treasures, worries, money...

19-21: In those days people only had one set of clothes. Additional sets were considered treasure. The problem with burying it is that it becomes susceptible to rot and being eaten by different kinds of creatures.

Heaven as we know today is where we go when we die. Heaven in Jesus' world is "the space where God resides." Matthew writes heaven as a synonym for God. Strict orthodox, like Matthew, avoids saying God's name and instead uses the synonym heaven.

When Matthew says store up your treasures in heaven, he means, in God.

When Jesus says store up treasures in God, he means now. Not when you die. Invest your life into things that start now and will last into eternity.

22, 23: The eye refers to how you see the world and relate to it. A healthy eye is when you share with the world and are generous. Unhealthy eye is greediness... This corrupts you from the inside out.

The opposite of greed is not poverty. It is generosity.

The problem with "stuff" is that you're never satiated. Getting some only makes you want more.

Generosity is God's antidote for greed.

24: In the original scripture, the word was actually "mamman" - more than just money, it's all sorts of stuff and greed. And Serve = worship. You cannot worship both God and greed.

Money in itself is not bad. It's when it has power over you and drags you into its orbit.

He didn't say "you shouldn't worship God and money," he said "you cannot." Money and its deceitfulness pulls your heart away from God. If you try and serve both, it's only a matter of time before you get pulled towards one or the other.

25: THEREFORE do not worry. This is not separate from everything he's said prior to this. Usually money creates worry. This is not unrelated.

26-33: doesn't mean that everything will always be okay and nice and safe and awesome here on earth... There are so many people (believers) in impoverished areas of the world that are victims of hunger, injustice, suffering, etc.

What Jesus really means: the pagans run after all the "stuff" but believers should make God's kingdom and righteousness their treasure. Anxiety is typically rooted in idolatry. We worry about what we worship.

He didn't say nothing bad happened to birds and flowers. In fact, he says they are here today but in the fire tomorrow. Flowers are the metaphor for the fragility of life. The wind passes over it and it is gone. These are examples, not of safety, but a life free of worry.

We are way more important than flowers and birds. If they can bask in the glory of God, God wants that even more so for us. To get there, we must let go of our idolatry and treasure God.

"All these things will be given to you as well" - now you can enjoy stuff and not worry about it. If its here, great. If not, great.

90% of our worries are rooted in the future. Of the uncertainty of the future. In the what ifs.

If your treasure is God, here and now in the moment, you don't worry and an just enjoy life.

Each day has enough trouble of its own. Why worry about tomorrow as well. Jesus says our life will has troubles... and teaches us how to live life amidst that.

Our kids don't worry about stuff. They know they have parents that will take care of them. Can we be like them and trust our Father?

(12/4/11 Solid Rock Church, sermon by John Mark)

Created 6 months ago