Knew Treasure
The Knew Normal, Part 8
As life goes on, we tend to accumulate more, and more, and more things. Not only that, but our things begin to become increasingly important to us. They can begin to exert a kind of power over us. Left unchecked, that power can mess with our perspective and our priorities. How do we avoid being consumed by our stuff and stay focused on what is actually important?
“When we gain an eternal viewpoint, our earthly perspective is never the same.”
Scripture:
Matthew 6:19-24
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
More From This Series:
Any builder worth his salt knows that the most important part of any building is the foundation. The strength, stability, and endurance of the building is completely dependent on the foundation. The same is true for our lives. When the storms of life come, the foundation we build our lives upon will determine whether or not we will endure or, one day, collapse.
Toward the end of his Sermon On The Mount, Jesus mentions two paths or approaches we can take in life: one that leads to a full, vibrant life and one that leads to destruction. The path we choose to take during our short time here on earth will have eternal consequences. Which will you choose?
As life goes on, we tend to accumulate more, and more, and more things. Not only that, but our things begin to become increasingly important to us. They can begin to exert a kind of power over us. Left unchecked, that power can mess with our perspective and our priorities. How do we avoid being consumed by our stuff and stay focused on what is actually important?
Spiritual disciplines like praying, giving, attending church, and fasting can't change us in and of themselves, but they can put us in position to better know and embrace the heart of God. When we view religion as a list of things we should or shouldn’t do we either fearfully follow the crowd or pridefully try to convince others we’re someone we're not. So, what's the healthy approach?
We all have people in our lives that, well...we simply just can't stand. They might be co-workers, pesky neighbors, or even members of our extended family. Contrary to our human instincts, Jesus says we are to love those people. But why? And equally as important, how do we go about loving our enemies?
Generally speaking, there are two types of people when an injustice or hurtful word is hurled our way. Hard, impulsive people that seek revenge and retaliation. And, soft, gracious people that absorb the blow and seek to build rather than destroy. Which are we? According to Jesus, which should we be?
We live in a time where you have to read the fine print on everything. Often nothing truly means what we think at first. Sometimes telling the truth can be painful. But Jesus says if we want to be like Him, we need to be willing to tell the truth no matter what.
No one gets married with the expectation of getting divorced. And yet, marriages still end all the time. But what does Jesus have to say about divorce?
Sexual lust burns like a fire. We were created with sexual urges, and in the right context that's a good thing. Like a fire, when our sexual desires are in the wrong place it can cause destruction. Fire is a good thing in the fireplace. It’s not, when it’s not.
We all get angry from time to time. But left unchecked, a festering anger has the power to destroy relationships. To deal with our anger we must move towards forgiveness and if possible, reconciliation and restoration so that what is broken can be mended.