Why It is Important to Store Up for Ourselves Treasures in Heaven Instead of on Earth
It is estimated that the United States has 276 billionaires, more than 2,500 households with a net worth exceeding $100 million, 250,000 individuals with a net worth of $10 million, and 500,000 individuals with net worth in excess of $5 million. (Maclellan Foundation)
Between 1998 and 2008, the number of the millionaire households will quadruple. (Maclellan Foundation)
Americans own approximately 40 percent of the world’s wealth but comprise only 2.5 percent of the world’s population. (Ron Blue & Co.)
Forty percent of the wealth in America is held by 1 percent of the people. (Ron Blue & Co.)
Eighty-million families in the United States would tell you that they are in financial trouble, after about 50 years of almost unparalleled prosperity. (Ron Blue & Co.)
Incomes have gone up nine to 10 times in the last 20 years and giving has gone down about 50 percent. (Ron Blue & Co.)
Christians worldwide make $5.9 trillion in annual income. One-sixth of that belongs to evangelical Christians. (ServLife International)
Ninety-six percent of evangelical giving is given out of income and only 4 percent is given out of net worth. (Ron Blue & Co.)
Jesus rebuked the Laodicean church when He said, “You say, “I am rich: I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Rev. 3:17-18)
Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)
1. Jesus knew that knew that human success is ultimately unsatisfying and counter-productive. People who try to be successful, secure and stupendous in earthly terms are often failures in the eyes of God. Consider what how He rebuked the Laodicean church. The Lord Jesus rebuked the Laodiceans because they were:
A. Materially rich but spiritually impoverished. Too many people falsely assume that to be financially successful is the real goal of life. Let us remember that famous phrase, “Only one life will soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied.” (Matt 5:8) All other pursuits in life promise nothing but emptiness. David once wrote, “He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with what is good.” Only in His presence is fullness of joy and in His right hand are pleasures forever more. (Psa. 16:9-11) It is in vain that most people spend their time trying to accumulate wealth without realizing that true riches are found in a growing relationship with the Lord that produces a life of fruitful obedience in His will. Solomon, the richest man on the earth, once wrote, In the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.” Ask the Lord to help you to gain a fresh perspective on true riches as you invest in eternal projects of church planting, leadership development, and world evangelism through supporting third world church planters in organizations like GospelforAsia.com or BibleLeague.org or ChristianAid.org These are some of the best organizations where you can store up for yourself treasures in heaven instead of putting your trust in real estate, the stock market or a local bank.
2. It makes for more sense to go with a sure promise from God than to be absorbed in the self-destructive worries, riches and pleasures of this life that are ultimately unfruitful. Jesus once said, “Still others, like seed sown among the thorns, hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18,19) It is sad to see how many people are stressed out worrying about their economic security instead of storing up sure treasures for eternity in heaven. In the last three years 70% of the money invested in the Nasdaq has been eaten away. 34% of the money invested in the S & P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial averages has been lost. Many people are in worried because they have lost so much in their 401K and IRA accounts because nearly 50% of Americans followed the bubble of the stock market in the 90’s and got into mutual funds or stocks. More than 6 trillion dollars has been lost since March of 2000 in the stock market. Many are worried and bothered about many things, but still there is only one needful thing that we need to do and that is sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His word to determine His will for our life. (Lk 10:38-42) We have too many Marthas running around thinking that they can someone order their lives better than God can. All of this is done to their in a self-destructive way that needs to be replace with thoughts on things above rather than on things on this earth.
Illustration: Intergenerational Transfer of Wealth
Over the next 50 years, between $41 trillion and $136 trillion will pass from older to younger generations (Boston College Social Welfare Research).
Church Growth
Worldwide
According to current growth trends, the Church worldwide will likely triple in size between 2000 and 2010. (DAWN Ministries)
One billion people in the world today have never heard the name of Christ, and 2 billion who do not understand who He is. (Maclellan Foundation)
The church has grown more in the 20th century than in all the previous nineteen centuries since the time of Christ combined. (InterServ)
Growth in Scripture translations: 36 translations in 1600 A.D.; 52 translations in 1700; 67 translations in 1800; 537 translations in 1900; and 2,800 translations in 2000. (Interdev)
In the year 1993, 21 million Christians were mobilized for prayer for the unreached. In 1995, 36 million Christians were praying; and in 1997, the missions prayer movement had grown to 50 million Christians. (Interdev)
China
Perhaps the greatest revival since Jesus came to the earth is happening in China today. Every day, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 Chinese become Christians. (Maclellan Foundation)
In 1949, at the dawn of communism in China, there were fewer than 1 million believers. Today, there are more than 70 million. (Tony Lambert)
If church growth continues at present rates, then by the year 2010, 50% of the Chinese population will be believers in Christ. (Curtis Sergeant)
The church in China is ready to explode from 60 million believers to 500 million by the year 2020. (Maclellan Foundation)
India
Only 3 percent of Indians are Christians, leaving 800 million unevangelized. (Patrick Johnstone)
According to present growth rates, by 2010 the Indian population could double itself, and by 2025, one quarter of the population could be Christian. (Vinay Samuel)
Charitable Giving
Giving by All Americans
Total individual giving in the United States in 2000 was $152 billion. (Giving USA)
Americans could have comfortably (i.e. without change of lifestyle) given $320 billion in 2000, more than double actual giving. (NewTithing Group)
In 2000, 78 percent of Americans gave some money to at least one church or nonprofit group. Twenty-two percent did not give at all. (Barna Research Ltd.)
There has been a steady decline in percentage of Americans who give, down roughly 6 to 8 percent each year from 1998 to 2000. (Barna Research Ltd.)
Average giving per person in the United States dropped 15 percent from 1999 to 2000. (Barna Research Ltd.)
As of 2000, 17 percent of Americans claim to tithe (i.e. give 10 percent of their income), while only 6 percent actually do so. (Barna Research Ltd.)
As of 2001, Baby Boomers (ages 35-55) are generous donors but do not tend to give to churches. Baby Busters (ages 20-35) give very little money at all but tend to give volunteer time. (Barna Research Ltd.)
In 2000, Americans gave a total of $203 billion, with $74 billion going to religious groups. (American Association of Fundraising Counsel Trust for Philanthropy)
Hispanics and single adults (both fast-growing demographics) give only about one-third as much to churches as the average American does. (Barna Research Ltd.)
Total charitable giving, both in total dollars and percentage of income, is higher in the United States than in any other country in the world, except possibly Israel. (Robert Wuthnow)
Since 1975, total charitable giving by Americans has run between 1.6 percent and 2.16 percent of income. (Internal Revenue Service, The Gallup Organization, Giving USA)
Giving has represented about 2 percent of gross domestic product for four decades. (Giving USA)
The two groups in the United States that give the highest percentages of their income are the poor (those making less than $20,000 per year) and the rich (those making more than $100,000 per year). Middle-class Americans are the smallest percentage givers. (Christianity Today)
3. People think that success comes only by hard work, intelligence and wise investing. Jesus knew that there is a higher level of spiritual success that is able to infuse all dimensions of life that is far more important than human prosperity. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:7,8) Trust the Lord to help you appropriate the riches you have in Christ so you can allow your spiritual success to infuse all dimensions of your emotional, social, financial, vocational, personal and family life. Then you be truly able to say that you are rich in lasting fruit that pleases the Lord in all respects as you are filled with the knowledge of His will with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Col. 1:9-11)
Ilustration:
Giving by Religious Americans
Religious observers (only 38 percent of all Americans) give two-thirds of all charitable dollars in the United States. (The Gallup Organization)
Religious observers (those who attend weekly services) give 3.4 percent of income annually, while nonreligious people give only 1.1 percent to 1.4 percent. (The Gallup Organization)
Christians give away $181 billion per year. But if all Christians tithed according to the Old Testament minimum standard of 10 percent, then giving would increase to $647 billion. (ServeLife International)
4. So often we spend our whole lives pursuing things that will be of no value for eternity. The things that are of the most value to us here, the material things, will be of the least value there.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15, "Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames."
We can spend our whole lives amassing things, but like with the greedy farmer of
Luke 12:15-21, we are gathering it in vain, because it cannot last. Only the things we do for the Kingdom of God will last. When we bring someone who is lost to Jesus, that will last. When we lead people into a close, intimate place of worhsip, that will last. When we build up the church by encouraging, loving, teaching, correcting, caring, that will last.
When we build our own relationship with God through Bible study and prayer that will last.
According to the Bible, there are three things that we can "invest" in the Kingdom of God. Time, Talent, and Treasures. It’s not only money that God is concerned with. It is just as bad to waste your time and your talents as it is to waste your treasure. EAch of us is accountable to God for all three of these things. We must equally invest all three of these into things with eternal value. If you give all of your money to God, but then spend all of your time for yourself, that is not good enough.
The world would tell us that the first characteristic of a successful person is financial prosperity or material possessions, but the Bible says that the first characteristic of a successful person is that they value and invest in those things that will last for eternity.
Illustration:
Giving by Evangelical Christian Americans
Evangelical Christians give a higher percentage than liberal Protestant Christians while Catholic giving lags well behind both. (Robert Wuthnow)
Only a few evangelical denominations report receiving contributions over 5 percent of annual member income. (Christianity Today)
Evangelical giving in 2000 (measured in total dollars contributed) was down 16 percent from the previous year. (Barna Research Ltd.)
In 2000, the total amount given by the average individual evangelical Christian dropped by 19 percent (to $1,166). (Barna Research Ltd.)
As of 2000, 32 percent of evangelicals in the United States claim to tithe while only 12 percent actually do so. (Barna Research Ltd.)
Generally, the more money a person makes the less likely he is to tithe. (Barna Research Ltd.)
5. Let learn how to be content with the essentials of life while learning to let the non-essentials go. Paul learned how to be content when he had much or when he had little. He said, “I have learned the secret of being content when I was abased or when I abounded. I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.’ (Phil. 4:12,13) Solomon wrote, in Ecclesiastes 5:19 “Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God.
Jesus taught His disciples, in Luke 3:11-14, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 13 "Don’t collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely--be content with your pay."
Paul wrote in I Timothy 6:6-10 "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Giving generously and joyfully
Psalm 37:21
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;
5. We need to learn how to invest generously in areas where we can demonstrate that everything we have belongs to the Lord. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 11-13 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."
6. Let us learn to give God the firstfruits, not the leftovers Moses wrote in Numbers 18:29-30, “You must present as the LORD’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’ "Say to the Levites: `When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress. By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.’"
7. We need to learn how to put away the false assumption that position, image and popularity are more important than pleasing the Lord. True success is not found in prominence or position, but in displaying righteousness and integrity, with humility.
A source of pride for the people of the city of Laodicea was the fine wool garments that were produced there. In fact, it was probably this which led Jesus to tell them to buy from him white garments so they will not be shamed by their nakedness.
Let’s consider for a moment what is meant here.Clothing is very often a symbol of position or rank. The king is know by his yellow robe. the navy captain is know by his uniform. The doctor is known by his white coat. The minister is known by his white collar or by his suit. Obviously, Jesus is not trying to tell the church that he doesn’t want them to dress nicely. Jesus was getting at the deeper issue. He was against what the fancy clothes symbolized: Pride of Position.
The church of Laodicea was satisfied to hold their positions and look great to the people around them. In fact, they probably looked down on the "lesser" churches that had not yet advanced to their great position. They are like this emperor:
THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES... (used as an illustration)
Well, the people of Laodicea are like the emperor of that story. They believe that they are splendidly arrayed with dignity and honor in front of the people. The people are even convinced too, because they have been deceived. But Jesus, just like the little boy in the story, is not deceived. He sees them for just what they are: pitiful and shameful. And just like the boy in the story, Jesus is about to reveal the truth of their nakedness to everyone else.
So, when Jesus admonishes them to buy a white garment from him, surely this is the solution to their problem of nakedness. But what does he mean? What is the "white garment" he wants them to buy from him.
Let’s look at a few times the Bible uses the term "white garment" to determine what he means here.
Revelation 7:13-14, "Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, "Who are these who are clothed in white? Where do they come from? And I said to him, Sir, you are the one who knows.’ Then he said to me, ’These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white."
Revelation 19:7-8, "For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen. (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God."
From these two verses, we can see that the one of the biblical meanings of the white robe is purity or righteousness. We live in a world that emphasizes power and position and prestige at any cost, even at the cost of personal integrity. Our business world, and even some of our churches, are so competitive that in order to "succeed," the world tells you that you have to step on people on the way up. It has become very difficult, the world would tell you impossible, to achieve "success" without compromising your standards. You just have to tell a little lie, or deceive just a little. Or the cost of your being promoted in position may be that some other people are treated unjustly.
Let me assure you that if you were to read the Old Testament prophets you will discover that God did not only punish Israel for idolatry, but for social injustice. Men and women are made in the image of God. When you wrong a man, you have wronged God.
It is not only in business practices that our society loves to compromise for the sake of image. Our society tells us, Image is Everything. Often, in order to preserve our "image" or our "reputation" among friends, we are tempted to do something that we know is wrong. Why are we so concerned about image or position? Because our society has told us that this is a sign of great success. But the Bible says that in order to be successful, you do not need position or popularity, but righteousness and integrity. Instead of being concerned with what others think about you and how others view you, you ought to be concerned with how God sees you.
8. We need to learn how to give according to our means. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 8:12-14
12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,
9. We need to learn how to give strategically for the accomplishment of Christ’s great commission.
Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:28
28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
We can give strategically when we give according to Christ’s kingdom priorities helping to expand it in the most effective qualitative and quantitative ways. Jesus said, “
Matthew 6:19-21, 24
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth 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. 24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
10. We need to give without false motives. Jesus said in Matthew 6:1-4
1 "Be careful not to do your `acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
11. We need to always remember that God owns everything
1 Chronicles 29:11-18
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 15 We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. 16 O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. 18 O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you.
Psalm 24:1-2
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Psalm 50:10-12
10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
Living a modest lifestyle
Acts 2:44-45
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Acts 20:33-35
33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
12. We need to avoid living an extravagant lifestyle
James 5:1-3, 5
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon 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. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
13. We need to remember there are rich rewards for generosity
Proverbs 11:24-25, 28
We need to learn to give to the poor and needy.
Solomon wrote, "He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done." (Prov. 19:17)
24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 28 Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Luke 6:38
38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 16:9-11
9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
Philippians 4:14-19
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
13. We need to follow the example of sacrificial givers in the Bible.
Sacrificial giving
Luke 21:1-4
1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
14. We need to realize that failing to give is stealing from God.
Malachi 3:8-10
8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, `How do we rob you?’ "In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
15. We need to give at least 10% of our income to the Lord as a minimum, according as God directs.
1 Corinthians 16:2
2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
16. We need to remind people who have much that they also have much responsibility to use what they have for the Lord’s greater purposes. Paul wrote about that fact that with money comes responsibility. I Timothy 6:17-19
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
17. We need to ask God for wisdom in managing money
Proverbs 21:20
20 In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.
Proverbs 21:25-26
25 The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.
Proverbs 22:7
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
18. Let us remember that true success is not found in the wisdom of men, but in spiritual insight.
The city of Laodicea was known for its medicine. Specifically, they had a miracle
oinment that could be rubbed on the eyes to improve eyesight. This ointment was another source of pride for the people, and Jesus used it as an example of another way in which they were failing. They thought that because of their great knowledge and wisdom in the area of medicine that they were successful. No doubt, they thought they were wise in all areas of life.
Jesus, however, tells them that they are blind. Jesus’ remedy for this failure is to buy from him an eyesalve so that their eyes would be opened. Again, we must asked ourselves what the eyesalve represents. What kind of sight is Jesus talking about here?
Again, we can explore some Scriptures that talk about sight and begin to see what Jesus is aiming at.
John 4:35,36: "Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life."
If it was four months away form the time for harvest, Jesus could not possibly have been talking about the harvest of physical crops like rice or grain. Just in case there was confusion, Jesus explained that the kind of harvest he was talking about was a spiritual harvest of souls. He was telling these people to stop looking at their own needs and concerns and to allow God to show them the great need around them. His message was the same to Laodicea. They had such great wisdom and learning when it came to physical things, like medicine, but they were completely blind to the great needs around them. They were so blind that they could not even see their own miserable condition, let alone the great spiritual needs of the people around them.
In order to be successful, it is not the wisdom of men or great knowledge that you need. Don’t get me wrong, education is important. Education is good. Paul wrote, "All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ." (Col. 2:3) Do not think that your knowledge is the answer to everything and you allow your knowledge to blind you to the things of God that your run into trouble. True success is being able to see the great needs of people around you, and I would add, a willingness to do something about those needs.
1 Corinthians 1:19-21, "As the Scriptures say, ‘I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas.’ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe."
The Laodiceans had wisdom that excluded God.
True wisdom, on the other hand, is God centered.
Proverbs 9:10, "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding."
So, Jesus is not condemning wisdom. He is rebuking all who rely on the natural mind to the exclusion of the spiritual needs of people.
Proverbs 29:18a, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
"Vision" is something every organization needs, but what is vision? Vision is direction, a purpose toward which you are moving. Now if we were talking about a business, that might be good enough. In a Christian context, vision is direction which has been given by God. Vision is seeing the future and moving toward it. This was exactly what the Laodicean church was lacking. They had no sight as far as what God’s plan for them was.
We can run into the same issues in our own lives. When we make our decisions, we often make choices based on what we think is a good idea or on some advice from somone else. Sometimes this works out, but sometimes it does not lead to success. This is because success is not about making smart choices, but about making the right choices.
How can we know what the right choices are? Sometimes our wisdom can’t tell us that. (Prov. 3:5,6) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."
We must see what God’s plan and purpose is
and make our decisions based on that instead of our own wisdom. Henrietta Mears said,
"When God gives a command or a vision of truth, it is never a question of what He will do, but what we will do. To be successful in God’s work is to fall in line with His will and do it His way. All this is pleasing to Him is success." (Stephan Brown from Sermoncentral.com)
The Economy at a Glance: Belief and Behavior
By Larry Burkett with Joseph Slife
“You really ‘believe’ only those parts of the Bible that you ‘live out.’ ”
I heard Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California make that simple yet profound statement at a conference I attended a few months ago. He’s right. The way we behave is a surefire indicator of what we truly believe.
The idea that belief drives behavior is apparent all around us. According to a poll released last month, more than half of U.S. adults think personal financial planning is more important now than a year ago. Why? Because the events of September 11 confronted them with the reality that we have no guarantees about tomorrow. The result: Millions of people began taking steps to get their financial houses in order.
Think about the belief/behavior connection in the area of biblical teaching on money.
Do you believe that God owns everything? (1 Chronicles 29:11 and Psalm 24:1)
Do you believe you have been appointed by God to be a steward over what He owns? (Luke 16:10-12)
Do you believe that if you make the kingdom of God your top priority God will give you everything else you need for day-to-day living? (Matthew 6:25- 33)
“What too many Christians don’t realize is that stewardship involves far more than the money we put in the collection plate,” wrote my friend, John MacArthur, in the introduction to one of my books a few years ago. “It encompasses every element of how we manage the resources God has blessed us with…[And] the simple fact is that we cannot be truly effective for God if we fail to manage our finances well.”
When Christian people really start to “believe” what the Bible teaches about money— that is, when their financial behavior actually begins to conform to Scripture—we’ll see a radical change in the effectiveness and vitality of the church.
Crown Financial Ministry’s (Larry Burkett) small group study helps people understand the financial principles of God’s Word, and it creates an environment in which people can respond to the Holy Spirit’s promptings toward genuine change in their attitudes and actions. Indeed, many thousands of Crown small group alumni have found the 12-week study to be truly “life-changing.”
Start the Crown program in your church. Call for details at (800) 722-1976. Or go to crown.org and click on “small groups.”
“[The kingdom of heaven] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.” (Matthew 25:14 NIV)
