Introduction
A. When the wealthy businessman choked on a fish bone at a restaurant, he was fortunate that a doctor was seated at a nearby table. Springing up, the doctor skillfully removed the bone and saved the man's life. As soon as the fellow had calmed himself and could talk again, he thanked the surgeon enthusiastically and offered to pay him for his services. "Just name the fee," he croaked gratefully. "Okay," replied the doctor. "How about half of what you'd have offered when the bone was still stuck in your throat?"
B. Introduction:
1. Where are our thoughts?
a. What do we think about?
b. Are our thoughts on earth or on heaven?
c. Is our mind on earthly things or on God?
d. What are we seeking, the things of the earth or the things of heaven?
e. Where is our heart focused, on earth or focused on heaven?
f. The concern of Christ in this passage is money, possessions, and material things.
g. His concern is that we guard against centering our lives around houses, furnishings, cars, lands, buildings, stocks, all the things that make up security and wealth on this earth.
h. The reason is simply understood: nothing on this earth is secure and lasting.
i. It is aging, decaying, and wasting away.
j. It is all corruptible and temporal.
k. What Christ wants is for us to center our lives around Him and heaven, for everything about Himself and heaven is life and security.
l. It is all permanent and eternal.
m. To stir our thinking He gives us a lesson on wealth and materialism.
n. We can out line this passage as follows:
(1) A contrast: about two kinds of riches (v. 19-20).
(2) A warning: about two kinds of hearts (v.21-23).
(3) A choice: about two kinds of masters (v.24)
(a) Lets begin by turning to Matthew 6:19 - 20
II. Body
A. A contrast: about two kinds of riches
Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV)
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; {20} "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal
1. There are earthly riches
a. here are things on earth that men desire
b. Christ calls these earthly riches and treasures
c. Earthly riches would be such things as clothes, cars, jewelry, toys, houses, buildings, furnishings, pleasure, fame, power, profession, property, money; anything that dominates a person's Mind and spirit and holds it fast to this earth
2. A treasure is that which has value and is worth something to someone
a. Men take things and ascribe value to them
(1) It may be stones (diamonds)
(2) Or rocks and dust (gold or silver)
(3) Or money (paper and metal)
(4) Or land (property)
(5) Or wood
(a) Metal
(b) Dirt
(c) Chemical
(d) And fabric (buildings)
(6) Or influence (power)
(7) Or the attention of people (fame)
3. Christ says three things about earthly riches that are of critical importance to both the believer and the unbeliever
a. First, do not lay up for yourselves earthly riches (material possessions)
(1) Christ says that a person is not to focus his life on earthly things, not to set his eyes and mind and energy and effort on such passing treasures
(2) Riches do exist
(a) Their locality is clearly stated
(b) There is wealth both on earth and in heaven
(3) It is easier to covet earthly things than heavenly things for four reasons.
(a) They can be seen and handled
(b) They are sought by most people, and other people influence us
i) A person is either worldly minded or heavenly minded
(c) They are to varying degrees necessary for life
(d) They are present, ever before us, and can be possessed right now
(4) Earthly riches are corruptible
(a) Something terrible happens to everything on earth
(b) Everything ages, dies, deteriorates, and decays
(c) Things are on the earth only for a brief time, and then they are no more.
(d) Everything has the seed of corruption within it
(e) Earthly riches are insecure
i) Turn to 1 Timothy 6:7
(f) The things on earth are insecure for three reasons
i) They can be stolen or eaten up
ii) They do not last; they waste away
iii) And a person cannot take a single thing with him when he passes from this world.
1 Timothy 6:7 (NKJV)
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
4. Thing about these four lessons:
a. Wealth is sought, and it is sought by many
(1) What is often forgotten is this: every bit of wealth is held by someone
(2) Therefore, many are always figuring how to get some of what someone else has
(3) The things of this world are very insecure.
b. A person can be snatched away from this earth as quickly as the twinkling of an eye
(1) Everything for which he has worked so hard on this earth can be gone immediately
c. A man can lose much of what he has in this world and lose it quickly
(1) He can lose it through financial difficulties, accident, marital problems, illness, death, and through a myriad of other ways
d. A person is a fool to seek an abundance of things, to grasp after more and more
(1) Turn to Luke 12:20
(2) Why? Because tonight or tomorrow or some day soon God will say, as Christ says in Luke 12:20
Luke 12:20 (NKJV)
"But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?
(3) Then in the very next verse
Luke 12:21 (NKJV)
"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
(a) Lets read, again, Matthew 6:20
5. There are heavenly riches
Matthew 6:20 (NKJV)
"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal
6. There are things in heaven that believers desire
a. Christ calls these heavenly riches
(1) Heavenly riches would be such things as
(a) A blameless life
(b) Becoming a true child of God
(c) The forgiveness of sins
(d) Wisdom
(e) Understanding the will of God
i) Purpose
ii) Meaning
iii) And significance in life
(f) An enormous inheritance that is eternal
(g) A constant Comforter and Helper, the Holy Spirit of God Himself
(h) A life that is abundant and overflowing
b. What about heavenly riches, Jesus says
(1) Lay up for yourselves heavenly riches
(a) A person is foolish to seek and set his mind on perishable things
(b) Why? Because he can seek after that which gives all the meaning, purpose, and significance to life that one can imagine
i) Turn to Luke 12:15
(c) To have meaning and purpose and significance in life is what life is all about.
(d) Think about it
Luke 12:15 (NKJV)
And He said (to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."
i) Just how much meaning is there in something that passes away
ii) Even while a person seeks after something on this earth, there is an inner awareness that it will not last
iii) There is an end to whatever meaning he finds in it
iv) The earthly treasure may be a car, a job, a trip, a relationship, clothing, position, power, fame, or fortune
v) The fact is, no matter what the treasure is, it will end and pass away and be no more
vi) A worldly man's meaning for living, his purpose and significance in life, is temporary, unfulfilling and incomplete
a) Turn to 1 Peter 1:4
(2) Heavenly riches are incorruptible
(a) Corruption can be escaped
1 Peter 1:4 (NKJV)
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
(b) Everyone should lay claim and set his heart on his heavenly inheritance
(c) Heavenly riches are secure
(d) Thieves cannot break through heaven; they cannot penetrate the spiritual dimension
(e) No one nor anything can take away a person's heavenly riches
(f) The love of God assures this
(g) Christ does not stop a man from seeking treasure; contrariwise, He guides the man's search to real treasure
i) Turn to Matthew 16:26
(h) Heaven is worth more than all the wealth in the world.
Matthew 16:26 (NKJV)
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
i) Turn to Luke 14:33
(i) A man must leave all to follow Christ or else he cannot be the Lord's disciple.
Luke 14:33 (NKJV)
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
(j) Christ says a man is to lay up treasures in heaven for himself, not lay up treasures on earth for his family
i) Turn to 1 Timothy 5:8
(k) Not that making provision for your family is wrong
1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever
i) Lets turn to Matthew 6:21 - 23
B. Christ warns about two kinds of hearts
Matthew 6:21-23 KJV
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. {22} The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. {23} But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
1. There is the good heart
a. Turn to Proverbs 23:7
b. It is just like a good eye
c. The eye is a gate that gives entrance to the mind of man
d. If a man focuses upon Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world then his mind and heart will be full of light
(1) Therefore, the deeds of his body will be deeds of light
(2) Singleness of the eye and heart means that a person sets his attention upon the Lord Jesus for the purpose of doing His will
(3) An evil eye is one that focuses upon things that are not of God
2. A man's heart is precisely where his treasure is
a. If his treasure is on earth, his heart is on earth
b. If his treasure is in heaven, his heart is in heaven
(1) The eye illustrates the truth
(2) If a man's eye is good and healthy, then he is able to focus upon the treasure and grasp the truth
(3) But if the eye is unhealthy, he is not able to focus upon the treasure
(4) He is blind and in darkness
(5) A healthy heart is like a healthy eye
(6) It grasps the true treasure, the treasure in heaven
(7) But an unhealthy heart is like an unhealthy eye
(8) It is in darkness, unable to see the treasure in heaven
(a) Turn to Philippians 3:20-21
(9) The believer fixes his eyes upon heaven for two primary reasons
(a) The first reason is that his citizenship is in heaven:
Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, {21} who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself
i) Turn to 2 Corinthians 4:18
(b) The Believer the treasures which are eternal:
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
i) Back to Matthew 6:20
Matthew 6:20 (NKJV)
"but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
(c) Things that are eternal are incorruptible
(d) They are secure
i) Turn to verse 22
(10) This is the second reason that the believer fixes his eyes upon heaven
Matthew 6:22 (NKJV)
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.
(11) They cause his "whole body to be full of light"
(a) Turn to Matthew 6:24
C. Christ warns that a choice has to be made between two kinds of masters
Matthew 6:24 KJV
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
1. A man hates one master and loves the other
a. When both masters call upon the man at the same time, he has to make a choice
b. He favors, serves, helps, and loves one; and while he is doing so, he is disfavoring, rejecting, and showing disrespect and hate for the other
c. A man cannot serve two masters.
2. A man either cleaves to or despises one of the masters
a. He has to choose which master to favor and serve
b. He has to cleave to one
c. In cleaving to one, he reveals disrespect and spite for the other
d. A man cannot serve two masters
3. The choice is clear
a. A man either serves God or material things
(1) There are only two treasures: the earth and its treasures or God and His treasures, physical and material things or spiritual and eternal things
(2) Every man without exception has committed his life to one of two treasures: mammon or God
(3) He is focusing his heart, eyes, mind, attention, thoughts, hands, and energy upon earthly things or upon heavenly things
(4) He cannot "serve God and mammon."
b. So many look at wealth as a blessing of God, a sign that one is godly
(1) Turn to Ephesians 4:28
D. Earthly wealth is not to be our focus, we are to focus on the treasurers of heaven
1. That being said, in this world we must work for our sustenance
a. But our focus is not to gain wealth
b. Our work is as it says in Ephesians 4:28
Ephesians 4:28 (NKJV)
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
(1) Turn to James 1:27
c. In talking about pure religion James says
James 1:27 (NKJV)
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world
(1) Visiting orphans and widows means to help provide for their needs in this world
(2) As pointed out in our Ephesians 4:28 passage to give to him who has need, that is orphans and widows
E. Do not set your heart on earthly things, but on the things of heavenly
1. Those earthly things we work for are to enable us to give to those in need.
