Living with Eternity in Sight

Matthew 6:19–24 ESV

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.

Again:

Transformational Principle: The Promise of Everlasting Life Changes what we value in this present life.

The early pharisees and sadducees had values at odds with Jesus’ teaching. They valued money, position and power more than they did a real, true, intimate relationship with God. Jesus was offering something so much better, but it would cost them all that they had built. So we can learn for us today.

4. Evaluate your Values.

Take the Apostle Paul for example.

Philippians 3:4–10 ESV

4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Paul evaluated his values and found them wanting. But to follow Jesus, it would cost Paul everything he had valued....everything. And he wanted to do it, why?

Paul would no longer lay up treasures on earth, he would not longer value what rust and moth destroy. But rather his values would change so that he would forever be living with eternity it sight.

When you are transformed, so too are your values.

At North Hills, we have 5 values which we will be looking at over the course of the next 5 sundays.

Someone once remarked to me that we don’t claim to value stewardship, yet financially we are one of the most generous churches that they knew about. Because we have given away so much money to missions and community ministry over the last 6 years. Well it’s there, it’s just not overtly stated, because we don’t really like to boast or brag about this.

We just give, because we have been transformed. Transformational Living necessarily implies that our priorities related to our finances are going to change.

1. Evaluate your values so that you are Living not for today but for eternity.

Explanation: Like Pastor Daniel said, with regard to the sadducees, it’s hard to live for eternity when you believe this is all there is. And even for many who believe that there is life after death, we still live for the present.

Jesus is trying to get them (and us) to see the bigger picture. You can’t take any of your wealth with you, so use it here on earth. Like the parable of Dishonest Manager.

Luke 16:1–9 ESV

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

Jesus tells this story to show that even dishonest people know how to use money to buy friends. And His point is that we should be using our wordly wealth for God’s eternal glory.

So no you can’t take it with you. So use it to lead others to Christ.

Now this is where things get sticky. In the Old Testament, God demanded that the people tithe to the temple. It was like a tax. And the religious leaders were supposed to use those tithes in support of the priests and to serve the poor. They of course used it to get ridiculously rich…at the expense of the worship of God and the neglect of the poor.

In the New Testament, the expectation is still that God’s people support the local church, but it’s more free:

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Regularly evaluate your blindspots.

See God’s guidance and in how you live.

Response: What does it look like to live with eternity in sight? Will any of your priorities change if you begin living with eternity in sight?

The first thing we must evaluate is whether or not Jesus is at the center of our lives. And that will change everything.

How we spend our time?

How we spend our money?

How we use our gifts?

Like we talked about last week, Jesus came to give us abundant life. And that abundant life means boundaries and those boundaries directly connect to our values.

Because you protect what you value.

If you value Jesus, nothing will get in the way of that.

If you value His church, nothing will get in the way of that.

If you value Christian fellowship, nothing will get in the way of that…not even a global pandemic.

What you value you will build up with your time, treasure and talent.

2 of the most powerful words in the whole Bible are 2 words of Jesus.

Follow Me.

Can I be bold and say this isn’t an invitation. It’s not a question.

It’s a command.

Jesus calls us to give up everything we value and follow him.

People won’t understand. Your kids, your parents, your friends, even fellow Christians.

But it will be worth it!

Let’s start 2021 on the right foot with Jesus at the center.