Kingdom Mindset

Introduction

“All pastors ever talk about is money”

Our text to day again carries forward Jesus’ focus on our hearts in the sermon on the mount.

In this section, Jesus focuses on our hearts and their relationship to material possessions.

Money is a perfect place to focus our minds on eternity, because we all have it and we all need it.

The wealthy are prone to sin in relation to money

The impoverished are prone to sin in relation to money

As always, the sermon on the mount calls us to have kingdom mindset

A kingdom mindset does not ignore this earth

A kingdom mindset prioritizes Jesus kingdom by living for him on this earth

Your Treasure Guides Your Heart

Matthew 6:19–21 NIV

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Instability of Earthly Treasure

The Effect of Earthly Treasure

Your heart follows your treasure

Our heart and our actions have a reciprocal relationship

Your Generosity Reveals Your Heart

Matthew 6:22–23 NIV

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

These verses seem disconnected from the surrounding context, but they are not.

There is a connection between our eyes and our hearts

Our eyes illuminate what’s happening in our hearts

Healthy and unhealthy eyes

Generosity

Deuteronomy 15:9 “9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will (your eye look grudgingly) toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.”

Proverbs 23:6 “6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host (him with an evil eye), do not crave his delicacies;”

Matthew 20:15 “15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious (your eye evil) because I am generous?’”

Mishnah Terumot 4:3 “A good eye yieldeth one out of forty [i.e., the fortieth part].… A middling eye, one out of fifty.… And an evil eye, one out of sixty.”

So what Jesus is saying here is that our mindset is revealed by our generosity and stinginess.

Do you find ways to be generous or find ways not to be generous?

Jesus Owns Your Heart

Matthew 6:24 NIV

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Hatred in Jesus use is a comparative hatred

Luke 14:26 “26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.”

Jesus is not asking his followers to renounce money

Many godly biblical characters have money

Money can be used for incredible good

The glory of heaven is even described in material language

Instead money must be in the right place – not lord

Application

A diagnostic

Are you generous?

Are you worried about money?

Is it God or money that you trust to provide for your needs

Is your sense of self-worth tied up in material possessions?

Are you willing to sin to get more money?

Are you jealous of those who have more money than you?

When you have to choose between money and other good things, what wins?

Do you both save and spend an appropriate amount of money?