. Usually so much we build houses for our stuff.) Mostly the stuff I didn’t need, but wanted to hold onto. Boxes of old High School / college memories, old papers, notes, books, pictures, trophies, my first teddy bear, that kind of stuff. Good stuff.
5. Well, about 5 years ago when we were moving I went to clean out the old shed and guess what had happened to all my precious memories? They were literally eaten by rodents and roaches. The most disgusting thing you’ve ever seen. They had eaten right through the cardboard boxes and had a party in my personal belonging box until they died. And the only thing they really left was lots and lots of poo. A couple carcasses, but mostly poo. They turned by teddy bear into poo. His name was teddy. He was a good bear. He never hurt anybody.
6. And it’s not just junk stuff. But what about our real treasure – our money? How’s the stock market doing? How’s your 401K? How’s your IRA? How’s that mutual fund doing? OUCH, right? I think Jesus’ point is being made all over our world right now. No investment down here is really safe. They’re only as safe as the conditions protecting them. And considering we live in a world that God’s already promised will be destroyed by fire, probably not a good long-term prospect.
7. Now I don’t think Jesus is saying you can’t own a home or have a savings account or life insurance or any of that stuff. The Bible teaches good stewardship, prudent investing and leaving an inheritance. The point is – don’t get caught up in stuff that’s not going to last. Paul tells Timothy, a younger preacher, probably around my age to teach this; 1 Timothy 6:17-20. 17Command those who are rich in this present world (That’s US!) not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
8. Again, we’re either living for fulfillment in this life or the next. We’re either storing up treasure here or there. And a big part of the reason that it’s so important that we get this right is b/c here’s the truism that affects all of us (whether we realize it or not): where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is. According to Jesus, if you want to know where your heart really is, look at your checkbook, your investments. B/c you naturally care about what you invest in.
9. I was talking with a guy in the church last week and he’s got a nice convertible sports car. A little mid-life crisis car. Well, he said his kids were playing outside and he’s not sure but it looked like one of the younger ones took a brick paver or a rock and just beat on the side of the car with it. It was funny b/c he was telling this to a room full of guys and we were all like, “oooh, that’s bad.” A visible reaction. He loves his kid more than his car, so he had a good attitude about it. He’s just going to wait until his kid grows up and gets his first car and he’s going to beat on it with cinder block. Where there’s significant physical investment, our heart gets involved. But where there’s no investment, there’s no heart (4 year old didn’t pay for it).
10. I see this in the church a lot. The American church in our culture is full of immature consumers who have little to no investment, no skin in the game, and they just come to get fed and get what they need. And when they stop getting that or think they can get it better or cheaper somewhere else, they leave. No real emotional difficulty b/c there’s really no investment. They haven’t invested their time, talent and treasure in the Kingdom, so their heart isn’t really there. And to justify our lack of investment, we like to say things like “God isn’t interested in your money, He just cares about your heart.” But what Jesus says is the two go together – where your treasure is, there’s your heart.
11. (Not too long ago, we had someone who was complaining about some stuff. Criticizing the church a little bit. Kind of set himself up as a leader, but then would lead people to question other leaders. Not a good thing. Well, after a few incidents, you know what we found out? It’s just what Jesus is talking about here. This person wasn’t even giving at Real Life. Lots of lip service about commitment, but there was no investment. It’s easy to criticize something you’re not committed to.)
12. For me, one of the greatest blessings I have as a leader is to be a part of a staff and an elder team that puts their money where their mouth is. I’m part of a team who all give their first 10% to God through the church. And a lot of us give even more than that. Some of the biggest givers in our church are members of our staff who are NOT wealthy, do not make big bucks, but their treasure is here and so is their heart. That’s a big part of what makes this church so awesome – you have leaders whose hearts are 100% in this. They care / they’re committed. I could tell you stories of personal sacrifice that our staff has made that would make you cry, but I don’t want to minimize their blessing.
13. That’s what Jesus is looking for. People who are willing to go all in. Not just people who are willing to intellectually identify themselves as Christians. Or socially / politically identify themselves as believers – he’s looking for people who in every area of their lives have made Jesus LORD, they’re living for heaven and they’re willing to put their time, talent and treasure on the line. They’ve got skin in the game. They’re all in.
14. It’s interesting b/c Jesus goes from talking about the heart to talking about the eyes. This passage gets taken out of context a lot and some people even think it means that if you pretty eyes, then you’re a good person. Let’s remember that this statement about the eyes is right in between statements about treasure and money. And while there may be a lot more that Jesus is saying here, I think the connection is obvious and it’s simple; when it comes to our allegiance as Christ Followers - as go the eyes, so goes the heart.
15. The eyes steer the ship. Where you look, you go. (Marc Naugler)
16. What are you looking at? What are you longing for, lusting over, looking to have? What’s in your ebay watch list? What are you googling? If you’re looking at motorcycles all the time, you’re going to want a motorcycle. New house, car, clothes, stuff, etc. If you’re looking at another woman or man, or pornography – you act that out…your eyes steer the ship. Watch what you’re watching. Our lust for more starts early. My kids were looking at a JC Penney catalog, getting overwhelmed with all the stuff. Noah said, wow, I never knew they had so many electric cars. (that is pretty cool.)
17. When our eyes are looking at the stuff of this world it creates this discontentment with what we don’t have. What we lack. What we want. When our eyes are on the Lord, His Word, He shows us what we already have – that’s why Hebrews 12 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus! And in 2 Corinthians 4:18 we’re told. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Quit looking to the world to fill us up and look to Jesus. As go the eyes, so goes the treasure. As goes the treasure/heart.
18. Jesus is trying to teach us to choose by showing us the impact of our choices. 1. We have to choose where and how we’re going to invest our lives. We’re either going to live for things down here or things up there. 2. We’ve got to choose what we’re focusing our eyes on. 3. And the last choice that Jesus gives us here is huge. Jesus says we’ve got to choose our master – what’s going to control us.
19. Two Masters – we either trust in our money, or we trust God. Most people disagree with Jesus on this one. I told you before, it’s OK to disagree with Jesus, just know that if you do, you’re wrong and it may not end well for you. Jesus is giving us NO compromise, either / or proposition. not 10 options but 2. One or the other. Most of us would argue we can do both. We can be good Christians and still chase after a buck. Jesus says one or the other. You can’t serve the Almighty God and the Almighty dollar. Nothing wrong with getting paid well or profiting in business, but if that’s your (reason for being) then you’re serving a false master.
20. Who / what do you serve? What/who is your master? What drives you, motivates you, what do you live for, work for, hope for, strive for? Is it God or greed? One master will lure you in with false hope, false promises, a false sense of security, an illusion of wealth, false / misplaced confidence, and then one day be gone, taking your heart with it. B/c where your treasure is….
21. But the other master, if you chose to follow Him, to invest with Him, He’s promised to never leave or forsake you. He’s personally promised to take care of you. He’s promised to provide for you, to protect you, to give you eternal rewards for anything you’ve sacrificed for His Kingdom.
22. So the questions we’ve got to ask ourselves today are: 1. Where is my treasure? What am I investing in, working toward, hoping for? Are you serving in the kingdom? Are you giving to the Kingdom? Are you investing in God’s kingdom or your own? Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart really is. 2. What are your eyes focused on? Created things or the Creator of all things? Are your eyes fixed on the stuff of this world or are your eyes fixed on Jesus? 3. Whose your master? Are you being controlled by God or by greed?
23. As we commit to following Jesus, we’re following a guy who gave up everything in this life for the hope, the promise of a better life. He didn’t waste his life trying to store up treasure down here – in fact, He died with no earthly treasure…but He lived to see God’s will fulfilled in His life and stored up for himself so much treasure in Heaven, (Phil. 2:9-11) that He is now the Name that is above all names. At the mention of His name every knee will bow (in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And He invites us to do the same.
24. After I pray, servers will come and pass out the emblems of Christ’s sacrifice that serve as a reminder of what it means to follow Jesus. The bread that reps. His body, the cup that reps. His blood. Hold those and we’ll take it together after I pray.
