WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.820 If you would open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 6, I'm going to read for you verses 19 through 24. 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:13.179 This is the words of Jesus and he says, 00:00:14.300 --> 00:00:22.420 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:32.679 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:37.540 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:43.320 The eye is the lamp of the body, so if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:46.640 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:51.980 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness? 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:57.480 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:00:57.539 --> 00:01:01.120 or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. 00:01:02.020 --> 00:01:05.920 You cannot serve God and money. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:15.500 You know, it only takes between three and five seconds to check your phone while you're driving. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:17.640 That's all it is, three to five seconds. 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:24.920 And so, you know, bleep, text comes in, one, two, three, four. 00:01:26.359 --> 00:01:30.019 And so what's interesting is if you're traveling at 55 miles an hour, 00:01:30.739 --> 00:01:36.040 a five second check on your phone is the equivalent of going about the length of a football field. 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:44.360 And if you go the length of the football field looking at your phone, you are a distracted driver. 00:01:46.940 --> 00:01:54.240 Every year, 421,000 people are injured in a crash involving a distracted driver. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:02:01.479 Of those 421,000, 330,000 are injuries due to texting. 00:02:02.699 --> 00:02:04.780 That's 78%. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:12.120 One out of four accidents, car accidents in the U.S. are caused by texting while driving. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:17.920 This is really convicting for me because I've looked at my phone while driving. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:23.960 Distracting driving is a serious problem in the U.S. 00:02:25.200 --> 00:02:27.900 It's the cause of injuries, even death. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:35.020 But U.S. roadways are not the only place where distraction is causing problems. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:44.219 In the church of Jesus Christ, the church has plenty of distracted disciples. 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:52.320 Men and women who professed faith in Christ alone but have been distracted from following Jesus wholeheartedly. 00:02:53.820 --> 00:02:58.620 They may be on the road of discipleship, but they've taken their eyes off of Jesus. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:02.320 And when you take your eyes off of Jesus, you drift. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:07.060 And a disciple who's adrift is in danger. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:17.239 In danger of spiritual injury to themselves, of others, and of maybe even injuring the name of Jesus himself. 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:27.819 In this passage I just read in Matthew 6, Jesus is calling his disciples to an undistracted, wholehearted devotion to God. 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:37.639 And we just spent a couple weeks in the earlier part of Matthew 6 where Jesus is warning his disciples, 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:45.900 don't be hypocrites, don't showboat your practice of righteousness for others to see, do it for an audience of one. 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:54.340 And now in this section that we turn to now, Jesus moves from talking about hypocrisy to worldliness. 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:01.379 Worldliness is when a Christian wants to be more like the world than Christ. 00:04:03.540 --> 00:04:10.640 Worldliness is when a Christian is indistinguishable from someone who is not a Christian. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:16.639 A distracted disciple of Jesus will drift into worldliness. 00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:21.180 In fact, it's often worldliness that causes the drift. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.719 Jesus knew it in the first century. 00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:28.519 He knew it would be a temptation for his disciples then. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:34.639 And he knows it's a temptation for his disciples now in the 21st century. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:39.039 And so this morning we need to heed our king. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:44.140 And what Jesus is calling us to, you could sum it up something like this. 00:04:44.620 --> 00:04:49.560 He's saying this morning, don't be distracted disciples who blend into the world. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:51.220 No. 00:04:52.860 --> 00:05:05.240 He's saying live distinct lives out of undistracted, wholehearted hearts of devotion to God. 00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:12.980 We are to live distinct lives of wholehearted devotion to God. 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:19.980 So to be distinct in this world means that we actually live for God. 00:05:20.600 --> 00:05:24.240 And the good news about what Jesus is saying here is he just doesn't go, 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:25.819 okay, live for the world. 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:27.540 I'm going up to heaven. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:29.740 Make the most of it. 00:05:29.800 --> 00:05:31.060 I'll see you in a couple millennia. 00:05:31.060 --> 00:05:39.079 He actually tells us how to be distinct in this passage. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:42.759 There are three things he points to. 00:05:43.100 --> 00:05:45.899 Three ways to live distinct lives for God alone. 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:51.779 Three ways to be undistracted and wholehearted in our devotion to God. 00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:53.579 It's in what we treasure. 00:05:54.660 --> 00:05:55.860 It's in how we see. 00:05:55.860 --> 00:05:58.379 And it's in who we serve. 00:05:59.420 --> 00:06:03.960 These are the three ways Jesus calls us to live distinct lives of wholehearted devotion to God. 00:06:05.160 --> 00:06:07.460 And in each one there's a contrast. 00:06:07.840 --> 00:06:11.319 And that contrast brings clarity in how we live. 00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:19.259 So let's unpack these three ways Jesus calls us to be undistracted in our devotion. 00:06:19.259 --> 00:06:22.560 The first is in what we treasure. 00:06:22.659 --> 00:06:24.740 And we see that in verses 19 through 21. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:28.459 It's in what we treasure. 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:33.899 So I'm not sure if you know this, but we're all treasure hunters. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.680 We're all looking for treasure. 00:06:39.139 --> 00:06:43.560 We're all hardwired to be looking for treasure. 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:43.639 Treasure. 00:06:44.060 --> 00:06:46.120 That word, do not lay up. 00:06:46.519 --> 00:06:49.879 That phrase, do not lay up for yourselves treasure. 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:52.620 And then in verse 20, but lay up for yourselves treasure. 00:06:52.759 --> 00:06:53.240 Lay up. 00:06:53.500 --> 00:06:56.620 That's actually the verbal form of the word treasure. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:00.319 And so what Jesus says, don't treasure up treasures on earth. 00:07:01.160 --> 00:07:02.939 No, treasure up treasures in heaven. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:03.699 That's what he's saying. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:05.300 We're all treasure hunters. 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:10.779 Have you ever seen the Antique Roadshow? 00:07:10.779 --> 00:07:12.939 I love that show. 00:07:13.560 --> 00:07:15.300 It draws me in every time. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:15.899 Do you know why? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:16.980 Because I'm a treasure hunter. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:24.720 And I want to know how much this little lost photograph up in the attic is going to get 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:28.860 for, you know, being gone for two centuries. 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:33.340 Is it going to be worth five bucks or five thousand bucks? 00:07:34.300 --> 00:07:35.500 I'm a treasure hunter. 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:37.740 And you're a treasure hunter too. 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:40.139 That's why Antique Roadshow is so popular. 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.139 Everyone treasures something. 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:50.379 All seven plus billion people on the face of the planet right now are treasure hunters. 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.800 They're seeking something. 00:07:53.560 --> 00:07:55.180 They want something. 00:07:55.500 --> 00:07:56.939 They want to treasure. 00:07:57.340 --> 00:07:58.600 We're made in God's image. 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.060 We long for a treasure that's greater than us. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:01.079 We long for a treasure that's greater than us. 00:08:05.079 --> 00:08:09.160 God alone is the treasure of unsurpassed worth and glory. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:11.720 And that's part of His design in us. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:13.120 He built us for that. 00:08:14.080 --> 00:08:18.120 He created us wanting treasure. 00:08:19.020 --> 00:08:19.720 He's the treasure. 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:27.360 You can call it treasure hunting or you can call it worship. 00:08:28.960 --> 00:08:31.880 Finding worth in what matters most. 00:08:33.920 --> 00:08:39.639 And so you can think of all our longings for pleasure, prestige, power, possessions, praise. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:42.679 It's all a kind of treasure hunting. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:46.019 It's all a kind of worth finding. 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.240 We're hardwired for that. 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:53.279 And so the first thing you need to know is that Jesus is putting His finger on something that we all identify. 00:08:53.419 --> 00:08:54.399 We want treasure. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:09:03.000 And then what we see in this passage is that Jesus makes a contrast between two kinds of treasures. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:09.899 Verse 19, it's the treasures that are laid up on earth. 00:09:10.159 --> 00:09:14.720 And in verse 20, it's the treasure that's laid up in heaven. 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:19.779 Jesus says, don't store up, lay up treasures on earth. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:21.039 And then He tells you why. 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:22.559 Why? 00:09:22.559 --> 00:09:26.099 Well, that's where moth and rust destroy. 00:09:27.979 --> 00:09:30.279 The treasures on earth are corruptible. 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:32.019 They don't last. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:37.799 And then He says, where thieves break in and steal. 00:09:37.879 --> 00:09:39.139 That word break in is pretty interesting. 00:09:39.259 --> 00:09:44.279 It actually means dig in because in Palestine in the first century, the houses were made out of mud. 00:09:44.359 --> 00:09:49.599 And so if you wanted to thieve something, you just kind of dug into a house, grabbed it, and you ran. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:58.319 But the point is, treasures on earth are corruptible and insecure. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:06.340 And so what Jesus is saying here in verse 19 is, don't live for temporary treasures because they're temporary. 00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:08.580 They don't last. 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.540 They're corruptible. 00:10:09.640 --> 00:10:10.140 They're insecure. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:13.280 Don't set your heart on the temporary stuff. 00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:19.019 And so for us, what it means is we don't live for cars because cars rust and break down. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:22.799 We don't live for houses because houses require upkeep. 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:24.000 They've got ants. 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:25.720 Some have mold. 00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:27.159 Some need new roofs. 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:28.139 They take a lot. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.699 They are moving from order to disorder. 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:35.240 We don't live for clothes because clothes wear out with use. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.420 They go out of fashion. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:40.280 And sometimes you no longer fit into them. 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:51.200 Luke 12, 15, Jesus says, take care and be on your guard against all covetousness, all greed. 00:10:51.900 --> 00:10:56.560 For one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 00:10:56.559 --> 00:11:04.759 There's this great lie out there that says your worth, treasures found in how much you got. 00:11:05.559 --> 00:11:07.000 And Jesus is saying, no. 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:10.739 You don't want to accumulate stuff on earth. 00:11:11.659 --> 00:11:14.579 It's just going to fall apart or get stolen. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:19.119 Did you notice the emphasis on location? 00:11:20.179 --> 00:11:21.519 Jesus is talking about where. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:25.459 Do not lay up for yourself treasures on earth. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:31.220 Where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:37.160 Where does the corruption and stealing of one's possession take place? 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:38.320 On earth. 00:11:39.560 --> 00:11:45.060 And so if you think that this planet in its current form is the best that it gets, 00:11:46.220 --> 00:11:48.600 you're misinformed and mistaken. 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:52.620 You're being distracted from what matters most. 00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:57.379 Storing up treasures on earth is here and now thinking. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.779 It's earthly thinking. 00:12:00.920 --> 00:12:01.700 It's worldly thinking. 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:03.000 It's not Christian thinking. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:07.980 And for those who are outside of Christ, who have not yet bowed the knee to Jesus, 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:13.039 of course they're going to think that all that there is is here and now. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:13.759 Of course. 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:15.200 That's all they got. 00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.420 That's their hope. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.720 But not us. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.720 Christians have the blood-sealed promise of eternity in heaven. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:29.259 Our future heavenly home. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:31.319 We're heaven bound. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.620 We're heaven bound. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:38.960 We are exiles and sojourners in this present world. 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:45.480 We're passing through on our way to a city prepared for us by God himself. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:51.819 Brothers and sisters, I'm not sure if you've thought about this, 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:54.200 what I'm about to tell you, but you need to think about it. 00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.799 The new Jerusalem's coming. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:04.799 And if you're redeemed, that means you have an address in the new Jerusalem. 00:13:05.359 --> 00:13:07.659 You've got a place that God has prepared for you. 00:13:08.339 --> 00:13:09.379 It's locked in. 00:13:10.699 --> 00:13:11.539 It's coming. 00:13:12.559 --> 00:13:13.259 There's more. 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:19.979 Jesus is calling us out of a worldly here and now kind of thinking. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:22.979 And he's calling us to a Christian kind of thinking. 00:13:22.979 --> 00:13:27.559 A there and then heaven bound thinking. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:36.679 And so let's move from the temporary treasures on earth to the enduring treasures in heaven. 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:38.839 And we see that in verse 20. 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:40.840 It's a contrast. 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.440 It's a contrast. 00:13:41.660 --> 00:13:44.160 And Jesus is trying to bring clarity here. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:47.040 He's saying in verse 20, he says, 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.680 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.960 Why, Jesus? 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.100 And he goes on. 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:54.100 Where neither moth nor rust destroys. 00:13:54.220 --> 00:13:56.420 And where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:14:01.040 Remember, the treasures on earth, they're corruptible and that they're insecure. 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:06.059 And what Jesus is saying, treasures in heaven are incorruptible. 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:08.039 There are no moths. 00:14:08.919 --> 00:14:10.339 There's no rust. 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:12.519 It's secure. 00:14:13.339 --> 00:14:16.179 There are no thieves breaking in and stealing. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.019 It's a better place. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.480 And so what Jesus is saying is, live for what endures. 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:26.060 Live for what's going to last. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:27.139 Live for the eternal. 00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:29.100 You're heaven bound. 00:14:29.300 --> 00:14:30.620 Live for what's heavenly. 00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:37.600 We live first and foremost for what matters most according to what God says. 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.500 Not the world. 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:43.519 And what matters most is that which is incorruptible and secure. 00:14:43.680 --> 00:14:45.180 So what are that kind of stuff? 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:49.620 God himself, his word, and the souls of men and women. 00:14:50.859 --> 00:14:53.139 Those are the things that are eternal. 00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:55.079 Everything else is passing away. 00:14:55.659 --> 00:14:58.099 Let me just remind you what 2 Peter 3 talks about. 00:14:58.399 --> 00:15:05.059 2 Peter 3 talks about that the earth in its present groaning condition will one day be wiped clean. 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:06.559 Burned up. 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:13.519 In order that God will recreate a new heavens and a new earth that we can populate with God himself. 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.079 That's what's coming. 00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.939 We're heaven bound. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.179 The difference between heaven and earth is this. 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:26.859 The things of earth are here and now and passing away, but they are seen. 00:15:28.459 --> 00:15:36.000 And the things of heaven are there and then and enduring forever, but right now they go unseen. 00:15:37.099 --> 00:15:38.919 One is a life of sight. 00:15:39.339 --> 00:15:41.399 One is a life of faith. 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:41.459 One is a life of faith. 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.779 We live by faith. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.399 For what matters most. 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:52.419 Now does that mean we renounce all material goods? 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.220 No, it doesn't. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:57.759 But it does mean we renounce materialism. 00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:03.019 That false belief that our life depends on our possessions. 00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:07.100 It's that Luke 12.15 Jesus thing that he was warning us about. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:14.680 We view our present earthly possessions in light of eternity. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:20.580 In light of leveraging those for treasuring things up in heaven. 00:16:23.580 --> 00:16:29.000 We can't bring any of our stuff with us, so let me just remind you again 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:36.019 that Jesus is locating all these enduring treasures in heaven. 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:43.179 There is a guy, his name is Randy Alcorn, and he heads up this ministry called Eternal Perspectives Ministry, 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:45.639 and he's got this illustration that he uses. 00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:46.860 It's called the dot and the line. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:52.039 And so when he talks about the dot, he's referring to your 70 to 80 years on earth. 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:53.820 It's a little dot. 00:16:53.820 --> 00:17:00.200 And some people who think that all their life is is a dot, they're going to live for the dot. 00:17:01.360 --> 00:17:09.480 But what our Bibles teach us and what Alcorn brings out is that from that dot is a line with an arrow on the edge 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:11.720 that is pointing to eternity. 00:17:12.120 --> 00:17:13.140 That's the line. 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:16.519 And what Jesus is telling us here is, 00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:20.400 don't live for the dot, live for the line. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:25.040 And so now what we do is we leverage our dot in light of eternity. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.840 We live for the line. 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:30.060 We live for what is enduring. 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:33.080 We live for what matters most. 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:38.660 And Jesus locates it in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, 00:17:38.780 --> 00:17:40.220 where thieves do not break in and steal. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.800 He says, it's where, it's where, it's where. 00:17:44.580 --> 00:17:47.060 Where is your heart? 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:51.099 Where have you set your heart? 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:54.659 For where your treasure is, think heaven or earth. 00:17:56.159 --> 00:17:57.539 Think heaven or earth. 00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:58.480 Where is your treasure? 00:17:59.539 --> 00:18:03.200 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:05.159 And when Jesus talks about his heart, 00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:08.740 he's talking about that part of you that controls everything in your life. 00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.339 That's what you're living for. 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:15.240 That's the summary in verse 24. 00:18:15.919 --> 00:18:17.559 Excuse me, in verse 21. 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:20.740 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:25.819 If you think that treasure is just here and now, 00:18:25.919 --> 00:18:28.980 you have an earth-bound heart. 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:35.439 But if you realize that the real treasure is there and then, 00:18:35.819 --> 00:18:40.119 you have a heaven-bound, God-pleasing heart. 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:47.359 We steward what we have in light of the line. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:51.939 So now you may be asking yourself a question like this. 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:54.639 Okay, I get distracted. 00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:56.419 I get distracted by stuff. 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.279 What do I do? 00:18:59.379 --> 00:19:00.279 Where do I go? 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:06.859 How do you move an earth-bound heart to a heaven-bound heart? 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.019 How does that work? 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:13.619 Well, it's by faith refocusing your heart on what matters most. 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.279 Some of you may be wondering right now, 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:20.299 well, what's the stuff, 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:24.359 what are the treasures that I need to store up for heaven? 00:19:24.359 --> 00:19:26.459 I'm not going to address that this morning. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.759 Here's what I'm going to address. 00:19:28.139 --> 00:19:29.539 I'm going to address heaven. 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:35.279 Because what I tend to think is that we are not thinking enough about it. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:38.179 So let me ask you a diagnostic question. 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:43.619 How great is your longing for your heavenly home? 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.079 How much do you want it? 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:50.220 What comes into your mind when you think about heaven? 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:52.079 And if you're answering something like this, 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.359 well, I can't really imagine it. 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.439 I've kind of got a blank slate. 00:19:56.439 --> 00:19:57.879 I've got maybe some angels. 00:19:58.139 --> 00:19:58.519 It's pretty. 00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.980 Well, you know what you need? 00:20:02.579 --> 00:20:04.319 You need some biblical intel. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:12.720 It's really hard to want to go somewhere that you know nothing about. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:17.579 But when you start to think about what's waiting for you, 00:20:18.439 --> 00:20:22.139 your heart lines up with that and so will your life. 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:25.879 So do you know how I want to help you? 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:33.039 This week, sometime when you're by yourself and with your Bible, 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:36.220 open your Bible to Revelation chapter 21. 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:41.139 That chapter talks about the New Jerusalem. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:44.039 And it is breathtaking. 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:46.759 It's breathtaking in its size. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.700 If you drop the New Jerusalem in the middle of America, 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:51.440 do you know what kind of footprint it would have? 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.180 It would go from Green Bay to Helena, Montana, 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:57.359 down to, what is that place in Texas called? 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.259 El Paso in Texas to Baton Rouge. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:03.619 That's the footprint of the New Jerusalem. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:06.119 It is breathtakingly huge. 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:10.019 And then you start thinking about what it's made of. 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:12.700 It's breathtaking in its beauty. 00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:15.339 But you know what's most breathtaking at all about the New Jerusalem? 00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:18.059 It's who's there. 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:21.599 Who lights up the place. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:25.099 Look at Revelation 21. 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:31.859 Start marinating your imagination with a vision for heaven. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:37.379 And you're going to find yourself lighting up with that of what matters most. 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:41.579 It will inform what you start to treasure. 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:46.319 Don't buy the bill of goods of this world. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.220 The world's going to say, hey, it's all about here and now. 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:52.539 It's about accumulating stuff. 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.960 And Jesus says, no. 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.480 Christian, you're heaven bound. 00:21:57.539 --> 00:22:00.659 You've got something coming that is far more glorious and lasting. 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:09.960 So the first way we're distinct is what we treasure. 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:14.320 We treasure heaven and the things of heaven. 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:16.880 That sets us apart. 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:22.580 And so when we talk about an undistracted, wholehearted devotion to God, 00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:25.519 we are looking heavenward. 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.500 We're aimed that way. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:34.039 The second way we live distinct lives is how we see. 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:40.200 Have you ever been to an eye doctor and you sit in the chair 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:44.420 and the eye doctor brings that thing down and kind of click, click, click, 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.740 how you can see now, click, click, click? 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.359 He's focusing your eyes. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:53.819 And then there's this other test in which he's looking for cloudiness in your eyes. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.019 It's called glaucoma. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:23:03.920 And so the task of the eye doctor is so that you can see clearly with a sharp focus. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:16.320 In verses 22 and 23, Jesus uses physical sight as a metaphor for spiritual sight. 00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:22.640 Spiritual sight is living by faith in God's word. 00:23:23.120 --> 00:23:24.279 That's spiritual sight. 00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:29.180 On this planet, at this time, we live by faith. 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:34.060 Our sight is informed by Bible. 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:38.400 Paul calls it in 1 Corinthians 2 spiritual understanding. 00:23:39.560 --> 00:23:44.460 We comprehend the things of God that are physically unseen but revealed in the Bible, 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.680 and the Holy Spirit enables us to do that. 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:51.480 So when you read something like this, 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.259 the eye is the lamp of the body, 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:56.720 so if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:59.400 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. 00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:02.400 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness? 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:06.740 When you read that, can we all agree that Jesus isn't just giving some tips 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.700 in terms of your physical eye care? 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.720 Can we agree to that? 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:12.360 He's getting at something more significant. 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.039 He's a good teacher. 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:17.980 And so what he's doing is he's using something we can all identify with, 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:21.379 physical sight, and he's making a spiritual point. 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:27.159 So Jesus says the eye is the lamp of the body. 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:33.740 All that he's saying is that your physical sight informs your life. 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:36.420 It gives direction to you. 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:39.220 Now just think about this. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:44.539 Just think about how dependent your life is on your physical sight. 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:48.299 Imagine just you can no longer see. 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:49.339 It happens right now. 00:24:49.420 --> 00:24:49.980 You're blind. 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.259 You're in darkness. 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:54.440 Could you imagine what it would be like trying just to get out of this building? 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:56.740 How difficult that would be? 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.460 Living in darkness? 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:06.940 But to have sight is to live in the light. 00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:15.180 The contrast Jesus is making is between spiritual sight and spiritual blindness. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:17.579 Notice his if-then logic. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:21.900 If your eye is healthy, then your whole body will be full of light. 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.000 And that sounds really good. 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:28.799 Then he says, but if your eye is bad, then your whole body will be full of darkness. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:31.299 And whatever that means, it doesn't sound good. 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:37.500 So I want to help you see the contrast a little bit more by helping you understand what he means 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:40.220 by an healthy eye and a bad eye. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:49.879 That word healthy you read in verse 22, if your eye is healthy, is a really interesting Greek word. 00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:51.220 It actually means singular. 00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:58.339 And so it's a clear and focused sight, which means healthy. 00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:07.759 And so what Jesus is saying is, if your eye, if your spiritual sight, is healthy, clear, and focused, 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:13.880 then your whole body, your entire life, will be full of light, radiant with life. 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:15.720 That's what Jesus is saying here. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:21.740 In other words, if you're seeing things with spiritual clarity, you will experience God's blessing. 00:26:21.840 --> 00:26:23.000 You're going to be living by faith. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:30.920 It just evidences the spiritual birth which God has wrought in you by his spirit 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:35.779 and enabling you to see things as God sees things. 00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:41.119 And what you're going to see are things like this. 00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:44.099 You're going to start seeing what matters most to God. 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:50.779 You're going to start having a clear and focused vision on what matters most. 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:55.319 And when we think like that, it's all about God's name. 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.279 It's all about his glory. 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.119 It's all about his word. 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:03.279 It's all about the salvation of men and women in Christ alone. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.779 It's a life of faith. 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:12.339 Spiritual sightedness is grounded in faith in God. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:19.200 So when we talk about clear and focused sight, where clarity is an undistracted sight, 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:23.600 unobscured sight, focused. 00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:25.940 It's a singular aim. 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:28.680 It's like a hunting rifle scope. 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:33.100 You've got an all-consuming point of focus. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.620 And that's what Jesus is getting at here. 00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:41.779 Spiritual sight that is clear and focused on what matters most, and that is God himself. 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:45.759 So you can ask it this way. 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.220 What are you living for? 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:51.200 What is occupying the central vision of your life? 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:56.759 The word bad in Greek literally means evil. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.799 It's talking about spiritual blindness. 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:03.639 And spiritual blindness describes people who have yet to be born again. 00:28:03.640 --> 00:28:13.160 Back in 1 Corinthians 2, Paul describes those who are not Christians as unable to accept the things of the Spirit of God, 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.840 for they are folly to them. 00:28:15.360 --> 00:28:18.640 They're not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:25.640 A non-Christian doesn't have the Spirit of God indwelling them to give them spiritual understanding, 00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:28.300 what Jesus is calling spiritual sight here. 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:33.000 And the root of spiritual blindness is unbelief. 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:40.480 Unbelief blinds your spiritual sight, and as a result, a non-Christian walks in darkness. 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.740 And they're in grave danger. 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:47.819 It's scary to think about walking in darkness, right? 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:53.019 But it's even more grave than that, because what Paul says, not only are they walking in darkness, 00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.519 they are perishing. 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.519 Listen to how he says it. 00:28:58.299 --> 00:29:03.879 We learn from 2 Corinthians 4 that the God of this world, the devil, has blinded the minds of unbelievers 00:29:03.879 --> 00:29:09.000 to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:15.180 Spiritual blindness is evidence of spiritual deadness, and according to the Bible, 00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:23.579 the only thing that cures spiritual deadness is life in Christ imparted by the Holy Spirit. 00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:27.419 And so when someone is spiritually blind, do you know what they need? 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.840 New life. 00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:28.900 New life. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:31.480 New life in Christ alone. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.440 The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:39.200 Birthing someone into spiritual existence. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:41.279 Created a new creation. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.840 With new eyes. 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:47.580 To be able to see that which matters most. 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:54.440 God's cure for spiritual blindness is spiritual life in Christ alone. 00:29:54.440 --> 00:30:00.900 So when we preach the gospel, we preach the gospel realizing there must be an accompanying work 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:04.100 of the Holy Spirit to regenerate people. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:16.420 Now, when Jesus talks about someone's sight, their eye is bad, he really means it's bad. 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.480 It's not good. 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:20.840 Their whole life is full of darkness. 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:22.399 They don't get it. 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:29.799 Now, what happens when a Christian buys into worldliness? 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:36.439 When that happens, worldliness is like spiritual glaucoma to a Christian. 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:41.240 It clouds a Christian's ability to see with clarity and focus. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:48.539 It obstructs a Christian from seeing that which has an eternal weight of glory. 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:52.619 And so what worldliness does is I forget that there's a line. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:55.220 I just think that it's my little dot life. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.700 That that's all that there is. 00:30:58.319 --> 00:31:03.200 Worldliness keeps us from seeing the eternal weightiness of things. 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:14.359 Keeps us from seeing that God is the unrivaled treasure of all. 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:18.259 Did you notice those last words of Jesus? 00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:21.899 If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness? 00:31:22.459 --> 00:31:25.099 It's one thing to realize that you're blind. 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:31.319 It's another thing to not realize you're blind but actually think you can see. 00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:34.259 That's what Jesus is talking about. 00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:35.699 How great is that darkness? 00:31:36.479 --> 00:31:40.059 When someone who's spiritually blind thinks that they can see but they really can't, 00:31:40.219 --> 00:31:41.579 how great is that darkness? 00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:43.639 That's what he's getting at. 00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:48.399 There is this ancient Greek proverb. 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:53.199 It's called the fox and the hedgehog. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:32:00.779 The fox knows many things but the hedgehog knows one big thing. 00:32:00.779 --> 00:32:09.000 What happens is that people start living for everything that they can. 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.879 They're just trying to make sense of the world. 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:14.139 It's one thing after the next. 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:16.519 That's fox living. 00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:20.720 What a hedgehog does is they live for one thing. 00:32:21.099 --> 00:32:25.819 One great all-encompassing vision for all things. 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:28.379 That's hedgehog vision. 00:32:29.179 --> 00:32:31.200 That's what we're being called to here. 00:32:33.399 --> 00:32:37.460 A vision, a unifying vision for all things. 00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:39.000 And you know what unites all things? 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:42.740 God's glory over all. 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:48.819 In these two verses, Jesus is providing us with another way to live distinct for God. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:52.400 To have a clear and focused spiritual sight. 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:54.559 Your whole life will be radiant. 00:32:55.400 --> 00:32:57.680 You're going to light up the darkness around you. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.700 People will notice. 00:32:59.579 --> 00:33:00.519 You'll be distinct. 00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:06.140 But what you need for healthy spiritual sight is spiritual life. 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:11.720 And so if you are aware that you're walking in darkness, do you know what you need? 00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:13.140 You need to turn to Jesus. 00:33:14.800 --> 00:33:16.120 You need to turn to Him. 00:33:17.520 --> 00:33:19.800 He will give you the light of life. 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:22.580 He'll give you eyes to see. 00:33:23.100 --> 00:33:29.180 And so if you are seeing with some kind of difficulty that Jesus is the only way for you, 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.900 but you're seeing it, you go to Him. 00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:33.100 You put your faith in Him. 00:33:33.160 --> 00:33:34.259 You trust in Him alone. 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:36.480 And He's going to give you life. 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.160 He's going to light you up. 00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.519 He's going to give you eyes to see. 00:33:40.680 --> 00:33:43.200 What if you're sitting there and it's like, okay, I got glaucoma. 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:44.279 All right. 00:33:44.819 --> 00:33:46.039 All right, I'm distracted. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.559 I don't see things clearly. 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.579 I lose sight of heaven. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:49.759 Do you know what you need to do? 00:33:50.579 --> 00:33:51.420 You need to repent. 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:54.779 You need to turn from it and turn to Christ. 00:33:55.779 --> 00:34:01.660 You need to acknowledge the fact, oh, Lord, I have been setting my eyes on things that are passing, 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:04.880 and I have not been setting my things that are eternal. 00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:06.460 God, will you forgive me for that? 00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.380 And will you change me? 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:12.860 Will you help me to have an all-encompassing hedgehog vision for all things, namely your glory? 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.079 Will you do that in me? 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:20.420 And then we all need corrective spiritual lenses, don't we? 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:28.860 Even if we get the glaucoma out, we all have a tendency to see things here and now. 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.579 So here's what we've got to do. 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:33.739 Every morning, it's like, okay, I'm putting on my spiritual lenses. 00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:36.380 Okay, I'm going to walk through life like this. 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:41.539 I've got my biblical corrective lenses on, and I can see clearly now. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:46.320 We all need to be living through the lens of Scripture. 00:34:46.680 --> 00:34:48.440 It's corrective for us. 00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:52.099 We'll continue to see what matters most. 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:58.119 So the second way we live distinct lives for God is in how we see. 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:03.800 We're to see clearly and focused on what matters most. 00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:11.880 The third way we live distinct lives for God is that we serve God alone. 00:35:12.280 --> 00:35:13.300 It's in verse 24. 00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:15.940 We serve God alone. 00:35:17.780 --> 00:35:21.280 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, 00:35:21.340 --> 00:35:23.720 or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. 00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:25.820 You cannot serve God and money. 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:32.100 The contrast Jesus is making is one of slavery between two masters. 00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:36.039 And the background, of course, is first century slavery, 00:35:36.299 --> 00:35:41.179 which had a lot in common but had some distinctions from the slavery that plagued our nation. 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:46.940 The point that Jesus is making here is one of ability. 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:50.880 He's not arguing along the lines of permission. 00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:55.880 He's not saying, no, you are not allowed to serve two masters. 00:35:55.880 --> 00:36:00.820 And then at the end of verse 24, no, you're not allowed to serve God and money. 00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:03.960 He's not making an argument of permission. 00:36:04.599 --> 00:36:06.780 He's making an argument of ability. 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:11.579 You are unable to serve two masters. 00:36:12.440 --> 00:36:13.220 You can't. 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:16.539 It's impossible because of the nature of slavery. 00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.400 You have one master. 00:36:19.220 --> 00:36:21.200 Exclusive devotion to that master. 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:23.199 It will control your entire life. 00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:27.119 Is it true that God forbids us from worshiping other gods? 00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:27.960 Yes, it is. 00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:31.059 But what Jesus is talking about here is not permission. 00:36:31.259 --> 00:36:32.379 He's talking about ability. 00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:35.559 You can't serve both. 00:36:37.759 --> 00:36:40.879 Well, you may be sitting there and saying, well, you know what? 00:36:40.899 --> 00:36:41.839 I've got two jobs. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:44.980 I've got two employers, and I can please them both just fine. 00:36:45.019 --> 00:36:45.439 Thank you. 00:36:45.439 --> 00:36:45.500 Thank you. 00:36:48.319 --> 00:36:49.799 Well, I appreciate your thought. 00:36:51.199 --> 00:36:55.559 But Jesus isn't talking about 21st century American employment. 00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:58.439 He's talking about 1st century slavery. 00:36:59.460 --> 00:37:00.379 Let me put it this way. 00:37:00.839 --> 00:37:04.339 Does your current employer legally own you? 00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:08.159 No, though it may feel like it. 00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:16.659 Does your employer require your exclusive devotion 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year? 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:17.859 No. 00:37:17.860 --> 00:37:24.220 Does your employer legally require your absolute exclusive devotion over all other relationships? 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.220 No. 00:37:26.720 --> 00:37:29.420 That's the difference between being an employee and being a slave. 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:33.260 Employers do not own employees. 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:35.840 1st century masters own their slaves. 00:37:36.260 --> 00:37:37.700 This is about ownership. 00:37:37.699 --> 00:37:40.059 Who owns you? 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.079 Who owns you? 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:53.399 In very stark language, slavery language, Jesus is calling us as his disciples to a wholehearted and exclusive servanthood of God. 00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:56.720 God owns you. 00:37:58.320 --> 00:38:02.079 He owns you by virtue of creating you. 00:38:02.860 --> 00:38:03.680 He's your creator. 00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:05.619 He gives you your next breath. 00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:09.000 But if you're a Christian, you're doubly owned. 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.740 You've been bought by his blood. 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:12.519 You're owned twice by God. 00:38:12.519 --> 00:38:17.300 He's your master. 00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:20.840 Jesus is making it clear. 00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:23.659 Christian, you cannot serve God and money. 00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:29.440 You can only serve one or the other, but you certainly cannot serve both. 00:38:29.659 --> 00:38:33.119 Because if you're trying to serve both, you're not serving one. 00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:36.980 You can only have one master. 00:38:38.599 --> 00:38:39.539 Who's your master? 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:45.279 Over the years, I've interacted with a lot of people, especially young people. 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:49.980 And when I've called them to a wholehearted, exclusive devotion to Christ, some have responded, 00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:51.339 you know what, I just want to go to school. 00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:52.900 I want to get good grades. 00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:55.779 I want to get a good job so I can make a lot of money. 00:38:58.139 --> 00:39:02.299 They're actually thinking that money is going to give them what they really want. 00:39:02.300 --> 00:39:04.300 Like money's a God. 00:39:07.560 --> 00:39:09.220 You cannot serve God and money. 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:11.200 It's about ownership. 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:17.260 Now, just a point of clarification, money itself is not evil. 00:39:18.380 --> 00:39:22.980 1 Timothy 6, Paul makes it clear that money isn't the root of all evil. 00:39:23.120 --> 00:39:25.700 It's the love of money that is the root of all evil. 00:39:26.100 --> 00:39:29.120 And so you see the issue of evilness comes from our hearts. 00:39:29.840 --> 00:39:31.880 We make money into a God. 00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:39.620 What we love most rules us for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:44.400 And money is one of the great idols of our day. 00:39:45.720 --> 00:39:50.280 Many people think that money provides security. 00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:59.760 That money provides prestige, freedom, pleasure, opens doors, people listen, there's power and happiness. 00:40:01.100 --> 00:40:08.640 Those who think like this are at best spiritually short-sighted and at worst spiritually blind. 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:15.639 Money, at best, provides temporary security. 00:40:17.639 --> 00:40:18.079 Prestige. 00:40:18.319 --> 00:40:19.219 Temporary freedom. 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:20.759 Temporary pleasure and power. 00:40:21.179 --> 00:40:21.379 Why? 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:26.500 Because money is both corruptible and insecure. 00:40:26.500 --> 00:40:26.860 Insecure. 00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:26.980 Insecure. 00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:33.119 If you're invested in the market, there are circumstances beyond your control that can eat up your money. 00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:36.239 You can lose your fortune in a New York minute. 00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:37.539 It just goes like that. 00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:39.980 Insecure. 00:40:39.980 --> 00:40:45.820 Not to mention the threat of someone breaking into your accounts and stealing your money with a different ID. 00:40:48.260 --> 00:40:49.300 We all know this. 00:40:49.559 --> 00:40:50.539 But I just need to say it. 00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:54.280 People who live for money don't actually own their money. 00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:56.240 Their money owns them. 00:40:56.239 --> 00:41:00.979 Money is unable to provide what only God can. 00:41:01.779 --> 00:41:07.639 And Jesus' point here is that you would be a fool to wholeheartedly and exclusively serve money. 00:41:08.719 --> 00:41:10.119 It's a lousy God. 00:41:11.019 --> 00:41:12.099 Money's not alive. 00:41:12.379 --> 00:41:13.079 God is. 00:41:13.159 --> 00:41:15.179 In fact, Jesus is alive right now and reigning. 00:41:15.919 --> 00:41:17.119 Money's not all wise. 00:41:17.299 --> 00:41:17.959 God is. 00:41:18.019 --> 00:41:19.559 And he gives wisdom to those who ask. 00:41:19.939 --> 00:41:22.679 Money's not ruling over all creation right now. 00:41:22.679 --> 00:41:23.399 God is. 00:41:23.559 --> 00:41:26.019 And he is for your good, brother and sister in Christ. 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:28.279 Money wasn't nailed to the cross. 00:41:28.379 --> 00:41:32.539 There wasn't a bunch of Benjamin Franklins nailed to the cross for your salvation. 00:41:33.819 --> 00:41:34.819 Jesus was. 00:41:35.519 --> 00:41:36.599 His blood shed. 00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:39.399 That's the only thing that could have saved you. 00:41:39.799 --> 00:41:46.019 And now you have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept for you in heaven. 00:41:47.359 --> 00:41:49.759 Money cannot cover your sins and regrets. 00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:52.019 Only the blood of Jesus can forgive you. 00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:54.359 Only the blood of Jesus allows you to say, 00:41:54.360 --> 00:41:57.120 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:41:58.820 --> 00:42:00.240 Money can't love. 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:01.860 God is the one who loves. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:03.519 Money cannot clean your conscience. 00:42:03.720 --> 00:42:04.280 God can. 00:42:04.640 --> 00:42:06.579 Money isn't going to solve your marriage problems. 00:42:07.680 --> 00:42:08.740 But you know what God can do? 00:42:09.240 --> 00:42:11.220 He can change your marriage by changing you. 00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:14.380 Money isn't going to make your kids love you. 00:42:14.380 --> 00:42:17.900 But God can do a work in you that will be a game changer in your family. 00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.420 Money doesn't make you holy. 00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:22.280 You can't buy into Christ's likeness. 00:42:23.700 --> 00:42:26.940 That is something that God does by His Holy Spirit. 00:42:27.420 --> 00:42:32.860 Money isn't in and of itself going to cause God's name to be exalted among the nations. 00:42:32.860 --> 00:42:37.300 We can't buy people into the new Jerusalem with money. 00:42:40.120 --> 00:42:48.539 It's about God in a movement of His Spirit within His people working powerfully to proclaim the glorious name of Jesus. 00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:54.480 And we get to be part of populating the new Jerusalem full of worshipers of our great God. 00:42:54.480 --> 00:42:59.780 So this morning Jesus is calling us to ante up. 00:43:01.019 --> 00:43:03.179 You need to decide who your master is. 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:06.920 You're going to serve money? 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:10.539 Or are you going to serve the living God? 00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:17.619 What do I do if I know I'm living, loving money more than God? 00:43:17.699 --> 00:43:18.380 Will you repent? 00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:20.500 You confess it. 00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:22.760 God, I've been loving money more than you. 00:43:22.760 --> 00:43:24.480 I hate to say it, but it's true. 00:43:24.880 --> 00:43:25.840 God, forgive me. 00:43:25.880 --> 00:43:26.640 And He does. 00:43:27.020 --> 00:43:27.520 Change me. 00:43:27.620 --> 00:43:28.380 And He will. 00:43:28.540 --> 00:43:29.300 You know what He's going to do? 00:43:30.140 --> 00:43:30.960 You know what He's going to do in you? 00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:33.560 He's going to do something like this. 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:42.300 He is going to work in your heart in such a way that He's going to grow in you a vision for His unsurpassed worth. 00:43:42.580 --> 00:43:49.320 He's going to cultivate in you a love for Him that is going to crowd out all other loves for things that don't last. 00:43:49.980 --> 00:43:50.940 That's what He's going to do. 00:43:50.940 --> 00:43:54.079 He's going to say, I want your heart in all of it. 00:43:54.820 --> 00:43:56.960 And I'll do a work, a steady work by my Spirit. 00:43:59.619 --> 00:44:04.920 A good book to read besides your Bible is this book, Desiring God by John Piper. 00:44:04.920 --> 00:44:07.139 That will get you thinking. 00:44:09.300 --> 00:44:10.720 What do I do with my money? 00:44:11.860 --> 00:44:12.920 Don't worship it. 00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:16.280 Remember, it's not your money. 00:44:17.119 --> 00:44:18.180 God is your master. 00:44:18.619 --> 00:44:19.240 It's His money. 00:44:19.500 --> 00:44:20.579 He's entrusted it to you. 00:44:20.900 --> 00:44:24.420 So three, ask God how to use it for His glory. 00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:31.000 Okay, we've looked at three ways Jesus calls us to live a distinct life this morning. 00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:32.760 It's in what we treasure. 00:44:32.960 --> 00:44:35.760 You're heaven bound, brothers and sisters. 00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:38.200 It's in how we see. 00:44:38.680 --> 00:44:44.680 We need a single, all encompassing, healthy vision for the things that matter most. 00:44:44.679 --> 00:44:47.299 And it's in who we serve. 00:44:47.899 --> 00:44:49.019 We serve God alone. 00:44:49.379 --> 00:44:52.940 And it's not because He purchased, just purchased with His, it's that. 00:44:55.399 --> 00:44:56.819 He's wonderful to serve. 00:44:58.139 --> 00:44:59.519 We've got a wonderful master. 00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:01.739 There's no better one. 00:45:01.739 --> 00:45:03.879 He's great. 00:45:04.119 --> 00:45:04.539 Let's pray. 00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:07.099 God in heaven, thank you so much. 00:45:08.479 --> 00:45:13.379 God, we want to be people who are living distinct lives of wholehearted devotion to you. 00:45:13.479 --> 00:45:15.079 Will you bring it about by your spirit? 00:45:15.699 --> 00:45:15.979 Amen.