Three Definitive Statements on Life's Focus
The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Matthew 6: 19-21
Matthew 6:19–21 (NLT)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
19 Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσιν καὶ κλέπτουσιν·
20 θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν·
21 ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρός σου, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία σου.
INTRODUCTION:
One of the most heart wrenching questions that all of us must face is as follows: What is the true focus of my life?
Notice Three definitive statements on life's focus:
I. EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD IS PERISHING. (Matthew 6: 19 ).
I. EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD IS PERISHING. (Matthew 6: 19 ).
Matthew 6:19 (NLT)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
19 Μὴ θησαυρίζετε ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, ὅπου σὴς καὶ βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται διορύσσουσιν καὶ κλέπτουσιν·
A. Worldly possessions are temporal.
A. Worldly possessions are temporal.
1. Worldly possessions will one day be lost.
a) The rich man lost everything. (Luke 12: 16-21 ).
Luke 12:16–21 (NLT)
16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.
17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’
18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.
19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’
21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
b) The rich lost everything in the stock market crash before the Great Depression.
B. Earthly relationships are temporal.
B. Earthly relationships are temporal.
1. Friendships are subject to breakup.
2. Families will Not always be together.
a) Death invades the ranks.
(1) Even Methuselah died. (Genesis 5: 27 ).
Genesis 5:27 (NLT)
27 Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.
C. This world is temporal.
C. This world is temporal.
1. One day this entire world will pass away. ( 2 Peter 3: 10-14 ).
2 Peter 3:10–14 (NLT)
10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,
12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.
13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
II. ONLY THINGS OF ETERNAL VALUE ARE WORTHY OF OUR FOCUS. (Matthew 6: 20 ).
II. ONLY THINGS OF ETERNAL VALUE ARE WORTHY OF OUR FOCUS. (Matthew 6: 20 ).
Matthew 6:20 (NLT)
20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
20 θησαυρίζετε δὲ ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν οὐρανῷ, ὅπου οὔτε σὴς οὔτε βρῶσις ἀφανίζει, καὶ ὅπου κλέπται οὐ διορύσσουσιν οὐδὲ κλέπτουσιν·
A. The command: lay up eternal treasures.
A. The command: lay up eternal treasures.
1. It is wise to focus life on that which will last for eternity. (Matthew 7: 24-25 ).
Matthew 7:24–25 (NLT)
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
2. The Bank of Heaven accepts deposits.
a) Souls won to Christ.
b) Acts of obedience to Christ.
B. The consolation: These are non-perishable. (1 Peter 1:3- 5 ).
B. The consolation: These are non-perishable. (1 Peter 1:3- 5 ).
1 Peter 1:3–5 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
1. Things deposited in Heaven's bank can't be lost.
2. Build now what you will have for eternity.
III. THAT WHICH WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WILL HAVE OUR LOVE. (Matthew 6: 21 ).
III. THAT WHICH WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WILL HAVE OUR LOVE. (Matthew 6: 21 ).
Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
21 ὅπου γάρ ἐστιν ὁ θησαυρός σου, ἐκεῖ ἔσται καὶ ἡ καρδία σου.
A. The principal fact: you have a treasure.
A. The principal fact: you have a treasure.
1. Every person has something that is treasured above all else.
a) Like the rich young ruler. (Luke 18:18-23.)
Luke 18:18–23 (NLT)
18 Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good.
20 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”
21 The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
B. The possible problem: your heart.
B. The possible problem: your heart.
1. Your treasure will control your heart.
a) Sampson's treasure was a relationship. (Judges 16:4-21)
b) Balaam's treasure was money. (Numbers 22-23)
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
· Daniel's treasure was God.
o Refused to eat the King's meat. (Daniel 1:8-17)
o Refused to sacrifice his devotional life. (Daniel 6:1-20)
o Forthrightly delivered God's Word. (Daniel 5:1-31; 4:1-37)
o Was rewarded by God.
Sermon preached:
06/20/93 at Beech Springs Baptist Church, Minden, LA.
11/07/93 at First Baptist Church, Lone Pine, Louisiana.
05/19/96 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, Nachitoches, Louisiana.
12/29/2024 at Woodville Baptist Church., Woodville, Mississippi.
