Is it okay for a Christian to be rich? Can we follow the words of Jesus and still be blessed in this world? Or must we sacrifice everything in this world as the only way to store up treasure in heaven? Hey friends, Michael Brown here. Welcome back to the line of fire.
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On the words of Jesus. Right now going through the sermon. on the mount. And we come to the end of the sixth chapter. Where Yeshua says this.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and vermin destroy. and where thieves break in and steal. But store 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, We'll go through verse 19 where we just started Matthew 6 to the end of the chapter in this teaching.
So I'm not going to spend as much time on each verse. But we know in the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus often uses extreme language. And we know that when he says, cut off your hand, gouge out your eye, he's using figures of speech to underscore points. and the points he's making are factual and literal, and he's using certain language to underscore those points. He's obviously not saying you can't have anything good in this world.
Why do I say that?
Well, the Bible mentions that there were rich women that helped support the ministry of Jesus and traveled together at times with a band of disciples. And we know in 1 Timothy 6 that Paul warns those who are rich in this world not to put their trust in uncertain riches, but to be generous. It doesn't tell them that they can't have possessions. And we know that through the Old Testament, that God blessed his people. in this world.
and that poverty in and of itself is not a blessing but a curse. In other words, People starving to death in and of itself, that's not a blessing. People homeless in and of itself is not a blessing. No, those people may be the first to come to the Lord. And those who are rich and caught up in their riches may be the last to come to the Lord.
But we know that God's a God of provision, that he meets our needs. The question is: where's our heart? The question is, what is our emphasis? The question is, what are we giving our utmost time and attention to? That's where our treasures are.
So it's fine better to have a car that runs. than a car that doesn't run. Better to have a house that doesn't leak. than a house that does leak. Better if you're traveling overseas.
and and and can get an airline that's reliable as to another one where you got to go through 14 other cities and it takes you four times as long and half the flights are canceled. Yeah better to get there in one piece, obviously. but our treasure. What matters most. What we live for.
What we die for. That should be That which is eternal. That's which will last forever. Relationships are things that will last forever.
Souls being saved. Those are things that will last forever. helping others in sacrificial ways. for the gospel and out of love. That will last forever.
If our treasure, maybe you have a beautiful home, God bless you. Great. Maybe you got a a fine car. God bless you. Great.
But don't let that be your treasure. Instead, let your treasure be the things of God. and the things of the spirit. and the things that will last forever, because those cannot be touched. by the things in this world.
Those cannot be touched by moth or vermin, rust. They can't be touched. Thieves can't touch those things. Let that be your great emphasis. And then if God blesses you in this world, wonderful, good.
It takes care of you. You can help and bless others. That's all good and fine. Then Jesus says this, the I. is the lamp of the body.
If your eyes are healthy, Your whole body will be full of life. 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?
Some say this is a related teaching. that Jesus brings in here. simply to emphasize how we need to be single-minded. And how we cannot have dual interests. I'm a slave to this world, and I'm a slave to the kingdom of God.
That's not going to work. Others would say that the idea of having an unhealthy eye is also an evil eye. which in Old Testament usage could be being stingy. being stingy. And having a healthy eye was another way of speaking of being generous.
So that you would say that Jesus is continuing the teaching here about generosity versus stinginess. and as stinginess characterizes your life, the spiritual darkness within you is great. There are scholars, especially those who emphasize Jewish roots in the New Testament, who will teach that. And others will say that's really not the clear meaning. The Greek would go in a different direction.
Either way what's clear. is that our hearts cannot be divided, which is the the next point that Jesus makes in verse 24, no one can serve two masters. Either you'll hate the one and love the other, Or you be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money or God and mammon. which is really the the deity of of money, the god of money.
It's not a matter of having things, as many have said. It's a matter of those things having you.
So again If God blesses you in this world, here, let me ask you a question. Are you any closer to God if your shoes have holes in them Or if you have a new pair of shoes. Are you closer to God with... with holes in your shoes. Are you closer to God when your car has to go in for repair every week?
because it's so run down. Are you closer to God? When you can't afford air conditioning and it's 120 degrees and you can't sleep at night. Because it's so hot. Does that make you closer to God?
If in the calling of God, You have to live like that at times, at a sacrifice. You go to be a pioneer missionary in a difficult country, and nobody has funds, and that's how you live. If that's for the gospel, praise God, you have treasure in heaven. But in and of itself, I discovered that it did not make me any closer to God. to live in a small, cramped, uncomfortable house, As opposed to a spacious house, the small, cramped house didn't get me any closer to God.
And having a run-down car that had to be repaired all the time did not get me any closer to God. In fact, it sapped time and energy. and money.
So If God provides you, blesses you, wonderful. It says in 1 Timothy 6 also: God richly gives us all things to enjoy. Rejoice in it. I've got a blessed home. I rejoice in that.
Nancy can work in the garden outside. I rejoice in that. I'm glad my car runs and doesn't break down all the time. I rejoice in that, but my heart is not there. I'm not serving these things.
I'm not living for these things.
So maybe your business has become your God. Maybe your possessions have become your God. Maybe those things drive you more than the things of God. Those things are more important to you than the things of God. Then you have a divided heart, and that's the very thing Jesus is warning about.
You say, yeah, but but don't I don't I care about Food and drink.
Well Here's what the Lord says. Verse twenty five, I tell you Don't worry about your life. It's not give no thought. But don't worry. Don't don't be anxious about your life.
about we eat or drink, or about your body. You'll wear, is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not st sow, or reap, or stir away in barns. and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not much more valuable than they Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life. It's folly to be anxious and to worry. I know it could happen to anyone. We've been through enough times of financial pressure in our lives and our ministry. I know it can happen, but the Lord's saying it doesn't do any good.
I was all worried.
Okay, how is that going to pay your bills? I'm more worried. How is that gonna... Get your your your kid new clothes. Uh that.
I'm worried about my health. How's it gonna help your health? Worrying doesn't change anything. It can't turn your hair black or white. It can't add an inch to your height.
All it is is destructive.
Now, Paul makes clear in 2 Thessalonians that if anyone won't work, they shouldn't eat. Such are my laziness. Struggle in an attitude of the heart and mind. What kind of God do we serve? Who is he?
What's he really like? Look at nature. Look at the birds. Look at how beautiful some of them are. With Nancy being a master landscaper and gardener, I just look at it.
It's like, look at the painting that you, you just painted a portrait in our front yard, it's amazing. Look at this. And Just the different animals and how they live and survive. God provides How much more are you and me? How much more you and me if he provides for that little bird but he provides for the worm?
for the insect. How much more you And me. Let it be an attitude of your heart, God, it's for you. He wants to bless you. He wants to help you.
And when we follow him in obedience and live by the principles he gives us. We don't have to worry. Oh, is he gonna like smite me down and try to take away everything I have because I can't have anything nice? No. Just keep your heart in the right place.
Put your treasures in heaven. And one good way to get your treasures in heaven is to be generous. to help others. Because now, and to lead people to the Lord, because now you're living for eternity. You're living to bless.
And it changes where your heart is. As someone said, your heart will follow your treasure. Man, I'm just so caught up with the things this world.
Well, then shift and start to give and help and get involved with gospel work in your heart. will follow. your treasure. Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow they do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field which is here to day, And tomorrow's thrown into the fire. Will he not much more clothe you? You little faith?
So do not worry saying, What shall we eat? What shall we drink? What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Friend, be comforted.
Your heavenly father knows your needs Jesus is walking into your room right now. It's walking into your bedroom, walking into your living room. sitting in the car with you. Palempacha work. put his arm around you and say, hey.
Dad knows. He's he's got this. He's got this. Let peace come. Let confidence rise.
This is the God we serve. This is His love. David said, I've been young now, I'm old, I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed. Baking bread. Wow.
He provides. even in times of great hardship, God comes through. He's amazing. you may not be living on Philemon. uh at Ruth Chris Steakhouse.
During a time of famine, But God can meet you even during a time of famine. Biggest thing, attitude. Lord, I trust you. Lord, just let peace come in your heart. I remember so many times getting hit with worry and fear, And we've had a foreclosure in our history.
And even God turned that around ultimately, a foreclosure and a bankruptcy, basically. And he turned things around and blessed us. We understand what it's like to... You go through financial calamity and challenge, and some of you have had it 100 times worse than us. but all the fears, all the nightmares, they ultimately didn't come to pass.
He provided He made a way for us. We weren't destitute on the street. He will help you, he will care for you. And then he says... Your Father knows you need these things, so seek first his kingdom.
and his righteousness. And all these things will be given to you as well. Seek him first. Seek him first, seek him first.
So many times God frustrated my plans and frustrated my efforts and frustrated all the stuff I was trying to do. Why? Because we want me to seek him first. Seek him first. I was putting him last.
Seek him first. And all these things will be added to you. They'll be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. Can I pray for you? Lord, certainly there are some listening, some watching, that are stressed. that are under real pressure. that don't know a way out.
Lord, for those that made big mistakes. or who are even suffering because of sin. As they repented and turned to you, I ask you to be gracious and even in your forgiveness. to restore intangible ways. Lord, for others that are just going through difficult, challenging times and there's no funds for this or that, job market is bad, unexpected things have happened.
I pray first. that their hearts would turn to you in trust. that there would be a sense of confidence in your goodness and that as they seek you first you would come through for them and bless them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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