November 13, 2012
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:19-24
OBSERVATIONS
1. Jesus is talking about what we value, what we consider our ‘treasures’. If we treasure temporal things, we will be disappointed, their sheen will fade. But there is treasure that never fades… heavenly treasure. But what is this treasure? People, family, relationships… not things? The things that God values, like character, beauty, peace? Are heavenly things immaterial things, or are they also physical things (creation) properly valued and enjoyed?
2. At first I am not sure what Jesus means by the eyes as the lamp of the body. But He seems to be saying that we experience goodness (light) or evil (darkness) based on what we focus on, look at, set our sights on. The notes say that ‘healthy’ implies generous while unhealthy implies stingy, which fits the context. If I look with generous or greedy eyes, that will affect whether my life is filled with light or darkness.
3. Who or what do I serve. Jesus makes it black and white, if you love something more than God, you actually hate God. Think about this in relationship to marriage, if you love someone or something more than your spouse, you are effectively hating them… for they properly deserve your first love (next to God of course).
What do you notice in this passage?
APPLICATION
1. Love is a tricky thing to define or explain, but I do know what (or who, or Who) I value, and what I do not. We run after, look after and serve the things we value, our whole life is directed towards them. Do the people in our lives sense that we value them this much?
2. I sense God asking me to identify they things that I pursue, the things I look for, the things I serve? Compare how much time and energy I spend pursuing them with how much time and energy I spend pursuing God, or my loved ones? Are these treasures really worth it?
3. Once again God is challenging me to consider the temperature of my love for the things that really matter. “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5) How important is this to me, will I take steps today to renew my love for God and for eternal values and treasures?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
God, I do not feel Your anger in this, but I do sense Your sadness as You see me pursuing things that don’t matter. Rekindle my first love, and help me to pursue, seek and serve You first of all!
Treasures
Don’t store up treasures on earth. I equate storing up treasures to taking care of myself. Saving for a rainy day. Saving for retirement. I see people not storing up treasures, and I think to myself that they are irresponsible, either living from paycheque to paycheque, or even worse, living off credit. Is that what this passage is saying? Live for the moment, and don’t save? I think the answer lies in verse 2. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Where is my heart? What is saving up treasure in heaven? It is one thing to suggest that I should save up treasure in heaven, but this gives me so many questions. What kind of treasure? What will this heaven look like? What are the steps to saving this treasure? Lots of questions.
The eye is the lamp of the body. This brings to mind the song “Oh be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down in love, Oh be careful little eyes what you see” This Orwellian view of God maybe should not be sung to small children, but the concept is true. God does see all, and it is important that I keep my eyes on things that are good. If the light within you is darkness, then how great is that darkness. I am not sure what to make of these two verses. Is this referring to how to store up treasure in heaven?
No one can serve two masters. I am sure we have all been in a position where we have been given conflicting instruction by our superiors, or perhaps our parents. So this is a good example that is easily understood. Eventually this will lead to me picking sides as to who I am more likely to serve. If possible, I would suggest that the two masters decide what they would like me to do, so that I don’t have to disappoint one of them. But then comes a line which we don’t expect here. You cannot serve God and money. By this point I had all but forgotten that this passage was about money. I am into thinking about the two masters and all. But one of these masters is money. Strange thing this money. Having not enough is a big problem. Having enough, and trying to get more can easily turn this into a master for me. Like my trying to get my two masters to agree to what they want me to do, I would like God and money to find a way for me to live. I cannot live without either.
I pray that I will learn how to store treasure in Heaven. I pray that God will show me how to live with money, and how to share this with others.
Observations:
Earthly treasures will be destroyed. Heavenly treasures last. Our treasures show our life’s focus.
Our focus, our vision, is on what treasure – earthly? Heavenly?
Our service is focused on earthly? Heavenly?
Application:
Where am I going is a basic question of life – of daily living. What is my reason for living each day? My reason for getting up each day? And the answer is . . . living for Jesus.
I am His and He is mine and His banner over me is love. That love must be in my knowing and doing each day. That love must be my diving force so that each day I can walk in His SonShine and be GodStrong to LiveStrong. Eyes on Jesus and ears to hear Jesus saying this is the way, walk in it.
Serve Him.
Prayer:
Thank You Lord for a new day. Give me all that I need this day to serve You for You have promised Your people that You will provide their needs and even give the words needed to speak as they work in Your Kingdom. Help me along the way as I walk this day in Your SonShine.
All for Jesus, all for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed powers:
All my thoughts and words and doings,
All my days and all my hours.
Refrain
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours;
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my days and all my hours.
Let my hands perform His bidding,
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only,
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
Refrain
Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
Cling to gilded toys of dust,
Boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
Only Jesus will I trust.
Refrain
Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision,
Looking at the Crucified.
Refrain
Oh, what wonder! how amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me His belovèd,
Lets me rest beneath His wings.
Refrain