01.03.2016 Stuff

1-3-2016 STUFF! from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

SermonAudioThank You, Lord, for this new year, the opportunity to serve and trust You. I pray for each of us that this would be a year where our focus is on You and we experience Your work in our lives. Regardless of the circumstances, may we grow closer to You. Whatever this Year brings, may we come closer to You – and may we prepare ourselves for the task of loving Jesus with all our hearts.
Last week we talked about the destructive forces in the world and the need to focus on the core issues behind the symptoms, and knowing that – to challenge those issues.
Especially in this political climate, with all the challenging going on – as Christians, as we challenge the dark forces and those things destroying our culture – and in order to do that, we must live contrary to those forces and to become the change we want to see happen – for our neighborhood, city, state, country, and world.
Today, I’d like to look at the issue of MONEY. It causes stress for most of us at some point. It is not the core issue, but a symptom of it. Money, itself, is neutral, but it creates materialism and consumerism. We will talk about being devoted to or consumed by the things money supplies. We get to a point where we love and serve stuff and things. Of course, money gets us all that – and that tends to be the focus. I am not going to talk about stewardship – Jeff talked about that September 13 – look it up online. Today, I’ll look at what Jesus had to say about it.
Jesus said we are not to value stuff so much that we seek or dwell on it.
The second is to not love and value stuff so much that we worry or become anxious or are stressed about them.
Matthew 6:19 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
So what we have – there is a contrast between two activities – one negative, one positive.
Negative – do not store up treasure on earth. Cease forever. Not now, not ever. Do not ever store up treasures on earth. Stop it if you are and don’t ever start again! That’s pretty heavy! A little bit on the side here: That does not mean that we can’t save for basic future needs. There is a point where you can no longer provide for yourself. If you are not a farmer, you will at some point need to buy food. There are other verses that tell us to save for retirement, or for future needs, like a car. But that does not mean we should continue accumulating wealth beyond meeting our future needs.
It requires a delicate balance. We don’t have the freedom to tell others what their future needs are. This is not a judgment thing of who has what in the bank – but He is hitting on our heart attitudes or actions that tend toward money/things/stuff – whatever word you want to use there.
It is important to understand – at times in the Christian world, there is thinking that as long as you tithe, whatever you do is fair game. There was a group who thought that way – do you know their name? The Pharisees.
These verses are not just for the rich. In context, He was speaking to those who were poor who struggled to meet their daily needs of food, covering and housing.
It is not just the rich who can store up treasures.
The other thing about this passage – it was meant to be received with joy! You DON’T have to do this! And people would say, GREAT! I don’t have to worry about that! I am free! But we can’t go there, because it goes so against all we’ve ever been taught.
The positive: STORE UP! The desire to store up is God-given – it is natural. The problem is, what are you storing up? Reward? Accomplishment? He wants us to seek our treasure – but it is the treasure we seek that determines whether it is good or bad. Just make sure it is heavenly treasure! So you should want to get rich! Heavenly rich! And live for that! In contrast, before this – He tells us how to get it in four ways –
1) doing good works – kindness, generosity
2) Generosity – the generous person will be rewarded in heaven
3) Spiritual activity – prayer and doing things that focus our attention on God.
4) Sacrificial service – these are the works of the kingdom. Getting involved in Kingdom work here on the earth.
Every time we do that, we are storing up treasure in heaven.
Do we believe verse 21? We think we can do both. We think – no, not really – yes, that is a nice thought, and as long as I’m willing to not store up treasure for myself but go ahead and do – but He says if your treasure is on earth – that is where your heart will be – like a statement of fact.
It is important to understand that there are those with few possessions who still do a lot of storing up here on earth.
What is the motivation? It must work out in reality in the way we live.
These passages are not about stuff, but about the heart, that makes them about stuff! They are first about the heart. A right attitude about stuff will control the way we live.
It is not wrong to own a sixty inch television or have the newest iPhone. You are not more spiritual to drive a junker! But if our heart attitude is right, we will not be always wanting and needing all the newe3st stuff. We will use it for the kingdom – and won’t focus on judging others, but we will learn how to not let stuff consume us – and to not treasure it at all. Some of it must go today!
Jesus explains further how it practically works out and he starts with a metaphor:
Matthew 6: 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
We tend to complicate this. What do you do with your eyes? You look. Whatever you focus on – whatever you look at – determines what your life will be like. You should look where you are going. People are looking at their cell phones – and don’t stay in the lines!
A healthy eye is a person who is focused on the eternal things – on God’s kingdom, not material things. The focus of their life is on God. Not getting stuff here on earth.
Healthy – physically healthy – but also, Generous. The healthy eye focuses on God’s kingdom in generosity. We should be a generous people.
The negative – the unhealthy eye is focused on earthly treasure and everything becomes dark inside of you. The dark forces of the world have won out. But we need to be wholly devoted to God – and from there, everything else will fall into place. If we are God’s, the money issue will fall into its proper place in our lives.
It will take care of itself.
He continues and brings it to a head:
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Negative/positive contrast.
The word SERVE is also the word worship. We ultimately serve and worship what we focus on. We can’t help ourselves, we will serve and worship what we think about the most. It is not a choice – it is how it works – it is a fact – people serve and worship what they think about most.
We think we can do both – but you cannot serve God and _______ whatever you put in there – whatever you focus on.
The more we get the more we tend to serve the stuff we get.
This should be a caution.
Debt FORCES us to serve stuff. The borrower becomes the lender’s slave – the proverbs say.
How much do you think about stuff – technology, clothes, food – how much does that consume your thinking? If it is your focus, you are unhealthy.
How much time does it consume? This is not about working! God says we should work hard – 6 days – but we only work 5!
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
He brings up the worry/anxiety – over things – over money – and the issue is to have a proper value system – what do you value most? What we value most is connected intimately with our relationship with God. He is saying YOU are valuable to GOD! When it comes to your needs and provision – you are extremely valuable to God – He cares about those things – and when we focus on His service and kingdom, God engages – He is concerned about the things you need and He takes over the responsibility of providing it for you. If God is your treasure, you don’t need to worry about treasure.
This, with the birds, is not about being carefree – yes, they don’t sew or reap – but what do we know about birds? The early bird gets the worm! They work hard! But they don’t worry. We work and get a paycheck to provide for ourselves – and God provides for those who don’t. Yes, we have our part – that is why stewardship is so important – we have financial responsibilities – and we need that aspect of things – but at the same time, we don’t need to be like those who get stressed.
It is hard – it is stressful for all of us at times – and that is why these verses are so important. God wants our hearts focused on Him.
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
Faith believes that God wants to provide for us and He will faithfully provide for us. Life is learning, growing – learning to trust God as challenges come. For those who have never experienced financial need, there will be other ways we are challenged! It may be in relationships or health – it may be in our work – because He wants us to learn to trust Him for our provision. As people we want to do it ourselves and not have to trust – but God wants us to trust. We don’t have any control over some things so we have to trust. We will never have control over those areas – so we must trust Him.
31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
He knows, He cares – You are valuable, He will provide. In 2016 – that is the truth.
The ultimate solution?
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Do not seek, do not store up treasures...instead, seek first the kingdom of God – those things that matter – to pursue God’s stuff wholly, passionately, with all our hearts and our eye focused on them – and as we do that – that is how we challenge destructive forces and be the change we want to see. Stay away from the negative side – it is easy to feel guilt for having too much…
Philippians 4:11-13
God places everyone in different circumstances. If you have a lot, there is no reason to feel guilt, but to seek God wholly in that situation. If you have little, God wants you to trust Him and seek Him wholly and fully in that situation – in whatever situation you face
1 Tim. 6: 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The devotion to money and the stuff it buys – is the root of all sorts of evil –
Having more does not mean that you have a fuller life. What we possess – our life does not consist of that.
There is nothing in our lives where the fullness of life has anything to do with what we own! It is hard to believe that.
1 Tim. 6: 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
There are rich people in the kingdom of God. Those who were extremely rich for their time in the church – first – don’t be arrogant! The arrogance He is speaking of – trusting in yourself – but also arrogance against the poor – I am better – I have done this right. There are people who are just called to be poor. There are those who do everything right and are poor. Others who are voluntarily poor. Whom God chooses to live in poverty.
Sure, there are those who are poor because of problems – but there is the other side too.
Then He tells them clearly:
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
That is the key – learning to be generous.
Here is my one-month challenge: A simple way of doing this – because actions mean something.
Every week – think of something – decide what you want – maybe over lent – each week – go into some aspect of your house – maybe it is clothing. Ask – what can I give, in this closet? Pull out the stuff and give it away. The next week – pick another area.
4 different things that you possess. Find someplace to give it. It is a small thing. We need to learn to put feet to our words. Let’s pray.
Lord, Your words in the Sermon on the Mount are of great challenge to us. I would prefer to not have to worry about money or want and to have an abundance of wealth – but you would prefer that we learn to trust You. May our hearts be devoted to You in our circumstances – may You capture us fully and completely that we might not be anxious or stressed – but that we would serve You wholly – that our eye would be healthy.