Split Focus

Vs. 19

Did anyone find our last game a bit challenging? What did you find was the hardest part oft he game? (Divided attention)

2 ways you could be eliminated

Focus shifted from one to the other

What would would make this game easier in your opinion? (1 thing to focus on)

Less distractions

When we try to focus on two things at once, we are going to end up losing both

Jesus actually has something to say about this. The distraction you faced in this game is something we face every single day.

Open up your Bibles to Matthew 6:19

Jesus is right in the middle speaking on His sermon on the mount. Sprinkled throughout this whole message, Jesus throws a few Jabs to the religious leaders of the day.

Who were the religious leaders areound in Jesus’ day? (Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, etc.)

What do we know about these people?

These leaders attracted the attention of every average Jew, but were they a good influence on the people? Absolutely not! So, Jesus in this sermon is touching on some principles that got either forgotten or misunderstood. Here from vs. 19 down to chapter 7, Jesus has a lot to say about our possessions, about MONEY!!

Jesus kicks things off with a command here in Matthew 6:19

Matthew 6:19 NKJV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

, Imperative command: command of God that must be followed, not just a suggestion.

Si Robertson speed limit “suggestion”

In this imperative command, Jesus tells them, “Don’t be laying up (or storing up) treasures on earth.”

Treasure Definition: Any possession from this world that we value dearly.

Tell me what’s something that is a treasure to you (Let them answer)

Possessions/Money

Social status

Approval

Now help me with this one, why in the world would we store up these treasures? (We want more, we protect them because we love them)

American woman hoarding for the end times (2 trailer homes FULL)

Jesus comes in and says, “Don’t do that! Don’t be storing treasures on earth.”

What’s the problem with acummulating all this stuff? Are we guaranteed to keep it?

What does Jesus say will happen to our stuff in the end of vs. 19? (Moth and rust destroy, thieves break in and steal)

Moths

Some people love collecting moths, we see them as these cute little things.

What possessions of ours could they destroy? (CLOTHES!)

You don’t have to worry about the adult moths, it’s the larvae they produce we have to look out for.

I’m going to share a quick list of clothing, and you raise your hand if you have this type in your wardrobe.

- Wool, silk, cashmere, fur, feathers. If you guys have these, watch out for the moths, because they’re coming for your clothes! They’re a bit picky and only like the natural stuff, so we’re safe since most of our clothes are synthetic.

So, what’s Jesus warning us in this illustration? (Not to accumulate clothing, let’s not be eccessive)

Rust

This one’s a bit easier, but what’s at risk from rusting through? (Metal!)

Plethora of items we use that rust away...

Thieves

Nowadays we have lots of plastic possessions. Now if you’re thinking, “My favorite thing isn’t clothing, and it’s not metal, so we’re good!” Wait for what Jesus says next!

What can happen to whatever else you have? (It can be stolen!)

What point is Jesus trying to make about earthly possessions with these three examples (They are TEMPORARY)

Vs. 20

Jesus hits the brakes and takes a 180 turn in vs. 20

What kind of treasure is He talking about now? (Heavenly)

Broad definition: Anything we invest in on earth that we can bring with us to heaven.

Help me out with this one, what are some examples of heavenly treasures? What (Godly character, obedient life, souls won for Christ, disciples we helped grow, generosity, etc)

Let me ask you this, is it wrong to want to acummulate treasure in heaven? “I’m gonna do good things to get more in heaven, so BRING ME MORE TO DO!”

Follow-up: Why so?

Jesus says it HImself in vs. 20, Matthew 6:20

Matthew 6:20 NKJV

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

“Do this instead, this is a good thing!”

Do we have to be worried about the moths or anything of ours rusting in heaven?

And I know this one for sure, we definitely won’t be answering calls about robberies in heaven!

What point is Jesus trying to make about heavenly possessions here (They are PERMANENT)

Vs. 21

So, Jesus finishes up this thought in vs. 21 with a hugely important lesson.

Matthew 6:21 NKJV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We’ll get back to this principle when we reach verse 24...

Vs. 22-23

Matthew 6:22–23 NKJV

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Jesus brings up an imterresting picture here, He says that the lamp of our body is the eye.

Does anyone want to take a crack at this an tell us what this means?

Let me ask you this, where does a house get its light from? (The window)

The sun shines outside, but without a window, the walls block out all sources of light. Windows are what allow the light to come in and shine up the room, windows are the conduit for light. Now Jesus says that our eyes are just like these windows, they are the conduits for the light to come in. Our eyes are the first thing that come into contact with the world around us. We see shapes and colours, and our brain immediately processes these things.

What we focus our eyes upon has a direct effect on our minds. And I think the point of this picture is to ask us an important question, “Where is your life focus?”

There’s two different kinds of eyes we can have, one in vs. 22 and the other in vs. 23, what are they? (Good eyes and bad eyes)

In other words, there is a focus and direction of life that is good and beneficial, and there is a focus of life that is bad and harmful.

What do you think makes up a good life focus?

What do you think makes up a bad life focus?

Our outlook determines our outcome.

Vs. 24

“No one can serve two masters;”

What were our two masters in our dodgeball game? (Avoid the ball, don’t lose the balloon)

Can any of you HONESTLY say, “You know what, I’m way better at dodgeball when I’m trying to keep a balloon in the air.”?

Follow-up: Why is that the case? (Your full devotion can only belong to One master)

Jesus goes on to say, Matthew 6:24

Matthew 6:24 NKJV

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

We could say it this way, “You will focus on one thing and neglect the other thing.”

What happened when your focus shifted away from your balloon? (You’re out, then you lose both)

Guys and girls, we all need to understand this, You can’t serve God if your loyalty is somewhere else.

If I find my treasure in anything other than God, it’s already become more important in my heart. And you know what happens when an ambition or a goal is most important? It starts calling the shots.

Maybe your goal is to...

- Get this guy or girl to like you. So you’ll do ANYTHING to grab their attention. You know what will happen if this relationship is more important in your heart? You’ll start making compromises. “He won’t notice me unless I wear revealing clothing, maybe I should start dressing more loosely. Immodest clothes aren’t that bad after all, other girls do worse...”

- Some of us might treasure approval; we want to be accepted in our peer group. You know what will happen if approval is more important in your heart than God? You’ll make compromises. Peer pressure is going to be harder to resist, “Everyone is doing it, why can’t I. And I sure don’t want to be emberassed in front of all my friends!” Peer pressure leads to a bad decision, and you’ve offended God because the approval of your friends was more important that God’s approval.”

- Maybe your goal is to gain as much money as possible. You’ll do anything to climb up that corporate ladder, reach that goal of yours and get rich. You know what happens when this money is most important in your heart? You’ll make compromises. “Hey, there’s a way you can make 10 000$ right now! But you’re going to have to lie for it.” You’ll reason with yourself, “A little white lie can’t hurt anyone can it? And after all, its so beneficial to me! Doesn’t God want me to be happy?”

God will never want us to find happiness at the cost of obedience.

But if God is at the center of our lives and our main goal is to please Him, Are we going to drop our standards for earthly treasures? (No! You’ll stay modest because you care about what God thinks. You’ll stand out in the crowd because you chose to do what is right. You’ll say no to that easy 10 000$ because you wouldn’t dare lie.)

So, what does Jesus say at the end of vs. 24?

“You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Money/possessions)

Dodgeball illustration

You can only have one master, who will it be?