To prepare for this weeks message, read Matthew 6:1-4 and Matthew 6:19-24.
The Pharisees didn’t have everything wrong. They were very devout God-followers, but in their devotion, they failed to see their own brokenness (we talked about that last week). Because they had an elevated view of themselves, they did quite a few things right, but with the wrong motive. [Good thing we never make that mistake / please read with sarcasm]
Jesus is also going to address one of the key heart issues that each one of us has to struggle through - Treasure. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” How do we measure this? How do I know that my treasure is truly in eternal things and not wrapped up in the here and now? Is it simply a pocketbook issue?
Let’s wrestle with this a bit.
June 29th, 2006 at 6:56 am
Oh boy- this is something that hits very close to the heart for me and something I struggle with constantly. There’s that word “struggle” again. .
Who doesn’t like it when someone pats you on the back for doing a good deed? I think it is human nature to want someone to recognize the good we do. But I have to remember that Someone does recognize it, just not in the way I am used to. That is what matters.
It is very difficult for me not to get wrapped up in my earthly treasures. And honestly it is something I have to pray about endlessly because it is a battle. I have to keep thinking that life is just a temporary assignment. This is just a stepping stone to something greater, but again it is hard to keep that in mind when things are so chaotic.
June 29th, 2006 at 10:39 am
An absolutely scrumptuous topic…treasure…for me the question is not “if” but “which one”…we will all pursue treasure, the question is which one…my greatest struggle is remembering that God’s great treasure is not mutually exclusive from the other treasures of the earth…a little bit later in Matthew 6 Jesus says “But Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (God’s treasure), and all these things (the other so-called treasures) will be given to you as well.”…the other really comforting idea about treasure is the thought that our treasure in heaven is directly linked to God’s view of me as his most precious treasure…you’d think I could keep these thoughts at the front of my mind and seek only heavenly treasure, but…
805 OUT!
June 29th, 2006 at 10:57 am
Jeff’s post reminds me of some questioning I recently went through. All of us probably know someone who is hard to get gifts for because they seem to have everything they need. I was feeling that way toward God. What could I give Him? He not only “owns” everything, but He created it. I then realized that what is most meaningful is to care for and participate in what is most important to those people who are hard to give to. When I reflected on what is most important to God I was taken back to the Story of God that was have walked through this year. God’s greatest desire is for His people. He will do anything to be with us. Therefore, if I really want to treasure what God treasures, and care about what He cares about it needs to start with people.
The book The Purpose Driven Life starts with a statement about it not being all about you. I have been wrestling for the last few weeks with the idea of what life would be like if I lived and believed “It’s all about others.” How would my life be different if everything I did was focused around caring for others because they are what God values most? I have a very long way to go, but Dean’s message on Sunday helps me accept that is okay because I can celebrate my “loserness” as I walk with all the other non-perfect people I encounter every day. I just hope that each day I can learn to treasure more of what God treasures, and that I can learn to love people even more.
June 29th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to see “Loserness” on our blog!