Fasting & Treasures

Welcome to Mantalk. a ministry sponsored by TAWCMM. Talking and Walking Christian Men's Ministry. where we're devoted to breaking down the walls of race and denomination. and to point men to their God-assigned roles.

Now here's your hosts, Will Hardy and Roy Jones Jr. And Roy, we'd just like to thank everyone for tuning in on today. We just thank God for all the support that we have been getting. You know, as a result of the podcast, I know some men have told said to you that they're going back listening to some of the old podcasts, but I Um Me, I'm kind of looking toward the future and hopefully to get back some of those listeners that may have. you may have lost as a result of you know not not being as frequent as we should have been but We're back now and so I'm thankful to God for their support and everything that they're doing for the ministry.

Amen. I echo that, Will. Thank you very much. And yes, it has been a little bit sporadic. We changed the way we were doing our podcast just for everyone's benefit.

Uh we hope to be on some Better routine, if you will, better schedule, better cadence to where you're seeing this, at least. Weekly, like we were before.

So we look forward to that too, Will.

So thank you very much.

Well, we will, this evening, I think we're going to kind of start going through Matthew. Six. 18, I believe, through 34, or 616 through 34. um so chat a little bit about fasting treasures in heaven About worry. uh all the things that uh are pertinent to each of us that are either early in career mid-career late career whatever it happens to be and even those young folks that might be listening that haven't started their career yet Yeah, I believe this is a very pertinent particular topic that we're going to be dealing with today because it has a lot of elements in it and all these elements that's in this particular passage of Scripture.

I think it speaks to us directly. as individuals who may have a tendency to do things our way or to plan a certain way, but God wants you to have it this way.

So I think this is really, really good for those to just. Give a lesson to and decide if you are maybe fasting or you're looking at the material things that you're collecting, you know, how should I be? prioritizing those things with respect to the kingdom. That's good. Yep.

And that's why. We want everyone that's listening to kind of take. Inventory, if you will, do a reflection as we're going through this and see which elements are. In line with Scripture that you're doing, or that are out of line with scripture that you may be doing. Exactly.

So in Matthew 6. Jesus says that when you fast, don't be like hypocrites. With sad countenance, because basically, what they want to do is to be. Scene.

So if you are fasting, fasting is a personal thing. when it comes to it. you know we should look at How are we aligning ourselves up with God with respect to what He wants us to do? He's saying here that Don't give the appearance that you are fasting. But wash your face.

Do those things that are necessary.

So that you don't project yourself as fasting because It is something that is between you and God. And if you're doing it out of the heart. Of a kingdom citizen, then you know, God is going to open up. The windows of heaven. He'll open up.

all of the things that you need in order to complete that journey. at your own so that you can look at God differently than how you were looking at him differently before. God has a plan for each and every person in the kingdom. The kingdom of God Is not exempt from the things that we perceive as right. because God's kingdom is correct.

And it's every time. But when I look at the kingdom. And I look at the kingdom with through the eyes of materialism or selfishness Or things like this, then what I begin to do is I find myself now. looking at me rather than the rather than God and rather than doing kingdom work. yeah that's easy to do right then i think that's the essence of the scripture Is so that you're not about yourself, and so no one else sees it.

So, therefore, if no one else is seeing it on you or in your actions that you're fasting, then it's not about you. It truly is about what God has asked us to do. You know, Will in 17 says, But when you fast, put oil, or verse 17, chapter 6 says, But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face.

So is the oil for anointing of the Holy Spirit or is that um What's the purpose of the whole?

Well, I think the oil simply is saying don't give the appearance.

So it's more physical. but it takes a spiritual meaning. It is just like a parable. A parable is a A natural description. that conveys a spiritual meaning.

So, and Jesus did it that way in order for the people. who were around him, to understand How to relate the spiritual meaning to the natural illustration that he gives.

So, if you understand that natural illustration, like when you talk about wheat and tares and things like this, that the people we're familiar with.

So they were familiar with washing their face.

So, and if he's saying that you're not going to. supposed to be given an appearance that you're fasting. Then This is what it's all about. Keeping your parents. Fresh.

so that the wrong notion is not given. of what you're trying to do. Good. And that's what he says. He says.

You know, take what we're saying and don't appear to mean that you're fasting because your heavenly Father knows what you have need of. And if you pray in secret, he's going to reward you openly. You are rewarded as a result of your obedience. Too fasting, then God is going to Manifest himself to you openly because you were doing these things in secret. And then people are going to look at this and they're going to say, Hey, wow, Roy, God, you really bless.

You know, because of But they would they won't know the reason why. And you may not even know the reason why, you know, if we're not walking in the spirit. Because the spirit would start to reveal things to us and say, hey, you know. as a result of me praying as me a result of being obedient and my giving or whatever case may be Now God has given back to me and he's rewarding me. In this secret way, but it's going to be open to people to see the blessings that God has given.

Well, that should be motivation enough for people to keep it between them and God, not talk about it and show it on the outward piece of it.

Next verse will treasures in heaven. Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth. where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Verse 20, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, There your heart will be also.

Yeah, I think you got this one, Roy. Yeah, that's um that You know, it's interesting because We talk quite often about it's with all of our men folks that we deal with and that we meet with on a bi-weekly basis and in our sessions that you know worldly possessions don't mean anything and that our actions Should speak so loud that we're not hearing, no one's hearing a word we're saying.

So. The actions have got to be about kingdom work. not about building up the wealth and building up the coins and building up the garments, the rich garments that we all know from biblical times indicated wealth.

So, it's about the spiritual things in the spiritual realm that we're building up our treasures.

So, therefore, we're leading people to Christ. You know, feeding the hungry, serving the needy, visiting those that are. Have no one to have visit them, whether it's in prison or in nursing homes. All those things, as Jesus told us, if we do it unto the least of these, we've done it unto him. That's how we're building up treasures in heaven: by doing our Father's work.

Absolutely. you know, uh, moth and russ. will indeed corrupt the things if we put those things first.

So if we if we put The treasures that we're building up here on earth, house, cars, things, jewelry, et cetera. If we're putting those things before God, and I think that's the thing.

So we're not saying, And Jesus is not saying, don't, it's not bad to have these things, but when you put them before God, because when we go down. into this verse he's going to say you know basically seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness And all these things will be added unto you.

So it's not wrong to have these things, but if we allow these things to be put before God, prioritized before God, and saying, I need to, you know, be a millionaire by such and such age, and I need to do whatever I need to do and run over whoever I need to run over to get there, then I'm going to do that.

So that's what he's saying. You know, don't put. these things as a priority. but let those things come as a result of our obedience as kingdom citizens.

So if we're walking. in the light if we're doing those things that God has called us to do. when he begins to reward us openly. then we'll see that we're taking What God has said, and we are sort of like just throwing these things up to heaven and storing them up.

So when we get there and stand before the judgment seat of Christ. our deeds that we've done in this body. Will be gold, silver, and precious stones when they're tried by the fire. rather than wood, hay, and stubble, which will be consumed in the fire.

So if we done anything in our own name, for our own purpose, for our own glory, that's wood, hay, and stubble.

So when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ. Then these things will be consumed. But if we did it in his name, for his purpose, as a kingdom citizen, and we move forward. then he's those things would be. Uh, gold, silver, and precious stones, and they will not be consumed in the fire because basically, what the fire does to gold is it does what, Roy?

It purifies it. That's it refines it. Yeah, absolutely.

So, and that's what it's all about: making us better. believers and workers for the kingdom. Right.

Well, and that was the last scripture we read: for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So, therefore, if you're worried about worldly things, that means that's where you're. Your heart is because that's the treasures that you're pursuing.

So, very good. Very good. Verse 22: the eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, Your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.

If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness?

So, and again, see, this is the balance between. The natural and the spiritual.

So he's using a natural illustration saying, if your eye is good, so if your natural eye, Don't have cataracts, for example. You know, if you have a bunch of cataracts, then you can't see good out of your eye. Or if you have been blinded by some accident that you've encountered, then you can't see.

So That's the natural illustration, but the spiritual meaning behind this is that those things that your eye sees. if it's done for the kingdom. Then, this is a good thing, and your eye is going to be full of light. And as a result, when you see things, you're going to see things. How?

Through the lens of the Bible, as we always say.

So we look through the lens of Bible. And we don't quickly respond. But if a person is coming to us, asking us questions about various things. Then we just let the Spirit of God lead us because we have studied to show ourselves approved. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Weave. We've done that. And so as a result of studying, now we have been. We got that stamp of approval from God. to say now because you've been faithful That word is in you.

I can use that word. by the Holy Spirit To deliver whatever message it is that he needs to deliver to you, to whoever you're talking to: a person, a group, your family. church members whatever the case may be but If your eye is bad, then the opposite is true.

So you're going to be seeing things spiritually. that is against The Spirit.

So you're going to be looking at things in the opposite way because the opposite of light is darkness. And what's the definition of darkness? The absence of light.

So if I don't have light, If I don't have any light, then darkness is going to always prevail. Verse 24. No one can serve two masters. Either you hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

So, this is a classic. I think everybody gets this a little bit misquoted. And it's what is it? They often say the love of money is the root of evil, is the right thing. Money, money, money is the root of all evil.

Yeah, whereas it's whereas the scripture says the love, love of money. Yeah, there you go. Yeah, at least I was holding to the scripture piece instead of the secular piece.

So, there you go.

So, that and that's good, Roy. Yeah. That's good. Go go ahead and finish what you were going to say. I'm sorry.

No, no, I was just going to say that's uh that's if you talk to most people. You know, we've done enough with men and conversations, retreats, counseling that you've done, and all the different things that we've talked about. The number one worry for most men is What? Livelihood. Taking care of their family so they can take care of their family, not necessarily being Possessed by the more money, but as much as it is for a lot of men, anyway, just making sure they can provide for their families and have a future.

Um but There are those that get past that, and then all of a sudden, that's all it's got to have another boat, got to have another truck, got to have another this, got to have another that. And they're never satisfied. And then this goes back to the earlier scripture: what they're focused on, their treasure, is in the wrong place. It's because their heart's about gaining more and earning more rather than serving more and loving more. You know, and I hope I don't get this quote wrong, but I remember.

It was either I think it was Rockefeller. And I could be wrong, but someone came up to him and asked him. How much money is too much? Yeah. And he said one dollar more.

Yeah. So we knew where his heart was. His heart was making that next dollar. He was looking for that next dollar. How can I make that next dollar?

How can I become a little bit more richer and a little bit more richer? And when money controls you, then it's evil. And that's what that scripture refers to when it says the love of money.

So if you love it so much. That again, you put it before God, you put it. you know, before your family or anything like that. Then, what happens is money begins to control you instead of you letting the Holy Spirit control the money in which He has given you, and then to use that wisely. That's good.

Very good. So anything else? wheel we want to talk about around treasures in heaven uh and and then Go deeper in these scriptures and our next category is about worry. Which I know in this in these times is over the last several years has been a big topic for most people. Yeah.

And, you know, we Have an obligation, and our obligation is to the Lord God first and foremost. And I think once we understand that, then everything else is going to begin to fall into place. And it's like we're Talking about and being by the Holy Spirit in our breakfast meetings that we only have one purpose. And our one purpose is Jesus' purpose. And when Jesus stood before Pilate and Pilate began to question his kingship, Jesus said, you say that I'm a king, you know, so you're rightly saying.

that I am a king. Then Jesus saith these words. He said four. This calls. was I born.

And for this purpose. came I into the world. And that's That's the more modern version. to bear witness to the truth. How can we bear witness to the truth?

If we are allowing money. To control us. We're looking down on people as a result of our money. We are looking at the disenfranchised and the displaced people as people that's in our way. and and really not helping our cause.

So, because we're looking at money.

So, if we're looking at money, we're not seeing what's happening in our world, in our community, you know, in our relationships. With each other, because we are half-hearted, if you will. We're looking at what you ever have that we can benefit from. And the other half that We can't benefit from because they're not helping us along the way in getting that next dollar, then we don't want to have anything to do with them.

So that's the wrong view. When we are faithful in giving to God. What belongs to him? Then God will indeed bless. We don't have to do a lot of things openly.

We don't have to tell people: this is what we're doing, this is what we're doing, this is what we're doing. And less That's going to help someone in building up their desire to want to do something similar or something to that effect. You know, then we can share those things, but we don't have to be that little horn on the hill. you know tooting every xyz that we've done for the kingdom But if we let the Holy Spirit lead and guide us on when to share. What to share?

Then that's the blessing because we don't have to share everything. Everything is. There's a whole lot of things. when we worked in the, when I worked in the marketplace. You know, there was a lot of things that upper management could not share.

Because they were Under direction. from their superiors to say these things you cannot share because maybe we don't have an answer or we are still uncertain about what we want to do to X, Y, and Z. but there's other things you can share, but. The minds of the employee work this way.

Well, if there's something you're not sharing, me, it must be a bad thing.

So, and then, and that's how that's how we look at things.

So, if we if we don't have. of reason Clearly, as to what's happening, then we absolutely think the worst. And I'm saying that shouldn't be the case at all. We should just wait. Until we hear what's happening And then we just let God bless us to go along.

And of course, this is going to lead into worrying. what we're talking about now. You know, in the next segment. Sure.

Well wheel it um that that will take care of our first first segment for this particular show. any prayer requests that you have or anything you'd like to close with and We'll cover the worry on the next episode.

Well, let's just con ro pray for the nation. I think that's my. That's my prayer.

So much is happening, and so much. Division And so much conflict that I think that. If we don't continue to pray for the nation. I think the nation is going to slowly go into the quagmire, but. The only reason why God is upholding The nation of the United States of America, it's because of the Holy Spirit working through the true.

believers not not the phonies but the true believers of God. Even if it's one, if it's just one individual in that nation that's Fully committed. to putting their faith and trust in God. Then God is going to bless that nation.

So I agree. Yeah, so let's just Pray for the nation, and you can lead us into prayer. Sure.

Father, we just thank you for this time together. And Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside of Will. And we just thank you for. Your blessings allowing us to do this podcast together. Father, I do pray for our country.

Pray for all the people that are struggling with. Homelessness, Father, I pray for those who are dealing with sickness and Lord for the division, as Will mentioned earlier. We see that in so many different ways. Lifelong friends, family members, and everything getting sideways with each other over political. Positioning versus biblical.

Direction and guidance and reasoning, Father.

So we just ask for your wake-up call. to occur within our nation, Father, continue the movement that has started with So many people coming back to you, Father.

So many young folks and young men are coming back into church and are becoming young men of faith and young women of faith. And we just thank you for that, Father. And we just ask that you help us as being on the other end of the spectrum to help grow that movement, Father, to invest in others so that it will continue on as. As you move us into other directions and in our walk, Father, we thank you, Lord, for all your blessings. We love you, and we honor you and we praise you.

It's in your Son's precious name. Amen. Amen. As we conclude today's show, Talking and Walking Christian Men's Ministry is building a community of men to be servant leaders in their home, schools, churches, and work environment. Visit our website for upcoming events and regular scheduled meetings.

And don't forget to send us an email. for topics that you would like us to visit in the future. Thank you for joining us today on Man Talk. That website again is tawcmm.com. Men walking the talk.