24. The Better Master

Introduction

Would you rather…

Always have to whisper or always have to shout?

Have unlimited free coffee or unlimited free tacos?

Give up your phone for a month or TV for a year?

Know what everyone thinks about you or never have anyone criticize you?

Jesus sets up a “would you rather” scenario in Matt 6. As human beings, we want to keep our options open, but life as a disciple of Jesus only works when we go all in. You will never have a meaningful faith if you hedge your bets.

Body

Your heart can only be in one place at a time (Matt 6:19-21).

Exposition

To “lay up” = “treasure up”… Don’t treasure the treasures of earth… but treasure the treasures of heaven.

What are treasures on earth?

All the things that make a person rich in this world. Examples: In Jesus’s day, food, water, clothes, money, a house, and land. Today, investments, cars, electronics, campers, boats, jewelry.

Jesus is not teaching that we shouldn’t have treasures on earth or that wealth is sinful. He’s saying that we shouldn’t treasure our treasures on earth or hoard them for ourselves.

What are treasures in heaven? All the godly things that a person can take with them beyond the grave. Examples: Christlike character; obedience to God’s commands; growth in the knowledge of Christ; the increase of faith, hope, and love; souls won for Christ; and disciples nurtured in the faith.

Don’t treasure the treasures of earth for two reasons:

There’s no security in them (Matt 6:19). But there is security in heaven (Matt 6:20).

Where your treasure is, your heart will be, too (Matt 6:21).

Illustration: Like Gollum, who above all treasured the ring of power. It enslaved him and ultimately led to his death.

Application: Your heart can only be in one place at a time; your heart will be where your treasure is; so set your heart in heaven by laying up treasures in heaven. // How? 1 Tim 6:17-19. Be humble. Trust God (not money). Calculate your net worth by good deeds (not dollars). And be generous.

Your eyes can only focus on one thing at a time (Matt 6:22-23).

Exposition

“healthy” (v. 22) = “single” // A healthy eye doesn’t have double-vision but an unhealthy eye sees double—it tries to focus on the treasures on earth and the treasures in heaven at the same time.

Try to focus on both your hands at the same time…

Illustration: I remember getting glasses at age 6 and finally seeing the face of my pastor.

Application: How can we have “healthy” eyes? Bad news… we can’t. // “The person whose perspectives are distorted by [sin] is blind to God’s truth.” —Craig Keener // That’s why we need Christ.

You can only serve one master at a time (Matt 6:24).

Exposition:

Notice that Jesus did not say, “You cannot have God and money,” but “You cannot serve God and money.”

When push comes to shove, our true loyalty is revealed.

Wealth is not a sin… but it can be a temptation. Wealth and prosperity often come at the expense of faith and obedience to God. When God’s people flourish in their finances they often flounder in their faith.

Application: You can love God and use money. Or you can love money and try unsuccessfully to use God… God will not be used like a genie in a lamp.

Choose the better Master and be free (Matt 6:25-34).

Exposition

“Therefore, do not be anxious,” THREE TIMES! Living for treasures on earth produces anxiety. Living for God sets you free.

The key to being free from anxiety: Matt 6:32… God is the better Master because God is a loving Father.

Illustration: We just sang it, “Everything I need, my Father has it… Every single time the Lord will provide, my Father has it…”

Application: Here’s how to become a child of God… then get baptized.

Rom 10:9-10.

Believe in your heart = believe that what the Bible says about Jesus is true

Confess with your mouth = transfer loyalty to Christ

Conclusion (Reflection before Communion)

Who is the true Lord of your life—God or money?

What has your attention—the truth of God’s Word or the distortions of materialism?

What does your heart treasure most—treasures on earth or treasures in heaven?