Collide - Doing It Wrong

Collide - Doing It Wrong

An Examination of Treasures, Priorities, and Kingdom Purpose from the Sermon on the Mount

In this compelling Bible teaching, Matthew Vander Els from Founded In Truth Fellowship delves into a crucial section of Yeshua's Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 through 24. The central theme revolves around the idea that followers of Yeshua may be living life in a way that is contrary to His teachings, particularly in the realm of where they invest their time, energy, and resources. This teaching serves as an audit of the heart, challenging listeners to seriously consider their ultimate mission and purpose in life.

Yeshua begins by instructing His audience, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This familiar passage from Sunday school is presented not as a mere platitude but as a profound challenge to re-evaluate what truly holds value in our lives.

The teaching emphasizes that the conventional understanding of "treasures in heaven" might be skewed by modern, materialistic thinking. Instead of picturing streets of gold or mansions in a faraway celestial realm, the speaker suggests that heaven, as understood by Yeshua, is the reality of God's kingdom and His present reign. It's not solely a future destination but a sphere where God's presence is tangible and His will is implemented. Therefore, storing up treasures in heaven involves investing in things that have eternal significance, things related to God's reign and His impact on earth.

The speaker connects this concept to the mission of God, which is not about escaping His creation but about living within His good creation and being part of its renewal and restoration. Yeshua's arrival signified that God's kingdom was breaking into the present reality, and His followers are called to be witnesses of this reign on earth. Thus, the treasures we store in heaven are not accumulated "heaven points" but rather the lasting impact of God's love and justice manifested through our lives. Acts of service, compassion, and sharing God's love create an imprint of heaven on earth that is imperishable.

A key point highlighted is that Yeshua doesn't condemn having possessions. He states that it's good to have and pursue a lot of the "right stuff." The problem arises when our pursuit of earthly possessions and security becomes our primary focus, overshadowing our devotion to God and His kingdom. Just as a college student must prioritize their education over other distractions to succeed, followers of Yeshua must prioritize their pursuit of God and His kingdom above all else.

The teaching uses the analogy of constantly seeking the next new gadget, like upgrading phones, to illustrate the fleeting satisfaction of earthly treasures. These things, though seemingly important at the moment, eventually lose their appeal and fail to provide lasting fulfillment. This pattern reveals where our hearts truly lie – with what we invest our time, energy, and money in.

Yeshua's statement, "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," is presented as a stark reality. The term "money" is also translated as "Mammon," which the speaker describes as a personified demonic character representing the idolatry of wealth – giving power and authority to money to the point of enslavement. Our daily pursuits and where our resources are directed reveal who we truly serve. If our time, energy, and money are not being converted into the things of God and His kingdom, then our hearts are likely not fully devoted to Him.

The teaching extends to practical aspects of life, asking whether our priorities reflect godly duties as parents, spouses, neighbors, and members of the community. Are we devoted to helping others, being vessels of God's love and justice, or are we consumed by material pursuits like phones, cars, and entertainment? Idolatry, in this context, is defined as giving our God-given dominion over creation to created things, resulting in our enslavement to them.

The speaker uses the example of foster care as a tangible way to invest in heavenly treasures by showing God's love to vulnerable children. This is highlighted as one of many opportunities to actively participate in bringing God's kingdom to earth. Even small acts of kindness and service can have an eternal impact, creating "craters in this world with a substance and a treasure that will never be affected by rust, moths, or be broken."

The concept of the "eye as the lamp of the body" is explored in light of ancient understandings of vision. While there were theories about light emanating from the eyes, the underlying principle is that the eye's health (or lack thereof) reflects the state of the heart. A "generous eye," drawing from Proverbs 22, signifies a generous heart focused on the treasures of heaven and implementing God's reign. Conversely, a "bad eye" indicates a stingy heart focused on perishable earthly things, hindering the flow of God's love into the world. Ultimately, the light referred to is the light of God within us, the source of true life and light. When our hearts are aligned with God, His light shines through us, enabling godly generosity. If that inner light becomes darkness, "how great is the darkness."

The teaching concludes by emphasizing that following Yeshua is not a call to a convenient life but to a life of inconvenience, self-giving, and potentially suffering. Our primary mission should be to be ambassadors of the King and His kingdom. We are urged to pray for God's enablement to show His kingdom and love on earth, allowing His light to shine through our hearts. Serving two masters is an impossibility; our devotion must be unequivocally to God.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Conduct a daily "treasure audit": Seriously consider where your time, energy, and financial resources are being directed. Do they primarily serve earthly pursuits or the advancement of God's kingdom?
• Re-evaluate your priorities: What is your primary mission when you wake up each day? Is it focused on serving God and others, or on personal gain and material accumulation?
• Seek opportunities for "heavenly investment": Look for ways to show God's love and justice through acts of service, generosity, and compassion towards those in need. Consider local volunteer opportunities, supporting ministries, or simply helping your neighbors.
• Be mindful of the fleeting nature of earthly treasures: Recognize that material possessions and worldly achievements will eventually fade away. Focus on investing in relationships and actions that have eternal significance.
• Guard against the idolatry of Mammon: Be aware of the subtle ways that the pursuit of money and security can become a master in your life, leading to a neglect of spiritual priorities and relationships.
• Pray for God's kingdom to come "on earth as it is in heaven": Actively pray for God's will to be done in your life and in the world around you, and seek to be a part of making that happen.
• Ask God to shine His light through you: Pray for a generous heart and for opportunities to reflect God's love and truth to others.

References

Bible Verses

• Matthew 6:19
• Matthew 6:20
• Matthew 6:21

Books and Resources

• The Bible
• On the Trinity by Augustine

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