Entangled Or Disentangled? Series

Matthew 6:19-24

“Entangled Or Disentangled?”

When Jesus came to this earth Jesus made it very clear that we all need to make a decision.

Are we going to live the way Jesus calls us to live?

Or are we going to live our own way?

There are two ways to live. One way leads to eternal life, the other way leads to an eternity of separation from God.

It is either one, or the other.

The person who makes the decision to follow Jesus

… the person who puts their faith and trust in Jesus

… that person is called a disciple.

When we become disciples the decision we make to follow Jesus will have an impact on our behaviour as disciples.

Or … at least … it should have an impact.

In Matthew 6:19-24 Jesus gives three specific examples of how being a disciple should change our behaviour.

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 ‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 ‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Let’s make sure we understand what is happening here.

In these verses Jesus is not giving us a checklist which we can use to determine if we … or others … are saved.

Have I … have they … stored up treasures on earth? Cross.

Do I … do they … have unhealthy eyes? Cross.

Is Money my … is Money their … master? Cross.

Well then … according to the checklist … there is no salvation here.

That isn’t what Jesus is doing.

Rather, Jesus gives us these examples so that we can discern to what extent we are allowing the salvation of Jesus to transform us.

Specifically.

As disciples we disentangle ourselves from the materialistic thinking and practise of the world and we entangle ourselves into following our Saviour.

As we consider each of these examples let’s ask God’s Spirit in us to help us discern where we have become entangled, so that Jesus can work in us to help us disentangle.

In the first example Jesus is helping us to discern

Have we become entangled in the treasures of this world?

(Put up – don’t read)

19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Treasures of the world are not the same as money and finances.

Jesus will narrow His focus down to money and finances in verse 24.

So the “treasure” is broader than just “Money”.

Regarding these “treasures” Jesus says they can be eaten by moths, and corroded by rust. These same “treasures” are also targeted by thieves.

Now, it is possible that Jesus is talking about figurative moths, and figurative rust, and figurative theft.

We “treasure” a relationship but another person, “a moth”, comes in and eats that relationship.

We “treasure” being well liked but “a rusty” group of people conspire to corrode our reputation.

We “treasure” having purpose, but a “thief” comes and steals that purpose.

It is possible to think in figurative terms. However, the people on the mountain to whom Jesus was preaching, they would be much more inclined to think literally.

Actual tangible stuff which moths can eat, and rust can corrode, and thieves can steal.

What kind of stuff?

In this regard James 5:1-3 is very helpful

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

In our day of synthetic fibre and moth balls – moth eaten clothes are not an issue.

In Jesus’ day when clothes were made of natural fibres like silk and cotton – it is a big issue.