In Matthew 6, Jesus emphasizes our love relationship with God. He uses the word “Father” 11 times, showing the importance of that relationship. Our relationship to the Father as His children is a most remarkable and incredible relationship.
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry,‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” - Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)
The word, “Abba” is a term of child-like affection which would have the English equivalent of “Daddy.”
“Father,” on the other hand, is a term of mature appreciation. The point is that though we are to grow in our appreciation of who our God is, we must never lose the wonder of what it means to have God as our Father.
In Christ, we have a new identity and purpose for living. Our new identity is “child of God.” Our purpose is to live like a child of God. The degree to which I grow in my love relationship with God will
determine the degree to which I come to appreciate and experience all that God has in mind for me as His child, as I become more like Christ.
“The great secret of life according to our Lord is to see ourselves and to conceive of ourselves always as children of our heavenly Father.” - Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Through surrendering to the Spirit of God, studying the Word of God, and spending time with the people of God, my life can be transformed by the power of God to become more like Jesus, the Son of God.
But I need to be careful not to be distracted from daily delighting in our relationship with God the Father and our pursuit of Christ-likeness. That’s what Jesus is warning us about here.
To keep us from fulfilling God’s purpose us, Satan will use, “weapons of mass distraction.” - Dr. Daniel Henderson. That’s what Jesus mentions in verse 19.
1. Potential distractions - v. 19
The Devil’s distractions promise to enrich our lives, but don’t. They are temporary in nature. But worst of all, they distract us from focusing on what will truly enrich our lives - a growing love relationship with God.
What are some of the Devil’s distractions?
A. Sin - Make no mistake about it, a lot of sinful activity is fun! But what pleasure I experience is fleeting.
“The pleasures of sin (are) for a season.” - Hebrews 11:25 (KJV)
Sin is like cut flowers in a vase. They are beautiful, but their beauty is fleeting. The next day, they aren’t beautiful anymore, they are withered and ugly. Why? Because they are dead! There’s no life in them! So it is with sin. It might be attractive for the moment, but eventually, sin gets ugly, because a life lived for sin has no life in it.
“. . . let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . .” - Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV)
B. Stuff - The writer of Hebrews refers to the “stuff” of our lives when he tells us to “throw off everything that hinders.” The “stuff” of life can fall under one of two categories.
1) Prosperity - The “stuff” of life can be good things. Things like money, career, relationships, possessions. They aren’t sinful, unless I look to them to bring me the sense of security or satisfaction that only my love relationship with God can bring.
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it. What will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will a man give in
exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.” - Matthew 16:25-27 (HCSB)
In the movie, The Mummy, there’s a guy named Beni. When they find the treasure room, Beni is enamored with the treasure. He probably had visions of wealth, but that’s not how the story ends. The room begins to fill up with sand and the doors close so they can’t escape. Beni could get out, but the treasure is his downfall. He fill his pockets and tries to drag out bags of gold, which are too heavy. The door closes and Beni is trapped with the treasure. Instead of enriching his life, the treasure costs him his life.
2) Adversity - The “stuff” of life can be things that are bad. Sickness, losing my job, natural disasters, etc. These things aren’t sinful either, but Satan will use them, if he can, to distract us from maintaining our focus on developing a growing love relationship with God.
In Matthew 14:25-33, we read how Peter walked on the water to Jesus, while the wind blew and the waves rolled. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, He rose above the stormy sea, but when he turned his focus away from Christ to the wind and the waves, he sank like a rock. In the same way, Satan will use adversity in our lives, if he can, to distract us from maintaining our focus on a growing love relationship with Christ.
C. Self - Jesus warns that if he can, Satan will distract us from a focus on a growing love relationship with God by getting us focused on seeking the praise of men. The examples given are charitable deeds (6:1), prayer (6:5), and fasting (6:16).
Now, there’s nothing wrong with receiving recognition. But there is something wrong with earthly recognition if I am look for the approval of men to bring me the sense of security or satisfaction that only my love relationship with God can bring.
Jesus says that those who live to draw attention to themselves receive their reward. But like all earthly rewards, this is temporary and fleeting.
In the movie “Hoosiers,” we learn the story of a small town basketball team from Hickory, Indiana, that goes to the state championship. It is an exciting story. The film ends with a little boy shooting baskets in the school gym. The camera zooms in on an old, black and while photo of the championship team. It’s a good way to end the movie. But I’ve always wondered, “Does that kid even know who those people are in the picture?”
Earthly recognition is fleeting and provides no lasting fulfillment. Jesus warns us to not allow a desire for recognition to distract us from remaining focused on a growing love relationship with Jesus.
2. Proper direction - vs. 20-21
What are the treasures in heaven that we need to set our hearts on?
A. Being conformed to Christ - Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:1-3
“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12b-14 (NIV)
The “prize for which God has called me heavenward” is being like Jesus. Being like Jesus is what will make heaven heavenly! How wonderful it will be to be like Jesus forever and ever!
God didn’t save us just to take us to be with Him in heaven one day; He saved us to bring heaven to us today. How? The degree to which I grow toward Christ-likeness determines the degree to which I can
experience today the fulfillment that awaits me in heaven one day.
B. Being commended by Christ - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
All who have a love relationship with God through faith in Christ will, in eternity, be like Jesus. But when eternity is ushered in, the Bible says we will be judged by our Lord to determine the degree of reward we will receive in eternity. The Lord will judge the “quality of each man’s work.” What quality will He be looking for?
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” - Galatians 5:6b (NIV)
The Christian who allows themselves to be distracted by sin or stuff or self will come up empty on that day. But the believer who maintains their focus on growing their love relationship with God will be
rewarded and recognized in a way that will last for all eternity.
“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” - Colossians 3:2-4 (NLT)
Conclusion: Let’s be sure to “keep our eyes on the prize!” Is there anything that is distracting you from maintaining your focus on a growing love relationship with God?
