Plastic Worms; Opelika Summer Series (8/22/01)

“Thou Shalt Not Covet” – An obsession not worth possessing, learn to be content.

OS: Daniel’s Big fish…Fish, “Man, what kind of worm was that?” … Worms, bait, (have a bag and contemplate what so enticing about them, and have a gummy worm in the bag and pull it out and give it a try.) What’s so strange? You eat ‘em all the time.

I.         Satan takes his fishing pole and throws those things of the world right in front of your nose every day.

A.      We live in a consumer world, and every day we are bombarded with advertisements that promise everything; instant health, gratification of all kinds, happiness, success, and on and on.

B.      That is ole Satan throwing out that bait, and it looks so good.

                      1.              Your car gets the job done, but you need that 2002.

                      2.              Your computer works just fine, but man if you had one faster it would be nice.

                      3.              We all need a raise, right.

C.      Reader’s Digest (April 2001) “…lost more than 1100 wallets to see just how many would be returned. Each contained up to $50 in local currency, but also a name and phone number so that the finder would have no trouble returning the billfold. All told 44% of the wallets were taken and never seen again. (Norway 100%, Singapore 90%, Australia 70%, Japan 70%, US 67%, UK 65%, France 60%, Holland 50%, … Mexico 21%)

                      1.              Lena Kruchinina, governess in the Russian city of Vladimir, “Several years ago I could have taken it, but now I am completely changed. As they say, ‘Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbors.’”

                      2.              “Time and again, the world over, those who looked like they could use $50 often turned it in, while many people who appeared affluent enough took the money and ran.”

                      3.              “…For…those who kept the cash, you’ve got our number-and we know where you live.”

D.      Satan says, “I don’t have to challenge their faith, I just have to get them consumed with the world.”

                      1.              The world never satisfies!

E.       Cornbread Cake – she ate it and acted like she liked it. (We settle for it every day, in fact some people actually give their soul for it!)

II.     The laws of God are meant for our good. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or anything your neighbor has…”

A.      Why? God knows it’s a never-ending quest that never satisfies! Ecclesiastes 5 10Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

B.      Philippians 4:11-13

C.      Mark 8 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?  37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?  

                      1.              Don’t sell your soul for a plastic worm!

D.      1 John 2 17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

E.       I’ve never known anyone in their dieing words say something like, “I wish I had bought that new car, or spent more time at the office, or save more money.”

TS] Satan and this world simply tugs at our heart all the time.

III.  Where your heart is – there your treasure will be also!

(Matthew 6:19-24)

There is an old legend of a swan and a crane. A beautiful swan alighted by the banks of the water in which a crane was wading about seeking snails. For a few moments the crane viewed the swan in stupid wonder and then inquired: "Where do you come from?" "I come from heaven!" replied the swan." And where is heaven?" asked the crane. "Heaven!" said the swan, "Heaven! Have you never heard of heaven?" And the beautiful bird went on to describe the grandeur of the Eternal City. She told of streets of gold, and the gates and walls made of precious stones; of the river of life, pure as crystal, upon whose banks is the tree whose leaves shall be for the healing of the nations. In eloquent terms the swan sought to describe the hosts who live in the other world, but without arousing the slightest interest on the part of the crane. Finally the crane asked: "Are there any snails there?" "Snails!" repeated the swan; "no! Of course there are not." "Then," said the crane, as it continued its search along the slimy banks of the pool, "you can have your heaven. I want snails!"

The lure of the world on the hearts of men is so amazing. The world offers only temporary pleasures that develop into long-term struggles. Yet, so often men over look the obvious and grasp for all the world has to offer.

TS] Jesus spent quite a bit of time on the heart, and in Matthew 6:19-24 we gain some insight into why Jesus would focus so much on our inner man, the seat of our emotions, passions and desires.

Context:

1-18, The Christian’s private life ‘in the secret place’ (giving, praying, fasting);

19-34, Jesus is concerned with our public business in the world (questions of money, possessions, food, drink, clothing and ambition.)

In each Jesus calls us to be different: different from the hypocrisy of the religious, and different from the materialism of the irreligious. And in our passage He narrows it down to basic choices we make in life, and the choice we make all depends on the condition of our heart.

Jesus is saying: Tend to your heart!

I.      Because the quality of your heart determines the quality of your treasure.

A.      If your heart is where your treasure is then your treasure is where your heart is.

1)     Proverbs 4 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

2)     Earlier, the one who prays, fasts, or gives to be seen of men treasures the praise of men.

3)     Later, the one who treasures things of the world is admonished to seek first the kingdom of God.

4)     The proper treasure is the relationship with God.

B.      Our relationship with God totally depends on the condition of our heart! Deuteronomy 30 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life,

1)     It begins with a radical shift in the heart.

2)     Then disobedience comes into play.

3)     Finally you’re not even worshiping God any more.

4)     Joel 2, Return to Me with all your heart.

5)     The greatest commandment includes loving God will all our heart.

C.      The hardened heart is the source of dead religion.

1)     Sometimes we want to wear the mask of religion to hide the fact that our hearts are cold toward God. (Great hollow Oak Illustration)

2)     No matter what you do religiously, no matter what you believe theologically, if your heart is cold toward God He is not impressed in the least.

3)     No matter how much you come to church, how well you sing, preach, teach, lead prayer, or serve. If it is in absence of your heart it means nothing to God!

4)     Psa. 51 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

5)     If all that mattered was external cleanliness then Jesus wouldn’t have had to come and die.

D.      This all makes sense because a hardened heart brings about sin. And, sin separates us from God.

1)     That was the pain of the cross. When sin was laid on Jesus God turned His back!

2)     The hardened heart becomes filled with pride and sin is called shortcoming, or sickness, or mistakes, or just being plain human. (“Bless his heart” makes it alright.)

3)     Illu – Bungie jumper at Super bowl. He just gave himself to much slack.

4)     Sinless? No! There is a difference between committing sin and living in it. (Illu – Would I drown in that water? You wouldn’t drown if you fell in, but you would drown if you strayed under.)

5)     The number one indicator of a hardened heart is sinful behavior without remorse.

E.       Jesus lays two choices at our feet.

1)     Worldly treasures.

2)     Heavenly treasures. (to do anything on earth that lasts for eternity.)

TS] The question is which of the two have you chosen: the world or Heaven? Can you look into the mirror of the soul and stand behind that choice? The answer to that question affects not only our eternal dwelling, but also the quality of life we have now.

II.   The quality of your heart determines the quality of your life. (22-23)

A.      Very often in scripture the eye is equivalent to the heart.

1)     Just as our eye affects our whole body, so our ambition (where we fix our eyes and heart) affects our whole life.

2)     If our heart is set on the world our life will count for nothing because this world is passing away.

3)     Illu – would you pay the price for a brand new car that didn’t have a motor. If the motor is no good the car regardless of the outside condition is not fit for its purpose.

B.      We set our hearts on God and He gives us passion to fulfill the mission that He intends for our lives in this world.

1)     You succeed by putting your heart into it.

C.      When you put your heart into something you discover passion and determination.

TS] Jesus says, “Tend to your heart!” Because the Quality of your heart will determine the quality of your treasure, and the quality of your life. What a tragedy to live your life set on the world only to discover when its to late that you have lived your live for a treasure that was really no treasure at all.

1 John 2 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

There is a lining around your heart called the paracardium. If this gets to thick it constricts your heart and the surgeon has to do something radical such as going in and cutting this paracardium. This releases the heart so that it can expand and beat as God wants it to. Sin in your life is like a wall around your heart. Your not going to be able to love God, and feel for God, have a passion for God, have a fire for God. Until that heart is released to beat for God as He intended. If you have some problems in your heart you better get rid of them!

Acts 3 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,