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Posted: 9/5/03

LifeWay Family Bible Series for Sept. 21

Christians should align priorities carefully

Matthew 6:19-34

By David Jenkins

New Hope Baptist Church, Big Sandy

The kingdom citizens who please God are those who regularly examine their priorities, from a daily assessment of what is immediately important to us to those priorities that affect us over a longer period of time.

Though the specifics differ, the priorities in the lives of the people in Jesus' day were generally the same as ours. They longed for earthly treasures that would provide security, as well as for simple possessions such as acceptable clothing and good food. After dealing with these earthly issues, Jesus shifted his emphasis to eternal treasures in heaven.

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Priorities out of order inevitably produce worry and anxiety, which paralyze our ability to exercise faith in God's concern for our needs. Just as these words of Jesus are timely in relation to our concerns today, they surely struck a sensitive nerve in the lives of those who were listening to him that day in the Galilee.

Stockpiling the true treasure (6:19-21)

Jesus was about to show that heavenly rewards were not material or tangible. Not only do earthly treasures offer no lasting security, they are subject to inevitable destruction. Jesus mentioned “moth and rust.” Fine clothing was considered part of a person's wealth. Moths can create havoc with a garment. The word translated “rust” literally means “eating away,” and could have referred to spoiling grain stored in silos by rats and vermin. Also, thieves were able to dig through the baked clay walls of many of the houses and steal valuables the owner had stored away.

The place where treasures are stored is important because that which makes a treasure valuable depends on the affection of the heart. Those whose treasures are on Earth will have their hearts anchored in this world, which is destined to pass away. When our hearts are focused on heavenly treasures, we can know they will never be lost.

Keeping the window clean (6:22-24)

In this simple illustration, Jesus moved from the heart to the eye, comparing the eye to a window through which our understanding is lighted. The condition of a window will determine the way in which things are seen in a room. If the window is frosted, dirty, colored or distorted, objects in the room will not be seen clearly. Spiritually, the heart functions as the eye through which we observe both things and people.

If the eye is “good” (“single”), an undivided loyalty to God and to his law will determine our lifestyle as believers. On the other hand, the “bad” (“evil”) eye will be tempted to focus on both God and things. Such a condition will weaken our loyalty to God and distort our ability to determine the direction God would have us go. And this, in turn, will create spiritual darkness within us.

When our hearts are being continually washed clean by God's word (Ephesians 5:26), we will see not only “things” in proper perspective, but people as well. The “bad eye” can be distorted by prejudice, jealousy and an elevated sense of self-importance. The “good eye” sees every person as one whose soul is precious in God's sight.

Jesus said clearly it is not possible to serve two gods at once, for if we love one, we will eventually despise the other (v. 24). We cannot adore both God and material things at the same time. The word translated “serve” literally means “to be a slave to.” If we belong to God, we have no rights of our own. He demands our total loyalty. We do not ask, “What do I want to do?” but “What does God want me to do?” This single focus will keep us following God in the pathway of righteousness.

Overcoming the worry monster (6:25-34)

When we take seriously Jesus' principle set down in verse 24, we can see why he emphasized the futility of worry. He did not mean we were to assume a careless, irresponsible attitude toward life. “Take no thought” would be better translated “stop worrying.” The word Jesus used means “to worry anxiously,” and has nothing to do with a normal, sensible concern.

The hand-wringing kind of worry weakens our faith and trust in God. If God is the source of our life, would he fail to provide those things necessary to sustain that life? Jesus drove this truth home with the simple illustration about God's care for the birds. Martin Luther pictured the little birds as “live saints” who sing their praises to God without the least worry, and are fed by him every day.

Jesus stated further that worry will not lengthen life. Linear measures are often used in the Bible in regard to time. If anything, worry shortens life. Then, to illustrate his reference to raiment, Jesus compared the beauty of the lilies growing wild to the glory of Solomon dressed in his royal robes. The flowers Jesus referred to had a grass-like foliage, and had a brief life span. Jesus summed up his warning against needless worry by urging his disciples to seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness. Then, without fail, their everyday needs would be met.

Question for discussion

bluebull How do your life priorities measure up beside Jesus' formula?

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