The Demands of the Kingdom Part 5
Central thought: Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted.
Text: Matthew 6:19-34
We are continuing with our series on the teaching of our Lord Jesus on the mount. In today’s study, we shall be considering His warnings against being world-minded, where to lay our treasures, dangers of serving two masters and worrying about the issues of life. These are part of the code of ethics for disciples and standard of conduct for all Christians in all ages. They contrast what should be the life style and valued of followers of Christ and the life style and values of non-believers in Christ.
1. Discuss the futility of worldly treasures. Matthew 6:19, Luke 12:16-21, Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Treasures are those things that we value most, and in most cases we do not want to part with them. It could be money, jewelry, educational certificates, houses, cars, clothes, power, position, etc. In Matthew 6:19, the Lord Jesus submitted that these treasures are subject to moth and rust which corrupt, and thieves that can dispossess one of them. With human beings, sickness and death can dispossess us of them without permission.
There is also the danger of these treasures diverting, stealing and capturing our minds away from God. This is because where your treasure is, there will your heart be. What we treasure the most controls us.
Speaking in the same vain, Apostle James proclaimed the worthlessness of riches in James 5:1-6. The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:10. Many in an attempt to acquire money indulge in unwholesome practices and compromise the biblical standards.
Solomon pursued pleasures and concluded that all is vanity, and that trying to satisfy our life is like “chasing the wind”; we can feel the wind but we can never catch it for a keep, such are worldly treasures.
2. Where are we to lay up our treasures and why? Matthew 6:20, Colossians 3:1-4
We are to lay up our treasures in heaven and not on earth. The lord Jesus gave reasons why we should lay our treasures in heaven. He said that in heaven, there is no moth, rust or thieves that could cart them away. Men want to store their treasures where they are safe and secure. Those who saved their money in banks that have gone under have bitter tales to tell.
Laying our treasures in heaven will help us to be heavenly minded. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be. A man who has nothing kept in heaven will have no business aspiring to be there.
Lot’s wife had to look back even when she was under God’s instruction not to do so. She did otherwise probably because of her many treasures in Sodom, Genesis 19:26. Our treasures must be laid up in heaven if we aspire to be there.
3. How would someone lay up treasures in heaven?
The first step to laying up treasures in heaven is to give our lives to Christ. It is only then our sacrifices will count before God.
We must hand over our treasures to God and remove our confidence in them. We lay up treasures in heaven by giving generously to support God’s work, e.g. our tithes and offerings, sponsoring missionary activities, promoting God’s work, giving to the poor and needy around us.
We must always remember that it is God that gives us power to make wealth, Deuteronomy 8:18. Whatever we have whether money, power, children and other treasures, come from God and to Him we owe them. We are to release our treasures to God and allow Him to lead us the way He wants us to use them. We are just stewards of those treasures and it is required in stewardship that a man be found faithful, 1 Corinthians 4:2. Paul writing to Timothy requested him to teach the rich people in the Church not to become proud or trust in their riches which are so unreliable, 1 Timothy 6:17-19; rather they should use their wealth to do good, distributing to the needs of the saints.
However, laying up treasures in heaven is not only related to giving but is total obedience to God’s will in our lives.
4. Discuss how some people serve two masters and the dangers of doing so. Matthew 6:24; Philippians 3:19; Luke 18:18-23; James 4:4
No slave can be a property of two owners at the same time. A servant who attempts to serve two masters at the same time will be in a dilemma when the two masters give him commands, as to whom to serve first.
Here, the Lord Jesus denounced those that think they can serve God and any other thing.
In this context, a man is said to be serving two masters when he has divided loyalty, serving God and idol at the same time.
To some people their bellies, their worldly riches, their sports and other pleasures are their gods. To serve God and any of these gods together cannot work. We cannot love, obey, trust and depend on both together.
Anybody who divides his allegiance between God and money or any other thing has already chosen money or such other thing as his master. God only accepts exclusive devotion.
5. What are the implications of worrying over the issues of life?
When faced with challenges of life, worry often is the common response, but it is indeed a killer.
Fretting and worrying over issues of life damage our health, reduce our productivity, have a negative effect on the way we treat others and impair our ability to trust God.
Worry does not solve any problem but rather compounds it. It only wearies the heart and melts it in fear. It causes people to be running helter-skelter, seeking help where there is none.
Worry is a yoke that must be dealt with. It robs people of their sleep and causes them to be involved in ceaseless calculations. It makes people to become anxious and restless and in the process they make mistakes and take wrong decisions.
Worry will not allow you to trust and wait on God. There is nothing good that we can achieve by worrying. Worrying may lead to high blood pleasure and other sickness in the body. Therefore reject worry when it comes.
6. Discuss how to best handle the challenges of life in this age of trouble and uncertainty. Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7
Prayer is the vehicle God has provided us to access His throne and obtain grace in the day of trouble. Therefore let us not worry about anything, but pray about everything. All our burdens and cares should be laid at the feet of Jesus, “cast your cares upon Him for He careth for you”, 1 Peter 5:7.
We must learn to make our requests known to Him and wait patiently for His timing. Rest on the Lord and He will show Himself great and might on your behalf.
We must learn to be content with what we have and not be involved in comparing and contrasting ourselves with others. Let us be ourselves and move at our own pace as God enables us.
7. Read Matthew 6:25-32 and highlight the submission of our Lord Jesus on why we should not worry about anything.
We live in a world where worry is now considered a normal part of life. People worry about issues relating to their children, marriage, work, business and other things. We worry about what to eat, drink, wear and where to lay our heads. The Lord Jesus admonished that we should not worry about anything because of the ills associated with it.
Worry does not add anything good to our lives. A short man does not add an inch to his height by mere worrying. God cares for us more than we think.
To buttress His point, He cited an example of the birds that neither plant, nor harvest, or stores food in the barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them all, and we are worth more than the birds.
Also look at the lilies of the field, how they grow even when they do not work or make their clothing, yet our heavenly Father clothes them. We are of a greater value to the Lord. He dwells in us as we are His temple. He is therefore interested in our bodies. He desires and wills to feed, clothe and care for our bodies. Let us therefore trust Him to meet all our needs.
We must note that there is a difference between showing concern and worry. Worry demobilizes but concern moves to action.
Daily living application:
What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. Therefore, prefer heaven and heavenly blessings far above earth and earthly delights. Worldly treasures are ephemeral. Putting our trust in them is a tragedy.
Do you have any treasure stored up in heaven yet?
Worry does not add anything positive to your life, neither does it change the situation, but prayer does. Why worry when you can pray, trust in Jesus, He knows the way.
Memory verse
Matthew 6:33 – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”.