Jesus continues to call us to be different from the various impressionable cultures of our times. To be counter-cultural requires us to swim against the tide, not succumb or be molded by the pressures of the world but be able to LIVE AUTHENTIC KINGDOM LIVES THAT PLEASE GOD. Earlier in Matthew ch. 6 Jesus talked about hypocrisy of the religious [6:1-18] and in this passage [6:19-34] he talks about the materialism of the irreligious. He moves us from those actions required in the private life [the ‘secret place’] (such as fasting, giving, praying) to our public business in the world (such as money, possessions, food, drink, clothing, ambition). But the focus all through remains on the Heavenly Father – earlier we saw a repeating phrase that our Heavenly father sees in secret and rewards us…In this passage, we see the phrase our heavenly father knows that we have need for food, drink and clothing,
Many of the world’s problems are a result of the pursuit of money or the greed for it [the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer, peril of materialism, greed with an incessant desire for more, no contentment in life and the never-ending pursuit of wealth]. The devil through the various attractions of the world continues to haunt us by telling us lies that we don’t have enough. We as Christ followers should not fall into the same trap of earthly desires and materialism by setting our hearts on earthly pursuits and buying into those lies the devil is telling us.
THE REAL POINT OF MATERIALISM IS NOT HOW MUCH WE HAVE, BUT WHAT HAS US. IT’S NOT WHAT WE HOLD, BUT HOW TIGHTLY WE HOLD IT. NOT WHAT WE HAVE, BUT HOW WE GOT IT. THE TEST OF MATERIALISM IS WHETHER OUR GOODS HAVE MADE US PROUD OR GRATEFUL, SELF-SUFFICIENT OR GOD-SUFFICIENT. Author Unknown
But does it matter, you may ask when everyone else is doing it? Certainly it does matter in the grand scheme of things. Rather than going with the flow, we need to see which pursuit has eternal significance, value and merit and choose wisely.
In this passage, we see more contrasts namely treasures in heaven versus treasures on earth; good eye verses bad eye, light verses darkness; God verses money; Building our Kingdom versus God‘s Kingdom.
George W. Truett, a well-known American pastor, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.
Pointing to the oil wells punctuating the landscape, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.” Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, “That’s all mine.” Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, “They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “That too is all mine.”
He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, “How much do you have in that direction?” The man hung his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.”
1. TREASURES IN HEAVEN (6:19-21)
Jesus urges us not to lay up treasures on earth where most and dust destroy or thieves break in and steal rather to lay up treasures in heaven where moth or dust cannot destroy or corrupt and thieves are unable to break in and steal.
Treasures on earth are money, property, assets etc which only have short-term benefits and are associated with lots of insecurity. These are the things of the world that we often fall in love which in turn ensnare us. The Bible warns us against falling in love with the world and its many attractions 1 Jn 2:15 – Do not love the world, or things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Treasures in heaven have greater significance & long-term benefits & are secure since they don’t corrupt or get spoilt or stolen.
Jesus is not advocating a transaction on earth to get a credit in heaven. There is nothing like a ‘Bank of Heaven’ with branches in your local neighborhood where you can make a deposit here and do a withdrawal when you get to heaven. Many World religions however advocate this philosophy. They say Do good works here on earth, and then you will reap benefits in heaven for eternity or if you do good works on earth, then you will have better prospects in your next rebirth/life.
So what did Jesus mean when he said laying up treasures in heaven? Certainly he didn’t mean taking with us worldly treasures since we cannot carry things with us when we die and go to be with the Lord. Death is a great equalizer. Whether you are rich or poor, you cannot take anything with you.
These treasures that can be stored up in heaven are things that you can actually take with you when you go not the ones you cannot take. These are righteous acts of your faith, your Christ-like character, acts of charity, prayerful life, heart of gratitude, experiencing and demonstrating the love of God, a peaceable nature and harmonious relationships and winning souls for God. These are the treasures you can save up in heaven and these are of eternal significance.
LIFE IS NOT ABOUT THE ABUNDANCE OF POSSESSIONS RATHER IT IS ABOUT GENEROUS GIVING AND SELFLESS LIVING.
Does that mean we should not earn, save or invest on earth? No, Jesus doesn’t prohibit saving for a rainy day, or being prudent or conscientious, providing for ourselves and others. In fact, in many other parts of the scriptures prudence, stewardship, hard work, saving, investing etc are commended. What Jesus counters here is covetousness, greed, selfishness and self-centeredness. The key word there is ‘do not store up for yourselves’. Jesus is against hoarding or accumulation of goods here on earth since they would eventually be destroyed or stolen, rather he urges us to store up in heaven things that cannot be destroyed and have eternal significance. Jesus had some stern words for the rich in his day and said that unless they give up their hold on riches, they cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Apostles Paul in 1 Tim 6:17 says ‘as for the rich in this age, charge the not to be haughty nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy’.
Knowing very well about the enticing nature of wealth, Jesus would say ‘Where you treasure is, there your heart is also” because he knows very well that our hearts are inevitably focused on our treasures? If our treasures are on earth then our heart is set on earthly things but if we accumulate treasures in heaven, then our heart is heavenly minded and set on heavenly things. Heaven is our final destination anyway and so it is better to have our eyes fixed on that rather than on earthly attractions. The Psalmist in 62:10 gives prudent advice when he says ‘If your riches increase, set not your heart on them’.
2. SPIRITUALLY FOCUSED (Mt. 6:22-23)
When the Eye is healthy, it will allow light into the body and we are able to see and the body will be full of light. If the eye is bad or unhealthy then it will not allow light into the body and we will not be able to see. The body will be full of darkness (because there is the absence of light).
The Eye metaphorically represents the heart. If the heart is focused on spiritual things, then our entire lives will be spiritually enriched and blessed. But if heart is spiritually blind (i.e., earthly focused), then our lives will remain in darkness.
Where there is light, there is absence of darkness. Where there is darkness there is absence of light. Light and darkness cannot co-exist. So it is an encouragement that just like a good eye lets us see the path ahead, a spiritually sensitive heart sets our focus on Jesus ‘the light of the world’ and we will enable us to take our future steps in this world with confidence knowing that in following Jesus we will gain abundant life.
3. SERVING TWO MASTERS (MT. 6:24)
In the same way, that Jesus contrasts the good heart and bad heart, he also brings into picture a good and bad choice. He says that one cannot be a slave to two masters at the same time. A slave is completely and in full time service of the Master. A Christian who is loving and serving God whole-heartedly cannot do the same with money. Similarly, a Christian who is money-minded cannot truly worship God or be committed to Him. The Love of God and the Love of Money are incompatible with each other. So we need to choose and do that wisely – Do we serve God or Money?
1 Tim 6:10 the love of money is the root of all evil. Money in itself is not bad, but the love of it and the relentless pursuit of it is evil. Such Evil and Goodness cannot co-exist within us.
4. THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF WORRY (Mt. 6:25-33)
4.1 WORRY DISTURBS YOU (Mt. 6:25)
Jesus here teaches us how we as people who put our treasures in heaven, live a life enabled by the Spirit and choose God over material possessions should not be worried. He urges us not to be worried about three things – food, drink and clothing. In other words he says, don’t be anxious about life. Jesus says that life is more important than food and drink and body is more important than clothing. We often focus on the lesser things [food, drink and clothing] in life, but God has given us greater things that we need to cherish, hold dearly and be grateful for. Since life and body being greater things than food and clothing, and they have been given to us by God, won’t he also provide the lesser things?
He proceeds to give two examples from nature
4.2 WORRY DISHONORS GOD (Mt. 6:26-30)
Jesus urges us to look at the Birds of the air – they don’t sow nor reap or gather into barns – but our Heavenly Father feeds them. He reminds us that we are of more value than the birds of the air.
The birds of the air are looked after by God through nature and through his natural provisions. God doesn’t literally feed the birds but he has setup patterns, processes and rhythms in nature by which the birds get fed. How much more valuable are we than the birds of the air ?
Jesus is not advocating laziness but industry (hard work, investment, saving) with complete trust & dependence on God. But by being anxious we are not adding to your life span rather reducing it. Worry depletes our energies and saps life out of us.
Many are anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies, says Jesus, they grow and don’t toil or spin, but even Solomon [the wisest, richest and the most extravagant kind of Israel] in all his glory was not arrayed like the lilies of the field.
God clothes the grass which is there today and gone tomorrow so won’t he clothe you, one of little faith? Again he is not advocating laziness, but God can and will bless the work of our hands, only if we trust Him and depend on him to provide for our needs. Worrying removes our focus from God and moves us towards self-reliance. In this manner, it brings dishonor to God.
4.3 WORRY DISTRACTS US (Mt. 6:31-34)
By thinking of these three things – food, drink and clothing we are behaving like the pagans who also think of these things. The message however is to be different from the Gentiles who seek after material things. We need to set our heart on what is of higher importance and of eternal worth and seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. God knows that we need other things to sustain ourselves and He will provide graciously.
Worry pulls over tomorrow’s cloud over today’s sunshine C.Swindoll
Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow. It only saps today of its joy. Leo Buscaglia
Worrying for tomorrow is unwarranted. Each day has enough trouble of itself and God gives us grace for each day. God will give enough grace for worries of tomorrow. Some of those worries may never come to pass so we worry unnecessarily.
Let’s focus on trusting God for our today and tomorrows. Anxiety is not the solution rather it becomes the problem – the solution to worry is growing our trust in God and this comes through seeking Him and His Kingdom first.
Julian's Adventures of Faith 