“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.
”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. Matthew 6: 19 – 21, 24
My life is being rethought as I sit here to write. Last Sunday’s message was a strong call to examine our lives in response to the materialism of our culture. I not only prepared and delivered that message, but I also am being challenged by its implications. Sometimes preaching seems like an academic exercise wherein we evaluate the quality of the delivery and the appropriateness of the content, but I feel like this series of messages from the Sermon on the Mount are more like a slap upside the head. Jesus’ words are strong and direct and simple and demand a response.
If you are going to be a part of His kingdom, He calls you to some serious decision making. Specifically, how are you going to deal with money and stuff? Is it something you commit to and use for God’s kingdom, or is the acquisition of things the point of life? And sadly, in our culture, many folks would have to admit, if they were honest, that the acquisition of stuff and maintaining their standard of living has become the point of life. It is radical to follow Jesus’ way. He does not call use to give a little, or even a lot. He never says “give out of your abundance” or “give 10%.” His call to us is that everything we own is to be used for His kingdom and all of our resources are to be available for the implementation of the Kingdom of God.
This next Sunday’s message focuses on how we line up our priorities if we decide to follow Jesus. It promises to be a humdinger!
