SERMON ON THE MOUNT TEACHING SERIES PART 9

9

What God Thinks of My Ambitions

Matthew 6:19–34

Everyone is ambitious to be or to do something. Childhood ambitions tend to follow certain stereotypes—to be an athlete, astronaut or movie star. Adults have their own narrow stereotypes too—to be wealthy, famous or powerful.

Group Discussion. Share your childhood dreams. What did you want to be when you grew up? Why and how did this ambition change?

Personal Reflection. What power has the spell of materialism held over you? How has it been hard to break?

Will Christian faith make a difference as you set your ambitions? In this passage Jesus helps us to choose well. He points out the folly of the wrong way and the wisdom of the right. Then he invites us to compare them and decide for ourselves. Read Matthew 6:19–34.

What, according to Jesus, are the most important things in life?

2. Why should we store up heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones (vv. 19–21)?

Does this mean that we cannot have personal property, savings accounts or insurance policies? Explain.

3. Practically speaking, how can we store up treasure in heaven?

4. How are physical and spiritual sight (or blindness) similar (vv. 22–23)?

5. Many people hold two jobs and are able to satisfy two bosses. So why would Jesus say that it is impossible to serve two masters—God and money (v. 24)?

6. How will the crucial choices we make in verses 19–24 affect our ability to live free from worry (v. 25)?

7. According to Jesus, why are we foolish to worry about our physical and material needs (vv. 25–30)?

8. How does worry also reveal a lack of faith (v. 30)?

9. If God promises to feed and clothe his children, then why are many of them ill-clad and undernourished (see Matthew 25:41–45)?

10. Give examples of how people today “run after all these things” that Jesus mentions (v. 32).

11. Why and how are our ambitions to be different from those of non-Christians (vv. 32–34)?

12. How has this passage challenged you to reexamine your goals and ambitions?

In prayer, talk with God over the issue of commitment. Will you hand over your priorities to him?

Later

When Luke recorded the information we have just studied, he included an additional parable Jesus told about storing up treasure. Read Luke 12:13–21. Why did Jesus tell this parable?

In what ways is greed shown in people’s lives?

Why did God call the rich man a fool?

How does a person become “rich toward God” (v. 21)?