Matthew 6
The Sermon on the Mount
Vs. 19-21, Treasures
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust corrupts and where thieves break in and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupt nor thieves break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
So we're not to base our security on anything we can set aside "for retirement" here in this life. If we save money, then inflation reduces its value continually; or if we put our investments in gold or silver, or in fine art, or in real estate; all of it will one day burn up. Nothing in this life lasts, it all "comes to pass."
How much more secure and long-lasting to put whatever we have toward God's Kingdom. It will last forever, and continually increase eternally.
I'm not saying to not take care of your needs while you're still here, but don't base your security on what you gather together in this World.
I don't see any of God's people in the Bible "retiring." Moses, and Abraham, and Paul, and all the other Heroes of the Faith continued to serve God and His Kingdom as long as they drew breath, no matter how old they grew. Even in old age they accomplished amazing feats in God's power.
Vs. 22-23, Light and darkness
The light of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye sees with integrity, then your whole body will be full of light (health).
But if your eye sees with evil intent, then your whole body (self) will be filled with darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is really darkness, then how great is that darkness!
Our attititude determines how we see with our eyes. We tend to see what we want to see, and we will find what we're looking for, be it good or evil, positive or negative.
The way light works is that it overpowers and chases away darkness. So if there is darkness in us that is acting like light, then the darkness will be overpowering and eradicating what light had been there--the deception will win over whatever truth had been there before. So that darkness will continually grow darker and deeper. A very sad situation.
V. 24, Two masters
No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We cannot divide our loyalties. We will depend on either God or our finances. We cannot say that we love and serve God while we're hoarding our Earthly resources. I'm speaking to myself here, too.
If I'm really depending on my Heavenly Father, then why do I still look for ways to increase my income so I can serve the Kingdom? What am I focusing on here, God's provision or my income?
Vs. 25-34
This is why I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?
And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!
Do not worry then, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What will we wear for clothing?
For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; and your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
So don't worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own.
When we take care of today's responsibilities, then tomorrow will not have any carry-over from today.
O my Father, show me the balance of my responsibility to care for myself and my trust in You to provide for me.
Teach me how to trust You without worrying about "all these things." Father, You know that I want to serve You. Show me what You would have me do to "occupy" until the return of my Lord. But don't let my primary focus be on the things of this World. Show me how to balance these priorities.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
