The Lure of a Lesser Loyalty, Part 2

Today on Insight for living from Chuck Swindoll. If you have been raised up with Christ as a believer you have. Keep seeking the things above, there you go, those treasures above keep understanding life through the light of eternity.

Keep evaluating things on the basis of your final home without distraction.

Most of us could identify a couple of nagging issues that continue to interfere with our devotion to Christ today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll will remind us that this problem with split loyalties is nothing new. Jesus warned us that no one can serve two masters 81 and love the other during the next half-hour will examine these words from Jesus found in Matthew chapter 6 talk about the remedy against the lure of a lesser loyalty. Chuck begins his message with prayer. Father, we are very very grateful for your immutability. You never change your the same yesterday today tomorrow and forever grateful our father for your compassion is new every morning and with the rising of the sun were reminded that your faithfulness is great. Thank you for your mercy, that ministers to us in our misery. Some in the misery of deep depression, distraught and disturbed about life. Unable to see beyond the next few moments's in a dark pit feeling hopeless and despairing.

Your mercy is there ready to lift us up and put our feet on the rock and establish ongoing and to put a song in our mouth even praise to our God, but now today.

Praise seems only a distant memory for many thank you for your love, which is not fickle. Thank you that it reaches us that we are all unworthy to receive. Thank you father that your love proves how you really feel toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. How we love your son and return how merciful we feel toward those who struggle how compassionate is our heart as we reach to those who are in that pit of discouragement. But most of all, our father, we revel in your grace is like a warm blanket on a cold night surrounds us, comforts us, keeps us forgives us, relieves us of guilt and shame and establishes us as a fellow heir with Christ. The we certainly do not deserve that position amazing is that grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me once was lost but now found was blind but now I see we have our offerings today father that they might reach out to those we may never see touching the lives in a culture were unfamiliar with and places we will never go. Thank you for those who faithfully declare your truth in difficult and dangerous places of hold and we pray with the word of righteousness. Reassure them this very day that they are in the nucleus of your will use our gifts to sustain this ministry here and beyond and abroad for the greater glory of Christ our Savior, of grace, pray everyone's email listening to Insight for living to study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures. Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies another message from Chuck titled the lure of a lesser loyalty erosion is subtle in its slow but silent you happen, of course in the life.

Candidly, it could be happening right now in your life could be the best-kept secret even among your friends, but deep down within there is this shift. This drift taking place make something very clear to all of us. No one is immune.

No one, in fact, Paul writes in first Corinthians 10 verse 12 let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

I don't want to ever try to convince myself that I can live in a bit of secrecy and no one will know I can hide in this allurement toward another loyalty so it's with that in mind, that I began not in Matthew chapter 6, but in Psalm 139.

I want to show you that there is a very real fact that you live your life like an open book before God. There are no secrets to him. The song is a prayer through the Psalm you read words like the Lord. In fact, it begins with those words that I know God and he prays for this and he prays for that becomes the very end and is another prayer search me oh God, and know my heart try me and know my thoughts. See if there is any way of her literally from the Hebrew see if there is any hurtful way within me and that lead me in the everlasting way search me oh God, he can say that because of what is written in the song the covered begins overlord you have searched me and known me then I guess specific you know when I sit down you know when I rise up. You understand my thoughts from afar, meaning long before I have a thought, you know it's coming. He continues to scrutinize my path and my lying down and you are intimately acquainted with a LL my weakness, even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, overlord.

You know what a LL every word spoken. Every thought pictured in the mind. Your life is like in open book written clearly by the one who made you known at all times, day or night, and when you get to Matthew chapter 6 Jesus is careful to say, not once, not twice but three times that our God is a God who sees in secret. You may have forgotten we saw that last time verse four is your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Verse six in your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Verse 18 in his your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. This is when the life is is lived before God with purpose and meaning, and purity in the power of the Holy Spirit your God who sees it all is never ever surprised or shocked knows that your heart is right and whether you're giving your praying or or fasting.

Which of the three subjects of verses one through 18 the Lord season the Lord will reward you for doing it, not as a hypocrite not to be seen not to make a good impression. But as a servant of the living God, he will reward you. That's on the heels of all of that. Verses 19 to 24 appear in the sermon. Understand this is a sermon Jesus begins with a warning do not edit with the fact you cannot just see that like bookends the warning do not and the ending, you cannot not sure for yourselves treasures on earth.

In verse 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, as a contrast. There's a difference between possessions on earth and positions that are in heaven, and the contrast is even seen in how they can be destroyed or preserved treasures on earth, or where moth and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But when you have treasures in heaven. None of the three occurs, there are no malts. There is no rust there will be no themes so that contrast stands verse 22. The eye is the lamp of the body of your eye is clear. Let's one thing to look at the contrast if your eye is bad. That's the next bird verse 22. Clear I is full of light. A bad eye is full of darkness. Jesus love contrasts and use word pictures to convey the truth that would otherwise be missed. He's warning his followers about being caught up in the lesser loyalty.

In this case the last word of the passage verse 24 is well possessions stop tangible things we can purchase and own and must maintain now understand the difference. Some people read these words and and they warned about Jesus prohibiting against having any possessions so they encourage living like a hermit the middle of nowhere, owning nothing, just to close on your back and that's enough. Nowhere in the Bible or we forbidden from owning something solid. Jesus is teaching others teach this say it's wrong to plan for the future. You're foolish to buy insurance. After all, when you have your treasures that are in heaven there will not be moth or or or rust. There will be thieves break in and I can assure you of this earth. There are thieves and they break in every day is not telling you not to buy insurance or not to lock your doors are not set your alarm that's foolish. Teaching that's extreme teaching. That's reading only half of verse the Bible again and again encourages wise planning and being careful with possessions. He's not even a warning against enjoying possessions.

My mind flashes to first Timothy chapter 6 verse 17 where the apostle writes that God is given us all things richly to enjoy enjoy the you have nice things. Enjoy them. Just make sure that they don't have you you you have a particular salary that allows you to buy a nicer car than someone else. Enjoy it. If you need a car you you you you buy a nice car, don't hide it. Former secretary of mine another church many years ago told a funny story about her husband who was a pastor. The church at the time and she said they needed a car and he was looking for the best deal. The best deal he found was a very nice Lincoln and I he thought well do I want to drive a Lincoln decided yes I will best deal in nothing wrong with it, but he said to his wife were not gonna park it at the church. Why because there are people at the church that would judge you for what you're driving stupid is that you not only don't know what the person thinks you don't know about the person gives how legalistic we can get taking half versus year and foolish mornings there and then turning them on their head and teaching what is true what she warning against. He's denouncing the accumulation of more and more and more stuff he's warning against selfishness sees he's concerned about an extravagant lifestyle that keeps you from being generous and unselfish. In fact he's warning some of you today.

Truth be told, you find yourself making more than you've ever made able to buy what your parents could never have bought living in a hole nicer than you ever grew up in nothing wrong with any of that until, or if those things begin to grip and hold onto you and turn you into tightfisted, selfish, uncaring, individual who doesn't know the meaning of the word enough Jesus warning is to those who don't know to say that's enough.

Someone asked Rockefeller how much does it take to satisfy a person's answer was wise a little bit more than he hands are you satisfied with where you are. It's called contentment. One of the greatest joys of life is to live a contented life. It may be with little and maybe with more it may be with much your content.

It doesn't own you. You use it you share it, and when it's appropriate you give it. Jesus is saying don't store it up. Don't cling to. But remember, was valuable. Verse 21, where your treasure is, there your heart is so where's your heart you know what's interesting, I can't answer for you.

I can even tell by looking. If I were around you for a while I might be able to discern a little bit. But honestly, only you know for your heart's, which gives me a good moment to pause for some application here a few questions just to help improve and let the word of God. Dig deeply.

Are you living your life unselfishly do you demonstrate generosity and care when you have an opportunity to do so. Have you determined what is enough for you or you teaching your children how to live within their means. Are you still grasping for more constantly dissatisfied, envious, looking over the top of your glasses and someone who can own something nicer than you.

You know what, I found that enviable people are often those who don't have a lot and they live to find fault with those who do. What a terrible way to live your life are you allowing things to lure you from what is invaluable. You can't put a price tag on things that are really valuable and yet always guard against greed. I like the way Martin Luther put it, he wrote whatever the gospel is taught and people seek to live according to it. There are two terrible plagues that always arise first.

False preachers who corrupt the teaching and in second Sir greed that interestingly calls greed as if it were proper name. Then there Sir greed who obstructs right living. Only you could know if your heart is greedy Jesus teaching is designed to help us analyze that and while were on the subject. Look at 20 to the eye is the lamp of the body. See, it's from the ID that you're able to view life and if the eye is clear your whole body is full of light. If you're seeing things as they really are. Which means you place just as much emphasis on the invisible is the visible and you acknowledge the presence of that which cannot be purchased but is a treasure your eyes clear your eyes bad, then everything is full of darkness and how great is the dark how blind we can be which leads him to that last statement before we go there and look at Colossians chapter 3, Paul wrote to the Colossians words of great wisdom in the first couple of three verses of the chapter whether it is therefore Colossians 3 verse one. If you have been raised up with Christ and as a believer you have. Keep seeking the things above, there you go. Set those treasures above keep understanding live through the light of eternity. Keep evaluating things on the basis of your final home, keep seeking the things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, look at this set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth for you diet it in your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed.

You will also be revealed with him in glory.

Your eyes bad back to Matthew six there's a darkness that overwhelms you. You are unable to gauge when enough is enough, or when enough is sometimes too much to look at the last verse. No one that includes you.

That includes me. It means no one, not a person alive on the planet can serve two masters that were used to bosses were not familiar with Masters because slavery is gone. Thank God it's no longer part of our culture, nor should it ever have been, but in the days of the Romans. Slavery was everywhere.

Over half the population of Rome itself is in the category of a sleeve.

They knew what master Matt just worked for a master you were only Biomet and you never had to do at the same time you can work for two bosses you can hold down three jobs and you have three bosses, but when it comes to Masters those you own.

You only one that's the point.

No one can serve two masters. And then there's a contrast you the you will hate one of them and love the other car you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be owned by 21, and I want to warn you in case you have gotten a little bit disillusioned. Wealth is a wicked master nothing wrong with wealth. Some of the greatest people in the Bible the wealthy. Job is one no one better known on the in the community, or perhaps in the whole region and probably no one with greater wealth and more animals and more land and more servants than anyone. He's never criticized for that is called a righteous man. He never lost sight of what's valuable when you make wealth your master. You will soon be lured to that loyalty little change will be different become greedy become competitive envious. Don't think you have to be wealthy to be envious. Works for any strata economically.

But when you and I allow the truth to guide us by that, I would say the teachings of Jesus. He helps us take control of our life envy and greed are sins that torment people from all walks of life. Every level of success, rich or poor, with or without the love of money can ruin a soul you're listening to Insight for living and there's much more on this topic.

Chuck Swindoll wants to explore he's teaching for Matthew chapter 6 and he titled today's message the lure of a lesser loyalty to learn more about this ministry for these messages, please visit us online@insideworld.org is fascinating to see how the issues Jesus addressed in the first century continue to plague us today, and the pride, greed, legalism, performance-based religion, these are all sins that enslave us in 2021 as well. And if you're ready to shed yourself of legalistic tendencies and begin serving our God who offers you peace, freedom and rest then let me point you to a helpful resource check is written a classic book that squarely founded on the principles Jesus taught us in his sermon on the mount. It's called simple faith to purchase a copy, give us a phone call if you're listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 or using your computer go directly to Insight.org/store Insight for living ministries is a nonprofit organization made possible not by the purchase of books and other study tools but through the voluntary gifts of grateful friends to help us continue providing these daily programs and all the related resources you can give a donation today by calling us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888. When you give a donation. Your gift is channeled directly in the supplying this daily program so people here at home and around the world will know the power of simple faith, we have ample evidence through thousands of phone calls, emails and comments that your gifts are truly making a difference.

Again, give today by calling us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or give online@insight.or euro checks when talking a message about the lure of the lesser loyalty join us Thursday to hear Insight for living. The preceding message. The lure of a lesser loyalty was copyrighted in 2015 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights reserved will line duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited