In the light of yesterday’s message, before I start today’s message, I’d like to distinguish between exalting someone and encouraging a person. When we exalt someone, we think it’s the person that’s great and in our talking we glorify the person. It’s, however, not the person that’s great, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit on them. The glory therefore belongs to the Lord and we should declare His glory in our talking.
When we, however, tell someone e.g.: “I think what you’ve written/preached is great, praise the Lord”, we encourage the person, but give the glory to God. On the one hand we need to help one another to stay humble, and on the other we need to encourage one another, for the devil works hard at discouraging productive Christians.
Today’s message:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal,” (Matthew 6:19, 20).
What would we find in our earthly treasure chest? It’s now time to test yourself.
1. Lots of money and things. Maybe people don’t necessary own all that money, because there are many financially average to poor people that still have money as their treasure, since their minds are constantly on money. They desire money – ‘if only I had this and that’ – they play the lottery, envy the Jones’, live above their means, etc.
2. Fame. People like to feel important, to have their opinion heard, to be surrounded by people so they can enjoy their attention. Some do it by being popular, compromising on standards, doing attention catching activities i.e. acting like celebrities. Others do it by sulking and complaining - seeking sympathy, whilst others talk incessantly about themselves.
3. Power. Some like to control, to manipulate and to be ‘invincible’. They like to be independent and unattached – don’t tell me what I should do.
4. Entertainment. People like to entertain and be entertained – they enjoy pleasure such as shows, movies, having fun together in various forms, etc.
Do you fit in anywhere?
Our passage states that earthly treasures have no eternal value. When we pass on the money we have has no value to us. I’m reminded of the joke of the rich man who turned up in heaven with loads of gold bars and the angel wanted to know why he would bring paving bricks with him. Fame is short lived and even if people remember us, we won’t know about it. All the power and the glory belongs to the Lord God and no matter how much power we desired on earth, in heaven we’ll lay on our faces before Him, so we could just as well practice here on earth.
Storing up treasure on earth demands time and energy. We use time to think about it, to plan it, to execute it and all this time could have been used to store up an eternal treasure in heaven. When our focus is on earthly rewards – the attention of man - we’re losing heavenly rewards. “1 ‘Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven... 2b Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full,’” (see Matthew 6:1-5).
Shall we think about ourselves – what’s in our hearts, what we do daily, what motivates us to do what we do? Eternity is a very long time and earthly treasures are short lived.
Lord, please show me my heart.
Tomorrow we’ll look at heavenly treasures.
Our weekly blessing to you:
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it,” (1Thessalonians 5:16-24).
If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter or forward the e-mail reminder to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please pray as well for its distribution to those who need it and feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment