Sermon on the Mount-Matt 6:21-24-Part 3
Happy Father’s Day to all of our Dad’s! I trust that watching that video this morning has reminded you of what a great privilege fatherhood is. Maybe you’ve had many of those experiences-flushing the dead fish or texting the boyfriend back. But that’s just it-fatherhood is about the experience, the time together. It’s not a manual to read, it’s something to live-all the memories and laughter-from the funny moments to the sweet moments. And I’m always reminded how father’s are a glimpse of something so incredible and great-and that’s our Father in heaven. If our earthly fathers love us that much can we even fathom how much God loves us? But that’s why He gave us fathers-so we could have that glimpse of someone who cares for us that much, who guides us and instructs like He does. So Dad’s you bear a big responsibility in revealing God’s love to your kids. And as a kid-thank your Dad for showing you that love.
But Dad’s, you picked the right morning to come to church. We’ve got all sorts of giveaways-beef jerky, chocolate and as you’ve certainly noticed-money! Here at at Dix Hills Church we like to give back. And the money isn’t just for Dad’s, it’s for everyone-and that’s our gift to you, it’s yours to spend and enjoy, do whatever you want with it-buy something great. Unfortunately, we could only get Confederate money-and let’s be honest counterfeit Confederate money at that. But we had a lot of fun this week printing money at the church office! Now does anybody have any actual Confederate money that you’ve collected? Based on the condition and where it was issued, this actual Confederate bill is worth anywhere between $50-$100 dollars. But let me state the most important part-it’s worth between $50-100 US dollars. In and of itself, a Confederate dollar isn’t worth anything. Even if you had a real one, you can’t take it into a store and buy something with it-you can’t use this to buy a coffee at 7-11. I would like to use this Confederate money to buy my latte-I’m from the South. Doesn’t work-only US dollars have value. So I want you to go back in time for a minute and imagine it’s near the end of the Civil War in 1865. Pretend that you have been living in the South for most of the war but you’re a Northerner and planning to move home as soon as the war finishes and it becomes peaceful again. Now during your time in the South you had a good job and ended up accumulating lots of Confederate currency. But with the North’s victory on the horizon you’ve got a dilemma-what are you going to do with all your Confederate money? That’s a question the author Randy Alcorn asks in one of his books-and it’s a really good one to think about. Because you know that when you move back home to the North this money is not going to be worth anything. In fact, once the war is officially over no Confederate money will be worth anything. So what would be a wise decision? Stuff it in a suitcase? Stash it under your bead or buy a safe? Obviously not-the wise decision is to cash it in for regular US currency that has lasting value. A person would be foolish to stubbornly hang on to their Confederate money because it will soon become worthless. And that’s precisely the idea Jesus is talking about in Matthew 6. Open up your Bibles to that passage.
Now we’re continuing our series on the Sermon on the Mount. This is Jesus’ first sermon-and as we said a few weeks ago-He hit a homerun sermon right from the start-but when you’re the Son of God homerun sermons are basically a given. But here in Matt 6, we’re going to hear Jesus speak like a wise financial planner. Now maybe you’ve never thought of Jesus as a financial planner-that He doesn’t seem like the businessmen type-but here in these verses Jesus is going to give us the ultimate investment strategy. Look at what He says in Matt 6:19-20. Jesus is telling us to switch our investments; to transfer funds from this world to eternity. Cash in on our earthly abundance in order to grow our heavenly one. Jesus is saying-Don’t keep stockpiling worthless currency, like Confederate money; trade it in for something that lasts. And why is He saying that? Following Jesus’ analogy-we’ve all seen old cars get rusty; or maybe you remember the smell of moth balls from an old wardrobe which keep moths from chewing holes in cloths. But Jesus’ point is that stuff in this world doesn’t last-it gets rusted out, chewed up, broken down or stolen. One Bible commentator said that the word rust in the verse doesn’t only refer to regular corrosion but also includes mildew, wood rot and worms-meaning the decay of all things. Jesus is saying don’t put all your stock in earthly stuff. So Pt1:Earth’s currency: becomes worthless when Christ returns or when we die, whichever comes first. Now that’s a very stark and sobering statement-but it’s true. Over and over God’s Word tells us that this earth isn’t going to last, that Jesus is going to return, this world will end and there will be a new heavens and earth. Look at how clearly this is described in Isaiah 24:1; 3-6; 19 NIV. So does the earth sound like a wise place to invest? Hardly! If that sort of destruction was on the horizon for a company to invest in you’d pull out all your money right away. Reading that description tells us the earth’s market is ready to take a permanent nose dive from which it will never recover. As we go to the NT, look at what it says in 2 Pet 3:7; 11-13 NIV. So clearly this earth isn’t the place of investment because we’re looking forward to the new earth. These verses are giving us a glimpse of the future, they’re promising what’s to come and how this world is headed for destruction-which means we have no excuse. Nothing that’s built, nothing you buy, nothing you try to protect or preserve here is ever going to last. Sure we build, build, build-just look at the high-rises along Central Park or the urban sprawl that stretches across our country-but from God’s Word we’re reading that the end is in sight and that could be later on today, that could be tomorrow, or next week-we don’t know so we’ve got to be ready by wisely investing into what does last. Of course even if the world’s end is a long way off, you and I have no idea when our days will end. Now we all like to think we’re going to live for many, many years so thoughts of working hard to amass lots of earthly treasure can easily consume us. We want to lay up for ourselves a large bank account, with a hefty retirement fund, maybe one day buy a house along the beach and a boat to go with it-and if God chooses to bless you that way, wonderful, but it’s still Confederate money that won’t last.
Look at Solomon’s take on this-Eccl 2:17 NIV-and maybe you’ve often felt that way about your job. Tell that to your boss sometime and see what he says-working around here is like chasing after the wind! But why did Solomon have such despair over his work? Ecc 2:18-19; 21 NIV Solomon realized that at the end of his life, earth’s currency (money & possession) becomes worthless. Growing up, I remember the bumper sticker on our neighbor’s car that said-He who dies with the most toys wins. And they were really into their snowmobiles. But Solomon would say-No, that’s not the case at all. Those toys just slip through your fingers when you die. They stay here and you move on.
There’s the famous quote that no one’s ever seen a hearse pulling a uhaul. Here’s a pic-hearse with uhual-apparently someone did. But it’s a great point because when you’re dead you can’t take any of your stuff with you. There’s nothing you need to pack up. Everything just stays there to be passed on to someone else like Solomon said. Sure, at the funeral service someone could try tossing a bunch of your stuff into your grave-things you collected over the years, things you hate to part with, maybe your favorite pair of jeans-but it’s just going to be covered up by dirt. Someone could even try packing a bunch of stuff into your coffin-your watch, your phone, your tv remote-but it won’t do you any good in there. How can you use it? Here’s another picture we showed before from King Tut’s tomb taken way back in 1922-tut pics Look at all that stuff they jammed in there next to him; all those chests full of gold and riches, thinking that he could use them in the afterlife. But King Tut died in 1323 BC and all that stuff just sat there for over 3,000 years collecting dust until it was discovered-and now it just sits in a museum. The words of 1 Timothy 6 are so true-1 Tim 6:7. We all know that-we see the folly of King Tut’s tomb-but do we remember it for ourselves?
When the stuff of the world tugs at us, when it begins to capture our hearts and become our primary goal, somehow this truth seems to fade in the background as the things of here and now take center stage in our lives. We forget this fact and live like we’re trying to hitch a U-haul up to our hearse. The words of Psalm 49 say it well-Ps 49:16 NIV. And it’s easy to be overawed and impressed, maybe even bummed out because you wish you could have all that he has and envy starts to set in-but look how the verse continues-Ps 49:17-20 NIV. This is someone who puts all their eggs into the basket of this life, who’s only concerned about earthly treasures, and never invests in the things of eternity. This psalm is saying that the person who does that is no smarter than a dog or a cow or a horse that dies, they’re no better off than a beast of the field. So it’s vividly highlighting the importance of that spiritual understanding, the insight and wisdom that comes from the Lord in knowing how to properly view the things of life, in having the right perspective for what truly lasts.
And that brings us right back to Jesus’ words in Matt 6:19 And that’s what happens to all earthly stuff-as we said it wears out, it breaks, it fades, it falls apart, it stops working, it decays, it rusts, it gets stolen, it disappears, it doesn’t last. Just take a moment and think about what thing you want most right now. What are you saving for? What are hoping to buy or own? What thing are you currently pursuing and working for and eager to obtain? That’s not to say you shouldn’t pursue it-that’s between you and the Lord and whether He chooses to provide it-but you do need to remember that whatever it is, no matter how big or small, it’s temporary and will one day lose its sense of newness. Ask yourself-what did you get for Christmas 2 years ago? If you can even remember what it was-does it still thrill you like it did when you unwrapped it? Probably not. But the truth is that whatever you already have, whatever you’re hoping to have ultimately won’t become your permanent satisfaction so you’ve got to put it in the right perspective. Don’t let stuff or status, don’t let accomplishments or accolades, don’t let the possessions you own or the position you hold in your company become the all-consuming treasure of your heart. Back to Pt1. Therefore as Jesus continues in Matt 6-v. 20-21. He’s saying that heavenly treasure lasts, it’s a solid market to invest in, it’s completely permanent, the things of God have eternal significance and purpose and that’s what we ought to be pursuing. But as surely as a compass points north, so your treasure points to your heart. What you value, what you love, what you’re willing to sacrifice time and energy and money for is what you treasure. Is it the things of heaven, or is it the things of earth?
Now I’m sure a lot of us would like to say that we treasure the things of heaven, but the more convicting question is if your calendar, your checkbook, or your priorities reveal that? Look back at the verse again-it’s the central part of this passage-v. 21. And as God made you, He knows how you’re wired-that your ultimate joy and satisfaction, your greatest happiness and peace, isn’t found here. It’s found in making Him the treasure of your heart. The famous mathematician, Blaise Pascal, (from whom the old computer language is named which was also really hard class I had to take in college that I didn’t understand at all!) But Blaise Pascal said one thing I do understand-and it’s this, There was once in man a true happiness of which now remains to him only the mark and empty trace-meaning when mankind was first created without sin we were filled with perfect happiness. There was once in man a true happiness of which now remains to him only the mark and empty trace, which we in vain try to fill from all our surroundings, seeking from things that which they can never produce. And these are all inadequate, because the infinite abyss of the soul can only be filled by an infinite object, that is to say, only by God Himself. Do you hear the truth that Pascal is saying? Your heart was created to be filled and satisfied by God alone, not other things. It’s like how your car was created to be filled by unleaded gasoline, not diesel. What happens if you accidentally pick up the wrong pump at the gas station and fill your car full of diesel? Now I realize the ends are different sizes-but suppose you could make that mistake-ad now your car is full of diesel fuel. You’re not going anywhere. You’ve got to drain out all that diesel, get it out of the fuel lines, and then you’ve got to put the right gasoline back in. You have to undo everything until you’re able to put into the car what it was created to take. Likewise, you and I have to fill our hearts with what they were created to take-and that’s God and the things of eternity.
So P2:External things: cannot satisfy the internal longing of our soul. We think they will, right? Laying up treasures on earth brings a passing happiness, the stuff of earth amuses or entertains us for a little while, but it’s soon gone and fails to satisfy the deep hunger of our soul. As Pascal said-the infinite abyss of the soul can only be filled by an infinite object which is God. The things of earth don’t fill you with that joy you’re always reaching for. It’s only found in the Lord and laying up treasures in heaven. Again I turn to the Psalms, look at how they describe the joy of setting your heart upon the Lord-Ps 84:10; 42:1-2 NIV; 16:11. And that verse is what I like to call a faith telescope because in these few, short words we get an amazing glimpse of heaven. Like looking through the little lens of a telescope reveals the grandeur of outer space, this little verse reveals the grandeur of eternity-and what’s there? The fullness of joy. Think about that phrase-no lacking or wanting, no hungering or longing; but perfect, complete joy in God’s presence-when have you ever had that? But that’s what eternity promises; endless excitement and wonder in God’s presence that will never grow dull or boring-and that’s what we’re made for. So as we see it here in Psalm 16, as this verse gives us this telescopic glimpse, we have to accept it by faith. To trust God that this glimpse of heaven is the truth and that our treasure doesn’t need to belong here because it belongs up there.
You’ve got to remember that when you’re shopping at a store or scrolling through Amazon thinking you need to have this or that, to remember this truth when your neighbor gets a new car and you’re filled with envy thinking you need to have one too, to remember this truth when there’s some new gadget or piece of technology you can’t live without and it’s all you can think about. To stop and remember-No, my heart doesn’t need to be pulled in by those things, my heart needs to be looking beyond. This verse is the reason why Jesus is commanding you to lay up treasures in heaven. He’s not out to spoil your fun, Jesus doesn’t want you to become some sour-faced person who’s boring to be around, He not out to kill your joy, Jesus actually wants to increase your joy and He knows that laying up treasures on earth is setting your sights way too low. Jesus wants you to realize that you’re made for a much greater future than you could ever imagine so set your heart on that. He’s saying-Don’t be fooled by the Confederate money-it may look good but cash it in because there’s something so much more valuable out there. The great British preacher and Bible scholar, George Campbell Morgan, said it like this back in 1929 and it’s still awesome-Morgan quote. Are you doing that? Are you storing up your fortune in heaven-laying up treasures in heaven-by how you spend your time now serving others, by using your gifts and talents to bless others, by using your money to tithe and give to the church? We’ve talked about a search committee to hire a full-time Youth Pastor-which means we all have to give-and yet that’s a great eternal investment so that the young people of our church and our community can be impacted for Christ. How are you using the time, treasures and talents God has given you? Are you storing up treasures in heaven by how much you can bless others, or are you storing up treasures on earth by how many blessings you can obtain for yourself? That’s the difference. Is your life based on how much you can get out of life-how much stuff you can stack up and acquire for yourself? Or is your life based on how much you can give-how many opportunities you have to serve and sacrifice for others and be a picture of Christ? Those are the two categories-a life lived for self or a life lived for God, laying up treasures on earth or laying up treasures in heaven-and you’ll fall into one of those two categories.
Now you might say-Well, I’m in more of a third category. I want to serve God, but there’s a lot of nice stuff I want to buy too, there’s some financial goals I want to reach, there’s some dreams I want to obtain, things I’ve always hoped to own, stuff I want to give to my kids that I could never have. And I want to get enough money set aside so I don’t have to worry about the future either. So I’ll take the middle road; I’ll give some leftover money to God that I can spare-but I won’t go overboard and get too carried away. I don’t want my giving to affect my lifestyle so I’ll give enough to God to keep Him happy and then spend enough on myself to keep me happy. That’s a good compromise. But is it? Here’s the third point-and to me it’s the most challenging-Pt3:Eternal Perspective: God doesn’t want a financial compromise, He wants our hearts. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus didn’t pull any punches or sugarcoat things. He was a realist-and said there isn’t a third category-there won’t be in eternity and there won’t be in this life. Look at what He says-v. 24. And how many of us say-I think I can! Let me try. I know it might be difficult but I can do it. Let me show you. Serving God and money is the one spot where we think we can prove God wrong-that our hearts can be devoted in both places. We desperately want that to be true. But Jesus is saying-Trust Me, you can’t do that-it doesn’t work that way.
The Greek word He used for masters is kurios, and that term frequently referred to a slave owner, someone who was a master of slaves. And for a slave back in the 1st century there was no such thing as part-time obligation to his master. A slave was owned and totally controlled by his master, there was no in-between. How could a slave be at this house serving one master his dinner and at that house serving another master his dinner? He can’t! It isn’t just difficult or challenging, it’s impossible for one slave to serve two masters. To give anything to anyone else would make his master less than master. And the same is true for you and me. As a Christian you belong to the Lord, He is your master. Paul frequently called himself a servant of Christ and that’s what we are when we trust in Him. He becomes the one, the only one, that you serve and that means you can’t claim Christ as your Lord and master, if your allegiance is to anything or anyone else. Just as you can’t walk in two directions at the same time-you can try-but it’s not going to work-or you can’t walk up the down escalator-even though our kids try. So the treasure of your heart can’t be in two places at the same time. It’s either going to be on this earth or in heaven. Either you own your things and you’re able to give and part with them or those things end up owning you. You’re either going to be serving God or serving money. God doesn’t want you to work out a deal or be offered your leftovers, He wants your heart so a compromise doesn’t work. Instead He calls you to surrender. Talk about two very different words-compromise or surrender! Which one describes your life? Which one describes your relationship with Christ? Is it one of continual compromise-okay, Lord, fine you can have that part of my life-but this part is still mine. Lord, I’ll serve you over there-but this area here still belongs to me. Are you constantly trying to work out a compromise with the Lord-or are you surrendered to Him?
As a follower of Christ you’re called to a life of surrender. That’s the essence of what following Him is all about. You’re surrendering your pride, your attitudes, your behavior. You’re surrendering the sinful habits that drag you down and the temptations that try to deceive you; you’re surrendering anything that has a hold on your heart more than Christ-and that includes money and possessions which often have the tightest grip. But by surrendering those things to Him, you undo the chains that have held you captive to money. So surrender brings freedom, surrender allows you to follow Him. It means leaving money and possessions on the altar at God’s feet and walking away no longer bound by the tug or pull they have on you. Will you do that? Could you do that? Or is the tug of money and possessions too strong, is your fear too great, maybe your anxiety for the future is too high? Contrary to what the devil tries to tell us, surrendering money and possessions to God doesn’t mean He’s going to make you poor, it doesn’t mean He’s going to make you sell everything and move overseas as a missionary. Maybe that’s His call-and even then we heard from the Camiola’s last week about all the surprise blessings that God brings. He knows the plans He has for you-so God calls you to come to that place of surrender, where in your heart you say-Lord, my allegiance is to you alone. Everything you give me is yours in the first place-my time, treasure and talents-so help me faithfully give them back to you as you call me to give. Ask God to help you hold things loosely; to remember that the divine purpose of your life is to be a blessing for others, not stockpiling stuff for yourself; to be reminded that the longing of your heart will never be satisfied by the things money can buy, because you were meant for something so much greater, to treasure the One who is infinitely supreme, the one for whom every knee will bow and that’s Jesus our Savior.
I want you to take this Confederate dollar and put it in your checkbook or your wallet, set it next to your credit card or wherever you pay your bills or do your banking-and let it serve to remind you of the reality of your money and possessions-one day they will be worthless just like this Confederate dollar. You can’t take them with you, they won’t last. But in light of that truth, realize that you can use the money God has given you, the life that He’s given you, to invest and lay up treasures in heaven-for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!