“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:19-20
As we saw a few weeks ago when we started our Stewardship series, faithful management is not only or primarily about our money – it’s about all we are and all we have. Stewardship first of all recognizes that our time, talent and treasure (and everything else) are gifts from God, entrusted to us for a limited time, to manage on His behalf. He is the owner, we are simply His servants. We nod our heads at this statement but most of us then immediately turn back to “my phone… my job… my spouse… my children… my house… my car… my body…” Do we really believe that it’s HIS phone… HIS job… HIS spouse… HIS children… HIS house… HIS car… HIS body…?
A key verse for us is:
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
Romans 12:1
The appropriate response to the gospel (Romans 1-11) is to surrender all we are back to the Lord, like a Jew from long ago placing a lamb on the altar of sacrifice. We know this is less of a checkbook issue and more of a heart issue.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21
Do you see how that verse cuts both ways?
- If you want to know what you really value, look at what you spend your money on.
- If you want to really value the things of God, invest your money in them and your heart will follow.
With His divine insight, Jesus ties this matter of treasure to worry.
“No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?“
Matthew 6:24-25
What we worry about reveals what we really love, what we really treasure.
Starting on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, we will host a 4 week class using these 17 minute videos on RightNow Media to discuss and apply The Treasure Principle. We also purchased copies of the book for every Oakwood household. If you haven’t picked one up yet, please do so in the coming weeks! The rule is that you can’t pay it back ($6.50) but can only pay it forward by giving the book to a friend or loved one after you read it.
Here is how Jesus concludes Matthew 6:
“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:31-33