Living in the Kingdom

Life in the Kingdom

In my bible, verses 19-34 have only one heading “Teaching about Money and Possesions”. In the past I have read this section scripture as a statement on treasures, another one on light and darkness, serving 2 masters, and finally worrying. With all those headings gone in my bible, I was able to approach this teaching of Jesus as one teaching. In these verses Jesus calls his disciples to life in the Kingdom here and now. The treasure, light and darkness, 2 masters, and not worrying are all descriptions on what Kingdom living looks like.

What helped me see this? Matthew 6:25

Matthew 6:25 NRSV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

and Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 NRSV

33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The ending of Matthew chapter 6 is a challenge for us today to live in the kingdom here and now. There aren’t any half in half out efforts, we are either serving God or we aren’t. Living in the Kingdom requires us to see others as Christ does. That is how our eyes are a lamp.

We often think of the Kingdom of God as a destination, and the gospel is our road map, or to modernize it, our GPS to get there. Which it is. God through Christ calls his disciples, calls us, to live in the kingdom here and now as we eagerly await His coming Kingdom.

The Kingdom Here and Now.

The Law of the Kingdom

Matthew 22:37–40 NRSV

37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

The Law of the kingdom is love period. It is through this lens we must view Christ teachings.

TREASURE

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

Car analogy

Treasure = Wealth

EYE, LAMP LIGHT

Matthew 5:14–16 NRSV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Jesus saw others suffering and in need was moved with compassion.

We see with our eyes. Jesus saw human need and was moved with compassion.

Living in the Kingdom we must see others as Christ does. We cannot turn a blind eye to our neighbors in need. How deep that darkness truly is.

TWO MASTERS

Joshua 24:14–15 NRSV

14 “Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Life in the Kingdom is a life lived of complete surrender to God. We cannot live with one foot in the kingdom of this world and one in the kingdom of God. We are either living in the Kingdom here and now or we are not. We cannot serve 2 masters.

-Goes back to treasures/wealth. The call of Christ to give up all you have and give it to the poor.

Matthew 19:21–22 NRSV

21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

THEREFORE

The word therefore is the word that ties everything together. Why? Because the word therefore is there for a reason.

Therefore is there because our treasure our hearts are in heaven. Therefore is there because we the changed people of God see others as Christ does. Therefore is there because we completely serve God in the kingdom here and now.

Therefore we trust God completely. In the midst of life’s worries we trust God. We completely trust that while the road to the coming Kingdom of God is bumpy, God will be there for our needs, and continue to guide us as we journey to the coming kingdom of God.

Coming to the Table

As we wait for the coming kingdom of God. Jesus calls us, his disciples to live in the kingdom here and now. Our treasure, our wealth, what we find so important that its worth stock piling must be in the kingdom. Where our treasure there our heart will also be.

We must have eyes that bear the light of Christ within us and see others through this light.

Living in the Kingdom is a life of complete surrender. We cannot serve God and wealth or treasure.

Because we live a life completely surrendered to God. We can trust him with the bumps along the way. With our worries, our fears, our anxiety. Completely trusting he will be there for us.

Today Christ calls us to life in the kingdom. As we come to the table, may the kingdom life Christ calls us into continue to transform how we live in the kingdom here and now.