The Danger of Replacing God with Something Better
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Matthew 6:19-
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Danger of Replacing God with Something Better
The Danger of Replacing God with Something Better
The Danger of Replacing God with Something (I Think is) Better
The Danger of Replacing God with Something (I Think is) Better
Distractions
Why shouldn’t we text and drive?
Two photos of motorboats - one the dream, the other the reality
Spiritual distractions
What keeps us from serving God?
What keeps us from enjoying God and all he has for us?
Usually when a pastor speaks about money the focus is on giving. But the bible talks about money from the perspective of enjoying God and enjoying life. The two are not separate. Money is not an evil to be avoided but a danger to be mastered. We need to learn how to enjoy life and enjoy God in a way that brings deep satisfaction to us and brings glory to God.
We live in one of the most expensive places in the world. By world standards, by historic standards we have more wealth than any generation that has come before us. Everywhere you look people are spending money and “living the life.” And that creates a tension for the believer. We either feel that God is not being good to us because we don’t have as much as those around us or we realize that we are constantly being tempted to pursue the wrong things.
It’s not wrong to be rich. It’s the dnager f replacing God with what we think is better. It’s the danger of teaching our children that God is not the true source of joy and happiness, that happiness is found in a career, a possession, a bank account.
God has something better in store for you. I can’t tell you what it is but I can tell you how to get it.
Look at
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
So here’s the big idea of this morning’s nessage:
“Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and serving the wrong god.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and serving the wrong god.
“Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and serving the wrong god.
1)_ “Right now, this life” living replaces real joy with temporary happiness
1)_ “Right now, this life” living replaces real joy with temporary happiness
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
There’s nothing wrong with being rich
There’s nothing wrong with being rich
I went for a lunch time walk and saw this...
The Matsumoto home… before and after
Two photos of motorboats - one the dream, the other the reality
Why storing up treasures on earth is wrong
Why storing up treasures on earth is wrong
It’s being destroyed by moth
It’s being destroyed by rust
You’re being robbed
The danger of debt - you need to spend less than you make. You need to get joy from getting out out from under the burden of debt, overspending, and accumulating.
Dave Ramsey - the debt snowball, pay cash
There is something that God thinks is better...
God has something better in store for you. I can’t tell you what it is but I can tell you how to get it.
2)_ “Right living, eternal life” living fills our lives with purpose
2)_ “Right living, eternal life” living fills our lives with purpose
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
can only imagine...
Matthew 6:20-21
I can only imagine...
The Matsumoto home… before and after
What is treasure in heaven? It’s the tangible of eternal life
How do I get this treasure? Rich in good deeds
3)_ Your eternal life is not based on your heart but on your stuff
3)_ Your eternal life is not based on your heart but on your stuff
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
All my life I’ve heard it’s about the heart but what can lead my heart astray?
All my life I’ve heard it’s about the heart but what can lead my heart astray?
1. When I need to take time from God to enjoy my stuff
2. When I compromise my convictions to aquire stuff, to make the sale, to deal the deal
3. When what I seek
Illustration:
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
With the eyes I see, with the mind I conjure, with the heart I worship
With the eyes I see, with the mind I conjure, with the heart I worship
4)_ “Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and worshiping the wrong God.
4)_ “Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and worshiping the wrong God.
Conclusion
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Conclusion
You can only have one master, and it can’t be money
You can only have one master and it needs to be Jesus and you do this be receiving him as your savior, you make him your master by obeying what he says. In this case it’s laying up treasure in heaven.
How would your life be different without these verses? You might think you can serve God and money. You might think it’s not wrong to put your trust in stuff. You might think that focusing on your career, your IRA, your bank account, your next purchase can’t harm your relationship with Jesus.
You can serve God as master by not laying up and laying up. You need to have something to pursue. God says it should be the eternal things that you find purpose in pursuing.
“Right now, this life” living leaves us dissatisfied and worshiping the wrong God.
“Right living, eternal life” living fills our lives with purpose