Two illustrations concerning our tendency to worry...

This week we are looking at a part of perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which we know today as the Sermon in the Mount. Yesterday, we looked at Matthew 6:25, where Jesus commanded the crowds listening to Him to not become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety. Jesus then reinforced His command by asking a rhetorical question: “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

We then talked about the reality that while we may intellectually agree that life is more than food, and the body more than clothing, emotionally we still can find ourselves in a place where we become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety. We can still find ourselves in a place where our behavior betrays what we say we believe when it comes to this issue of worry.

Or maybe you are wondering why Jesus would command people to not become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety. I mean, in the grand scheme of all the things that Jesus could focus on and command people to do when it comes to having a right relationship with God, why would He focus on the issue of worry?

We then discovered that Jesus was connecting the issue of money and worry to reveal the reality that worry distracts our devotion from God to something other than God. What we become overly concerned about so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety about is what we end up becoming devoted to. Worry distracts our devotion from God to something other than God. After asking this rhetorical question, Jesus then provides an illustration to the crowds listening in Matthew 6:26-27:

 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? ²⁷ "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

Jesus pointed the crowds listening to His sermon to the birds of the air. Now if Jesus was communicating this illustration in the language we use in our culture today, this illustration would have sounded something like this: “For example, have you ever given any serious thought to how birds survive?  I mean, let’s consider how a bird lives out their life here on earth. After all, how much control do birds have when it comes to where they get their food? How worried are they about their future? Do you see birds building extra storage facilities for their food because they are worried about where their food will come from in the future? Do the birds spend all kinds of energy and effort because they are concerned about their future survival? No, birds live with a rhythm of life and God provides for them as they live within that rhythm.”

Jesus then asked the crowd another rhetorical question:  Are you not worth much more than they? Again, the reason why this question was rhetorical is due to the fact that the answer to this question should be so obvious that it did not require an answer. Human beings, as image bearers of God made in the image of God are far more valuable than anything else in the creation.

And while that rhetorical question was hanging in the air, Jesus asked yet another rhetorical question: "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” Now when Jesus uses the word hour here, this word, in the language that this letter was originally written in, was a term that was used to measure a length of something. This word could be used to measure time, and this word could be used to measure height.

So, on the one hand, since the context suggests that Jesus here is addressing worry over finding food and drink, which helps one grow, Jesus could be making a hyperbolic and humorous statement about increasing one's height. Jesus point could be that the crowds listening to His sermon did not grow to their present height by worrying. On the other hand, Jesus could be making a hyperbolic statement about adding time to their life. Jesus point could be that the crowds listening to His sermon cannot add any time to their life by worrying.

Either way, Jesus overarching point with this illustration remained the same. And that point is that worrying changes nothing about the things that we have no control over. Jesus then provides a second illustration to the crowds in verse 28-30:

"And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

Here we see Jesus ask a question designed to shift the focus of the crowd from food and onto another aspect of life that people often worry about: "And why are you worried about clothing?” Jesus then pointed the crowds listening to His sermon to another illustration, the lilies of the field. Now if Jesus was communicating this illustration in the language we use in our culture today, this illustration would have sounded something like this:

“For example, what do we learn about God from the lilies of the field? I mean how much control do they have when it comes to what they wear? Do you see the lilies of the field spending all kinds of effort and energy when it comes to what they are going to wear because they are worried about where their clothes will come from in the future? Yet a field full of lilies is more beautiful clothed then the wisest and richest king who ever led our nation. And have you ever considered how long the lilies of the field live? I mean, they are around for a few weeks in the spring until the scorching desert sun withers them away. And then they are gathered up and thrown into a stove to provide fuel for you to cook your food and survive. If God provides in such a way for what is only temporary, then how much more will He provide for you who are created in His image. Why do you have so little trust in God!”

After providing these illustrations, Jesus then brought the crowds listening back around to the issue of worry. Friday, we will see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth surrounding the issue of worry...

The disconnect between our head and our heart when it comes to the issue of worry...

At the church where I serve, we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled Jesus uncut. During this series, we are spending our time together looking at perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. During this series, we are going to see Jesus reveal to the crowds listening to His sermon, and to us here today, the true nature of what God demands of humanity in order to experience a right relationship with Him and what it truly means to obey the message and teachings of the letters that make up the Bible.

And during this series, as we see Jesus uncut, our hope and prayer is that God would move by the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that enables us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as one who is living in a right relationship with Him.  This week I would like for us to pick up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached that is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew, we are going to discover another timeless truth from Jesus uncut. So, let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Matthew 6:25:

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

As Matthew continues to give us a front row seat to this famous sermon that Jesus preached, we see Jesus command those listening to His sermon, and humanity throughout history, to do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Now when Jesus uses the word worried here, this word literally means to be anxious or apprehensive in a way that results in one being unduly concerned about something. So, Jesus is commanding the crowds listening to Him to not become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety.

Jesus then reinforced His command by asking a rhetorical question: “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Now the reason why this question is rhetorical was due to the fact that the answer to this question should be so obvious that it did not require an answer. After all, as we have talked about throughout this series, the whole point of Jesus sermon has been about how one is able to enter and be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Throughout this sermon, Jesus has hammered home that being right with God involves moving past external rules and regulations to having the heart and character of God that is revealed in us as we live a life that is lived in obedience to God by doing the right thing. Throughout this sermon Jesus has repeatedly pointed to the reality that the Kingdom of Heaven transcends what we tend to focus on when it comes to being right with God. So, the answer to this question, based on all that Jesus has said so far in this sermon, should be obvious, shouldn’t it?

But is it obvious? I mean, if we are brutally honest, when we look at how we often live our life, it often seems like the answer to this question is not obvious.  If we are brutally honest, what we spend our time, talent, treasure, and thoughts on often seems to reveal that the answer to this question is not obvious?

While we may intellectually agree that life is more than food, and the body more than clothing, emotionally we still can find ourselves in a place where we become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety. We can still find ourselves in a place where our behavior betrays what we say we believe when it comes to this issue of worry.

Or maybe you are wondering why Jesus would make such a command. Maybe you are wondering why Jesus would command people to not become overly concerned about the day to day aspects of life here on earth so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety. I mean, in the grand scheme of all the things that Jesus could focus on and command people to do when it comes to having a right relationship with God, why would He focus on the issue of worry?

If you that question is running through your mind, I want to let you know that you are asking a great question. And the answer to that question is found in the phrase “for this reason”.  You see, when Jesus uses the phrase “for this reason”, He is pointing the crowds listening back to what He had just said. Last week, in Matthew 6:24, we looked on as Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve two masters. Jesus pointed to the reality that we cannot be totally committed to two differing options.

We talked about the reality that Jesus talked so much about money, possessions, and treasure because of the reality that we follow what we are focused on. And we cannot serve God and money because we will serve what we are devoted to. We talked about the reality that God and money, possessions, and treasure compete with God for our total devotion. And because of that reality, we will either be totally devoted to God, or we will be totally devoted to money, possessions, and treasure. And God uses money to reveal who we love and trust more.

Jesus here is connecting the issue of money and worry to reveal the reality that worry distracts our devotion from God to something other than God. What we become overly concerned about so as to be consumed by apprehension and anxiety about is what we end up becoming devoted to. Worry distracts our devotion from God to something other than God. After asking this rhetorical question, Jesus then provides an illustration to the crowds listening.

Tomorrow, we will look at that illustration…

A right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure...

This week we are looking a section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew. So far, we have seen Jesus focus for a second time in this sermon on the issue of money. We looked on as Jesus commanded the crowds listening that they were not to store up for themselves treasures on earth.

Instead of focusing on the accumulation of money, possessions, and treasure on earth, Jesus commanded the crowds listening to His sermon to store up, to accumulate for yourselves treasure in Heaven. Jesus point to the crowds listening was that instead of focusing on making deposits in their earthly bank accounts and retirement funds in a way that is focused on building a kingdom of money, possessions, and treasure here on earth for themselves, Jesus commands the crowds to make deposits in their heavenly bank accounts.

 Jesus then explained to the crowd that when they accumulated treasures in Heaven; when they made deposits into their heavenly bank accounts, those investments cannot be consumed by the things on earth. Jesus wanted the crowds to clearly understand that while treasure on earth is temporary, treasure in Heaven lasts for eternity.

 Jesus then revealed the timeless reason behind His command to store up treasure in Heaven with the timeless principle that our true desires are revealed by what we invest in. Jesus point is that people will invest in the things that they are devoted to. Jesus point is that those who are involved in a right relationship with God and who are growing and maturing in that relationship will respond to all that God has done for them by investing in God’s kingdom mission because they treasure God above everything else.

Jesus then used a metaphor to reveal the reality that we follow what we are focused on. Jesus explained that those who are focused on storing up treasures in Heaven will reveal and reflect Jesus to others. They will reflect Jesus’ generosity. They will reflect Jesus’ desire to love and serve God and others through the money, possessions, and treasure that we have while we live life on earth. And as they reveal and reflect Jesus to others, the result is that they will advance God’s Kingdom and enhance God’s reputation.

Jesus then contrasted the person who is singularly focused on storing up treasures in Heaven with the person who is focused on storing up treasures on earth. Jesus then explained to the crowds listening that the end result of having spiritual eyes that are unhealthy due to being clouded by greed is that the person is described as being full of darkness. To be full of darkness conveys the sense of an absence of Christ-likeness in a person’s life.

Jesus then explained that if the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. But what does that mean? Jesus point is that the person whose life is clouded by greed and selfishness and that focuses on storing up treasures for themselves on earth is full of spiritual and moral darkness as well.

Now, another question that could arise here would be “Well Dave can’t I do both? Can’t I store up treasure in Heaven and store up treasures here on earth?”  I don’t know about you, but sometimes we can find ourselves trying to have it both ways, can’t we? I can find myself tempted to try to have my feet in both worlds, so to speak. So, can’t we do both? Can’t we store up treasures on earth and in Heaven? We see Jesus provide the answer to this question in Matthew 6:24:

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Jesus, in verse 24, makes it clear that we cannot serve two masters. When Jesus uses the word serve here, He is referring to someone who acts in total allegiance and total commitment to someone or something. Jesus point is that a person cannot be totally committed to two differing options. Jesus point is that a person cannot serve God and money not only because of the reality that they will follow what they are focused on. Here Jesus is revealing to the crowds the reality that we cannot serve God and money because we will serve what we are devoted to.

The timeless reality is that God, on the one hand, and money, possessions, and treasure, on the other hand, compete for our total devotion. Jesus point is that we will either be totally devoted to God, or we will be totally devoted to money, possessions, and treasure. Jesus here is revealing the reality that God uses money to reveal who we love and trust more. God basically says “Do you love me? Do you trust me? Do you love me more than your money? Do you love me more than your possessions? Do you love me more than your treasure? Do you love and trust me enough to handle your money and finances according to my principles, or are you going to handle your money finances your way?”

And it is here that we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus.  And that timeless truth is this: A right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure. Just as it was for those who were listening to this famous sermon; just as it has been for humanity throughout history; A right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure.

You see, Jesus circled back to the issue of money because Jesus knew that how we handle money reveals our spiritual condition. Jesus circled back to the issue of money because Jesus knew that how we handle money reveals who or what has our heart. Because, this morning, the timeless reality is that we spend money on what we love. We follow what we are focused on. And we will serve what we are devoted to.

Once again, we see that Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that eventually what is in the heart will spill out. And, as Jesus points out in this part of His famous sermon, a right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure.

So here is a question to consider: What does how you handle your treasure reveal about what you treasure? Because, as Jesus stated, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And the timeless reality is that God and money, possessions, and treasure compete for our total devotion.

So, what does your checkbook say about what or who you treasure? Because, as we discovered this morning, a right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure. You see, when it comes to money and treasure, God does not want something from us; God wants something for us.

God wants for us to experience the relationship with Him that we were created for. And, as Jesus points out in this part of His famous sermon, a right relationship with God requires that we handle our treasure in a way that demonstrates that we treasure Jesus as our ultimate treasure....

We follow what we focus on...

This week we have been looking at a part of perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is known today as the Sermon on the Mount. Tuesday, we looked on as Jesus commanded the crowds listening, and followers of Jesus throughout history, not to center our lives on money, possessions and the treasures of this world. Jesus used a play on words that literally means do not treasure treasure.

Jesus then explained the reason behind His command by revealing the reality that treasures on earth temporary and are easily consumed by the things of the earth. Just as a moth consumes cloth or rust consumes metal, or a thief consumes our money, possessions, and treasure by stealing, the things of this earth are consumed by the things of the earth.

Instead of focusing on the accumulation of money, possessions, and treasure on earth, Jesus commanded the crowds listening to His sermon to store up, to accumulate for yourselves treasure in Heaven. Jesus wanted the crowds to clearly understand that while treasure on earth is temporary, treasure in Heaven lasts for eternity.

 Jesus then made a statement that revealed the timeless principle that our true desires are revealed by what we invest in. Jesus pointed out that people will invest in the things that they are devoted to. Jesus point is that those who are involved in a right relationship with God and who are growing and maturing in that relationship will respond to all that God has done for them by investing in God’s kingdom mission because they treasure God above everything else.

You see, the reality is that we can tell what we love by looking at where our treasure goes. Jesus point here is that if you want to know what you are truly devoted to, just take a minute and look at your checkbook and your credit card statement. Because your checkbook and credit card statement communicate the truth about what you truly love and are devoted to.  Jesus then used a metaphor to hammer His point home in Matthew 6:22-23. Let’s look at it together:

"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

Now to fully understand the metaphor that Jesus uses here, we first need to understand what Jesus is talking about when He refers to the eye as the lamp of the body. When Jesus uses the word eye, He is referring to our spiritual eyes and what they focus on. This is important because our bodies follow what our eyes focus on. I learned this principle first hand during a mountain bike trip outside of Kingman. During my ride, I approached a steep downward section of the trail that was covered with baseball sized rocks.

Now sometimes when mountain biking, you come to situations where you realize that you have lost control of the speed of your bike. And as I gained speed down this section of the trail, this was one of those times. About ¾ of the way down this decline, there was a boulder that came up to a person’s knee. Now I knew that I did not want to hit that boulder. But as I came closer to that point on the trail, I was coming closer to the boulder.

As you have probably guessed, I hit the boulder square and went head over my handlebars down the rest of the hill. And if that was not bad enough, the bike proceeded to fall on top of me and follow me down the hill. Needless to say, my body was covered with scrapes and boulder rash. You see, because I was focused on the boulder so as to not hit it, my body actually steered the bike toward the boulder. And that is Jesus point here.

With this metaphor, Jesus is revealing the reality that we follow what we are focused on. When Jesus uses the word clear, He is referring to someone who is motivated by a singleness of purpose or focus. Jesus provided that focus in verse 19 when He commanded that we store up for ourselves treasures in Heaven. Jesus point is that when our spiritual eyes are clearly focused on storing up treasure in Heaven our whole body will be full of light. But what does Jesus mean when He states that our bodies will be full of light? The phrase to be full of light conveys the sense of being illuminated by something so as to reflect that light toward others.

So in essence, Jesus is stating that those who are focused on storing up treasures in Heaven will reveal and reflect Jesus to others. They will reflect Jesus’ generosity. They will reflect Jesus’ desire to love and serve God and others through the money, possessions, and treasure that we have while we live life on earth. And as they reveal and reflect Jesus to others, the result is that they will advance God’s Kingdom and enhance God’s reputation. Those that those who are involved in a right relationship with God and who are growing and maturing in that relationship are able to make a fundamental shift from asking the question “What honors me?” to the question “What honors God?” when it comes to how they handle their money, possessions, and treasure.

Jesus then contrasted the person who is singularly focused on storing up treasures in Heaven with the person who is focused on storing up treasures on earth. In verse 23, Jesus speaks of the person whose eye is bad. When Jesus uses the word bad, He is literally referring to someone whose spiritual eyes are unhealthy or sick. This person’s spiritual eyes are clouded by greed. This is a person who is focused on making and spending the money, possessions, and treasure that they accumulate on themselves to advance their kingdom and enhance their reputation.

Jesus then explained to the crowds listening that the end result of having spiritual eyes that are unhealthy due to being clouded by greed is that the person is described as being full of darkness. To be full of darkness conveys the sense of an absence of Christ-likeness in a person’s life. Jesus then explained that if the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness. But what does that mean? Jesus point is that the person whose life is clouded by greed and selfishness and that focuses on storing up treasures for themselves on earth is full of spiritual and moral darkness as well.

Now, another question that could arise here would be “Well Dave can’t I do both? Can’t I store up treasure in Heaven and store up treasures here on earth?”  I don’t know about you, but sometimes we can find ourselves trying to have it both ways, can’t we? I can find myself tempted to try to have my feet in both worlds, so to speak. So, can’t we do both? Can’t we store up treasures on earth and in Heaven?

Friday, we will see Jesus provide the answer to this question...

How treasure reveals what we treasure...

At the church where I serve, we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled Jesus uncut. During this series, we are spending our time together looking at perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. During this series, we are going to see Jesus reveal to the crowds listening to His sermon, and to us here today, the true nature of what God demands of humanity in order to experience a right relationship with Him and what it truly means to obey the message and teachings of the letters that make up the Bible.

And during this series, as we see Jesus uncut, our hope and prayer is that God would move by the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that enables us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as one who is living in a right relationship with Him.  This week, I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew, we are going to discover another timeless truth from Jesus uncut. So, let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Matthew 6:19-20:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;

As Matthew continues to give us a front row seat to this famous sermon that Jesus preached, we see Jesus focus for a second time in this sermon on the issue of money. Matthew tells us that Jesus proclaimed to the crowds that they were not to store up for themselves treasures on earth. Now it is important to understand that this was not a suggestion; Jesus here was commanding the crowds listening to His sermon to not store up treasures on earth. This phrase conveys the sense of storing up so as to accumulate something.

The point that Jesus is making here to the crowds was that they were not to be focused on the accumulation of treasure. Jesus is commanding the crowds listening, and followers of Jesus throughout history, not to center our lives on money, possessions and the treasures of this world. Jesus used a play on words that literally means do not treasure treasure.

Now a natural question that could arise at this point is “Why not? Why not treasure treasure?” Jesus gives us the answer to this question in the second part of verse 19 by painting a word picture of moths and rust destroying and thieves breaking in and stealing to reveal the reality that when we store up treasure here on earth, we are storing up what is temporary.

The timeless reality is that we are only here on earth for a finite period of time and, when our time on earth is over, all of our stuff stays here on earth. The timeless reality is that we never really own anything. We only manage God’s stuff for a period of time and then He gives it to someone else.

Let me give you an example. For a period of time a woman named Sally Dalling accumulated money, possessions, and treasure. When she died, all of that money, possessions, and treasure was transferred to Gary and Sally Arnold.  When they die, all of their money, possessions, and treasure will be transferred; some of that will come to David Arnold. And when I die, all of my money and stuff will go to someone else.

You see, we never really own anything. But not only are treasures on earth temporary, Jesus here also reveals the reality that treasures on earth are easily consumed by the things of the earth. Just as a moth consumes cloth or rust consumes metal, or a thief consumes our money, possessions, and treasure by stealing, the things of this earth are consumed by the things of the earth.

Instead of focusing on the accumulation of money, possessions, and treasure on earth, Jesus commanded the crowds listening to His sermon to store up, to accumulate for yourselves treasure in Heaven. Jesus point to the crowds listening was that instead of focusing on making deposits in their earthly bank accounts and retirement funds in a way that is focused on building a kingdom of money, possessions, and treasure here on earth for themselves, Jesus commands the crowds to make deposits in their heavenly bank accounts.

Jesus then explained to the crowd that when they accumulated treasures in Heaven; when they made deposits into their heavenly bank accounts, those investments cannot be consumed by the things on earth. You see, Jesus wanted the crowds to clearly understand that while treasure on earth is temporary, treasure in Heaven lasts for eternity.

Now right about now a question might be running through your mind. And if we were to have a conversation at the courtyard coffeehouse, that conversation and question would sound something like this: “Well Dave, didn’t Jesus already talk about money? Why is He bringing up the issue of money again? Why does Jesus feel the need to come on so strong when it comes to money? Why does Jesus feel so strongly that He would command us to store up for ourselves treasure in Heaven?” We find the answer to this question in verse 21. Let’s look at it together:

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In this verse, we see Jesus reveal the timeless reason behind His command to store up treasure in Heaven. Jesus here is revealing the timeless principle that our true desires are revealed by what we invest in. Now the reason why this timeless principle is so incredibly important is because of how Jesus defines spiritual maturity.

You see, in Jesus day, the Jewish religious leaders, along with the Jewish people, believed and taught that the Lord materially blessed those whom He loved. By contrast, those who were financially poor were often viewed as not being loved by God. Thus, a person's money possessions, and treasure were often viewed as a measure when it came to whether or mat a person was in a right relationship with God.

Once again, Jesus moved the crowds beyond seeing a right relationship with God being revealed by how big of a kingdom that that they were building for themselves here on earth in terms of money, possessions, and treasure. Once again, Jesus was explaining to the crowds that a right relationship with God is about one's heart condition when it came to what they treasured supremely in their lives. Once again, Jesus here is revealing the reality that a person who is involved in a right relationship with Jesus will be growing in their love for God and in their love for others.

Now a natural question that arises here is “well Dave, that sounds great, but how does one define and measure one’s love and devotion to God and others?” If that question is running through your mind, I want to let you know that you are asking a great question. It is a great question to ask because we cannot simply peer into another human beings heart and measure love, can we? So how do we measure our love for God and others? 

Jesus point here is that people will invest in the things that they are devoted to. Jesus point is that those who are involved in a right relationship with God and who are growing and maturing in that relationship will respond to all that God has done for them by investing in God’s kingdom mission because they treasure God above everything else. You see, the reality is that we can tell what we love by looking at where our treasure goes. Jesus point here is that if you want to know what you are truly devoted to, just take a minute and look at your checkbook and your credit card statement, because your checkbook and credit card statement communicate the truth about what you truly love and are devoted to.  

Jesus then used a metaphor to hammer His point home in verses 22-23. Thursday, we will look at that metaphor together…

A right relationship with God requires that we live out that relationship with the right motives and rewards in mind...

This week, we have been looking at a part of a famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew. So far, we have seen Jesus here warn the crowds listening to His sermon to be on alert when we are living out their relationship with God in the presence of others. Jesus then explained to the crowds that what they needed to be on the alert for is the desire to be noticed by men. Now this word notice literally means to do things in a way that impresses others. So, in essence, Jesus is warning the crowds listening to His sermon to be alert to the danger of living out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others.

Jesus then explained that those who live out their faith with a focus on impressing others will not be recognized by God as having a high-quality faith life. After making the crowds aware of the danger, Jesus then gives three examples of spiritual practices that reveal the difference between living out a relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others and living out a relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God.

Jesus pointed to the practice of giving to reveal the reality that people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God do not draw attention to what they are doing when it comes to their giving. Instead, people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God give out of their love for God, not to be loved by others. People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God invest of treasure in God’s kingdom mission solely to please God and in a way that is known only to God. People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God only seek the recognition that comes from God as having a growing and mature faith.

Jesus pointed to the practice of prayer to reveal the reality that they were not to pray with a focus on what the people around them, who are visible, could see and hear. Instead, people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God pray with a focus on being seen and heard by the invisible God who they cannot see.  Jesus point is that the prayer that is prayed with a focus of being seen and heard by the invisible God will not only be heard by God; God also recognizes the reality that that person has a right relationship with Him as His growing and maturing follower.

Today, we will see Jesus move to a third spiritual practice to expose the differences between those who live out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others and those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God. We see this occur in Matthew 6:16-18. Let's look at these verses together:

"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Now to fully understand what Jesus is communicating here, we first need to understand what fasting is. So often when we think of fasting, we think of giving up food for a period of time. If you were ever involved in the Catholic Church, you probably remember having to give up something during lent or eating fish on Friday. But what is the point of fasting? Simply put, fasting is giving something up in order to make more room for God. Fasting is making time for God by giving something else up. Usually we associate fasting with giving up food, so when we feel hungry we think of God or when we are normally eating, we spend that time with God in prayer. 

But it does not have to be food. As a diabetic, I cannot simply fast from food. However, there are other things that I can give up in order to create more space for God and to hear from God. For example, there are seasons in my life when I seek God’s direction by fasting in a way that gives up television. And during that time that I normally watched TV, I spend that in prayer and solitude seeking God’s guidance and direction.

Now with that background information in mind, we see Jesus once again expose the reality that the poser’s primary motivation for fasting was to impress others. And to gain others attention so as to impress them, these posers would not shower, brush their teeth, and would even place ashes on their heads. The poser’s primary motivation for neglecting their appearance was for others to notice that they were fasting so as to be impressed by their seeming spiritual maturity.

However, Jesus explained that those who sought to impress others had received their reward in full. Since they sought nothing beyond the approval of their peers, nothing else was coming. Jesus then revealed the reality that those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God fast to hear God, not to hear men. Those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God are not focused on hearing from those around them, who they see.

Instead, those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God are focused on hearing from the invisible God, whom they cannot see. Those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God fast only to seek a response from God and the recognition that comes from God as having a growing and mature faith.

And it is here that we see Jesus reveal for us a timeless truth about the true nature of what it means to obey the message and teachings of Jesus and the true nature of a lifestyle that is living a right relationship with Jesus.  And that timeless truth is this: A right relationship with God requires that we live out that relationship with the right motives and rewards in mind.

Those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God are focused on receiving recognition from God instead of impressing others. Those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God give out of their love for God, not to be loved by men. Those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God pray to be seen and heard by God, not to be seen and heard by men. And those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God fast to hear God, not to hear from men.

So here is a question to consider: what motivates you to live out your relationship with God in your day to day life? What motivates you to go to church? What motivates you to give? What motivates you to pray? What motivates you when it comes to creating space to hear from God through fasting or some other spiritual discipline? Are you motivated to live out your relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others? Can your relationship with God be best described as checking off a list of behaviors that can be seen as being completed in a way that impressed others? Or are you motivated to live out your relationship with God in a way that is focused on engaging God?

You see, a right relationship with God requires that we live out that relationship with the right motives and rewards in mind, because Jesus is not concerned with our external behavior that is easily seen by others. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition. Jesus is concerned with our internal heart condition because Jesus knows, and human history has shown, that eventually what is in the heart will spill out. Jesus is far more concerned with why we do what we do then simply what we do.

And, as Jesus points out in this part of His famous sermon, a right relationship with God requires that we live out that relationship with the right motives and rewards in mind…

Why Do You Pray?

This week we are looking at a part of perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which we refer to today as the Sermon on the Mount. Yesterday, in Matthew 6:1-4, we saw Jesus warn the crowds listening to His sermon to be alert to the danger of living out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others. Jesus explained that those who live out their faith with a focus on impressing others will not be recognized by God as having a high-quality faith life.

After making the crowds aware of the danger, Jesus pointed the crowds listening to the spiritual practice of giving to expose those who live out their relationship with God in the presence of others with the goal of impressing others. Jesus pointed out that a person is not to publicize their giving so as to draw attention to themselves. Jesus continued by telling the crowd that the motive for publicizing their giving was so that they would impress and receive the praise of others.

Jesus then explained that the person who gives to impress others is a hypocrite, a pretender, a poser; that person is not spiritually mature and is not displaying the character and behavior that is focused on pleasing God; they are only focused on impressing others. And because of that reality, Jesus stated that those who seek to impress others had received their reward in full. Since they only sought the approval of their peers, nothing else was coming.

Instead, people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God give out of their love for God, not to be loved by others. People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God invest of treasure in God’s kingdom mission solely to please God and in a way that is known only to God. People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God only seek the recognition that comes from God as having a growing and mature faith. Today, in Matthew 6:5, we see Jesus move from the spiritual practice of giving to the spiritual practice of prayer:

 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. ⁶ "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

To understand what Jesus is communicating here, we first need to understand what prayer looked like in Jesus day. In Jesus day, people prayed out loud in the temple. So, for those who wanted to show how spiritual they were, they would pray in a raised voice so as to attract attention and impress others. And if that wasn’t enough, they would also repeat their prayer requests over and over again.

Jesus, responding to what He had seen in the temple, explained to the crowds listening to His sermon that those who pray to be seen by men are posers, they are putting on an act. Jesus then contrasted the prayers of the posers with the prayers of those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God. Now a natural question that arises here is “what does Jesus mean when He states that we are to go into our inner room, close our door, and pray to our Father who is in secret? Is Jesus stating that we are not to pray out loud?”

Now if that question is running through your mind, I want to let you know that it is a great question to be asking. And my response to that question is this: I do not believe that Jesus is saying that we are not to pray out loud because it was common practice for people to pray out loud. Is Jesus saying that we are not to pray in groups? No, because it was common practice for people to pray out loud in groups, as we see in Acts 4:24, when a group in the early church did the following:

And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

So, if Jesus is not talking about having a private prayer closet, which is what many have interpreted this passage to mean, then what is Jesus talking about? Jesus point was that the reason that people were posers was not because of how they prayed; the reason why they were posers was the motives behind their prayer. Jesus point to the crowd is that they were not to pray with a focus on what the people around them, who are visible, could see and hear.

The poser’s prayer was focused on being seen and heard as impressive by those who were visible around them. Instead, people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God pray with a focus on being seen and heard by the invisible God who they cannot see.  Jesus point is that the prayer that is prayed with a focus of being seen and heard by the invisible God will not only be heard by God; God also recognizes the reality that that person has a right relationship with Him as His growing and maturing follower.

So, here is another question to consider: when we pray, where is our focus? Are we more focused on what others see in us by our prayers than what God sees in us? Are we more focused on what words will impress others than on what God hears from our heart? Because people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God pray with the focus of being seen and heard by God, regardless of whether the prayer is private or public, silent or out loud.

Now a natural question that could arise here is "Well then how should we pray? What should we say when we pray?" If that question is running through your mind, I just want to let you know that Jesus, anticipating that question provides the answer to that question in what He says next. So let's look at what Jesus says next, beginning in Matthew 6:7-15. Let’s walk through this prayer together and see what it says about God’s character:

 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ "So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven 'Give us this day our daily bread. 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen].' "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Here we see Jesus model for the crowds listening to His sermon how people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God are to approach God in prayer. He models for us the reality that God is worthy of our awe because He sets the agenda as our provider, our forgiver, our deliverer and our leader who is beyond anything we can wrap our minds around. In addition, Jesus revealed to the crowd the reality that those who are living in a right relationship with God are called by God to forgive others. You see, Jesus never asks us to do something that He has not already done.

And in verses 14-15, we see Jesus reveal for the reality that an unforgiving heart can reveal the reality that we are merely posers who do not truly understand who God is and who do not demonstrate that they have a right relationship with God. This morning, the timeless reality is that forgiven people forgive. To refuse to forgive others reveals that one does not truly understand the depth of what they have been forgiven of. 

Friday, we will see Jesus move to a third spiritual practice to expose the differences between those who live out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others and those who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God...

Why Do You Give?

At the church where I serve, we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled Jesus uncut. During this series, we are spending our time together looking at perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached, which is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. During this series, we are going to see Jesus reveal to the crowds listening to His sermon, and to us here today, the true nature of what God demands of humanity in order to experience a right relationship with Him and what it truly means to obey the message and teachings of the letters that make up the Bible. And during this series, as we see Jesus uncut, our hope and prayer is that God would move by the power of the Holy Spirit in a way that enables us to wrap our heads, hearts, and hands around the lifestyle that Jesus calls us to live as one who is living in a right relationship with Him. 

This week, I would like for us to spend our time together picking up where we left off last week. And as we jump into the next section of this famous sermon that Jesus preached, called the Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded for us in a section of an account of Jesus life in the Bible called the gospel of Matthew, we are going to discover another timeless truth from Jesus uncut. So, let’s discover that timeless truth together, beginning in Matthew 6:1:

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

As Matthew continues to give us a front row seat to this famous sermon that Jesus preached, we see Jesus, after revealing the reality that being right with God involves more than external obedience; after revealing the reality that the character and behavior that meets God’s demands to be right with Him involves moving past external rules and regulations to having the heart and character of God that is revealed in us as we live a life that is lived in obedience to God by doing the right thing; makes the crowd listening to Him aware of a potential danger that can occur while we are living out our relationship with God. When Jesus uses the word beware, this word, in the language that this letter was originally written in, means to be in a state of alert.

Jesus here was warned the crowds listening to His sermon to be on alert when we are living out their relationship with God in the presence of others. Jesus then explained to the crowds that what they needed to be on the alert for is the desire to be noticed by men. Now this word notice literally means to do things in a way that impresses others. So, in essence, Jesus is warning the crowds listening to His sermon to be alert to the danger of living out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others.

Jesus then explained that the reason that they were to be on the alert against the danger of living out their relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others is that when the focus of their spirituality was to impress others, they have no reward with your Father in Heaven. But what does that mean? What is Jesus talking about when He refers to rewards in Heaven? When Jesus speaks of the concept of rewards in Heaven, He is speaking about the amount of recognition one will receive from God for the quality their faith.

The point that Jesus is making here is that those who live out their faith with a focus on impressing others will not be recognized by God as having a high-quality faith life. After making the crowds aware of the danger, Jesus then gives three examples of spiritual practices that reveal the difference between living out a relationship with God in a way that is focused on impressing others and living out a relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God. We find the first example in Matthew 6:2. Let’s look at it together:

"So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

Here we see Jesus point the crowds listening to the spiritual practice of giving to expose those who live out their relationship with God in the presence of others with the goal of impressing others. To understand what Jesus is communicating here, we first need to understand what Jesus means when he talks about giving to the poor. In Jesus day, there was no welfare. There was no such thing as Medicaid, Medicare, or unemployment insurance. Even in America, prior to the great depression, the church was the primary vehicle for taking care of the poor and needy, not the government.

So, in Jesus day, the poor were ministered through the church as part of the church’s budget, along with individual acts of generosity. Giving was also done a little different in Jesus’ day. In Jesus day, they did not pass the plate, or a basket. Instead, the temple had a large box where people would deposit what they gave. And, in these verses, Jesus points out that there were some who, when they came to church, would make a grand entrance into the sanctuary and act so that everyone saw that they were giving and how much they were giving.

Jesus responds to this situation by telling the crowds that people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God do not sound a trumpet before they give. Now Jesus is not referring to a literal trumpet. Jesus point is that a person is not to publicize their giving so as to draw attention to themselves. Jesus continued by telling the crowd that the motive for publicizing their giving was so that they would impress and receive the praise of others.

Now here is something to consider: how easy is it for us to fall into the same trap. How often can we fall into the trap of trying to impress others by our giving? Let me paint a picture for us this morning. You are in church and it is time for the offering. And as you are singing, you watch the ushers begin passing the basket. You begin to grab for your wallet or purse. It comes to your row. You are still fumbling through your purse, or your pocket. Now let me ask you a question. What is going through your mind at that moment? Is your mind focused on God, or the things of God? Or is your mind focused on what the usher is thinking? Or the rest of the people in the row?

At that point, we need to be on the alert. We need to be on the alert that we do not fall into the trap of practicing our faith in the presence of others with the goal of impressing others. Because, as Jesus states in verse two, when we fall into that trap, we are a hypocrite. Now when Jesus uses the word hypocrite, we need to understand what He means. A hypocrite creates a public impression that is at odds with one’s real motivations or purpose. In Jesus day, this word was used to refer to someone who was an actor or a pretender. In our culture, we might refer to such a person as a poser.

Jesus point is that the person who gives to impress others is a poser; that person is not spiritually mature and is not displaying the character and behavior that is focused on pleasing God; they are only focused on impressing others. And because of that reality, Jesus stated that those who seek to impress others had received their reward in full. Since they only sought the approval of their peers, nothing else was coming. Now a natural question that could arise here is “Well then how does Jesus want us to give? Jesus provides the answer in verses 3-4:

 "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

When Jesus uses the phrase do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, He is painting a word picture to reveal the reality that people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God do not draw attention to what they are doing when it comes to their giving. Instead, people who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God give out of their love for God, not to be loved by others.

People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God invest of treasure in God’s kingdom mission solely to please God and in a way that is known only to God. People who live out their relationship with God in a way that demonstrates a right relationship with God only seek the recognition that comes from God as having a growing and mature faith.

Tomorrow, we will see Jesus move from the spiritual practice of giving to the spiritual practice of prayer..