"Setting Up Your Retirement Plan"
Matthew 6:19-34
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Intro: When people choose a job these days, one of the most important questions is "What kind of pension plan is included?" Americans have devoted great energy to planning ahead so we can enjoy all of the benefits of retirement. A number of years ago, that concept was radically different. People would work hard all their lives and hope they had enough to get by on. These days, we calculate just how much we want each year after retiring, and when we reach that figure, we decide it is time to retire.
Jesus has a lot to say about how we view things. Let’s look in Matthew 6:19-34.
READ TEXT
Jesus tells us here that we need to make a change in our directions.
SHIP STORY
Many times we think God needs to join us because we have such a good plan worked out for our lives. Rather, we will surely make a shipwreck of our lives unless we change the course of our life to follow God.
Jesus starts by telling the people to
I. Stop building Earthly treasures - 19-24
The real sense of the language used here is "Stop storing up for yourselves treasures . . . "
They were doing it, and they needed to stop.
A. Why stop - It is foolish to build earthly treasures, when you can build heavenly treasures.
**Why buy disposable plates every day, when you can buy dishes you can keep.
**why rent furniture for your house when you can buy furniture to own.
Why sacrifice the eternal for the temporary?
What happens to earthly treasures? They are consumed, corrupted, and stolen. We are a people who focus on material things. We are that way because we have materialistic hearts.
Our eyes determine what we dwell upon. Many times we see the idea that it is what we focus upon that consumes us. They things we read, watch, "eye up" and dwell upon--these are the things that will become our treasure. Why are rubies and sapphires precious gemstones? Not because they are rare, but because they are beautiful to look on. People love that which is pleasing to their eyes.
Jesus says, what we focus on is what we will treasure. But the choice of a master will direct that focus. Will you choose to serve God or wealth. We are a slave: that is the wording here. Our choice is simply to determine whose slave we will be. If God is truly our master, then our focus and our lives should be different. Stop seeking earthly treasure. Rather seek heavenly treasure.
Did you ever see the bumper sticker that says "Christians retirement benefits are out of this world!"
What do you treasure? Proverbs 2 has some good wisdom for us.
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
The second area we need to change direction in our life is seen in the next verses. We need to
II. Stop worrying About Our Lives - 25-34
We have become a generation that values life too dearly. In many ways we dishonor life. We see some moothers choose to kill unborn children. We see pre-teens kill another youth for his sneakers. We do not value life. But we are also a generation that chooses to take any steps to avoid pain or displeasure. We want a comfortable life at all costs.
Once again here Jesus tells the people to stop doing something they were already doing.
Stop worrying about your life . . . Jesus tells us that if we have made the right choice of treasure, we won’t have to worry about the everyday details of our lives. What were the people worrying about in Jesus’ day? What they would eat and drink, and the clothes they would wear. What do people worry about today? The same thing. Why has McDonalds almost sold 1 trillion hamburgers? Because people love to eat out. Why are the malls doing such incredible business? Because people love to buy clothes. Remember Amelda Marcos? The wife of the Phillipines dictator--she had hundreds of pairs of shoes in her closet.
Jesus sent his disciples out on a training mission: They only took one pair of sandals and one coat. Today we need color coordinated outfits that are different for every day. When I was in high school I remember one girl complaining in the winter that she had to start rewearing outfits that she had already worn to school once that year.
What is really important? Paul said in 1 Timothy And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Jesus talks about the most basic needs: protection and provision. He doesn’t say we shouldn’t get these, but that we shouldn’t worry about these. Get a house and get something to eat, but do not make these your priority. He uses two examples: birds and flowers. God provides for the birds to eat and beauty for the flowers. he can provide for us as well.
Jesus calls them " O ye of little faith". you have little faith if you are worrying about the physical, material, and temporal. The Father knows what we need. When we seek his kingdom, and his righteousness, our physical and temporal needs will be met.
Where is your focus this morning. What are you treasuring? What are you worrying about? Do you worry about keeping up with your neighbor or do you worry about your neighbor’s soul. Do you worry about your bank account or the condition of your heart? let’s make sure we have right priorities this morning.
ILLUST: There was a little girl who just loved her daddy. One day her father had bought her a little plastic pearl necklace. She loved it and wore it every day. Wherever they went, she took along this little play necklace. She kept it for years, and loved it dearly, for it was a gift from her father.
One day her father came home, and called the girl into the living room. She sat up on his lap, and he said, Honey, I want you to take that necklace off and go throw it into the fire in the fireplace. Immediately the girl was upset and said, "No, I won’t, it’s my necklace" and she ran from the room.
This conversation went on again for the next few days, until finally one day when the father asked her, she took off the necklace, and with tears in her eyes, threw the plastic pearl necklace into the fireplace. As the flames melted the necklace she was openly crying and started to run away when her father caught her, and handed her a small package. As she opened it up, the tears quickly dried up as she looked in the box to find a new, real pearl necklace. The father had such a tremendous gift to give her, but she never would have had it unless she was first willing to give up the plastic necklace she had loved so much.
How much like our Father, who desires to "freely give us all things." Yet many times the Father withholds his hand of blessing until we are "blessable." We don’t pray for God’s blessing, we live for it. The Father desires to give us so much, but our treasure is that which the world has to offer. This morning, where is your treasure?
