Jesus and Wealth Matthew 6:19-24: Jesus Uncensored.

INTRO> Well, Jesus is at it again, talking about money! A couple weeks ago we heard him speak about HOW to give but today he really address WHAT we are giving: money. This is a picture of what’s known as the Epistle to Diognetus. It was written in 130ad which is extremely early and makes a great argument for the historicity of Christianity. In it the author writes about how early Christians used their money compared to the Pagan people. “We, Christians, share out table with everyone, but we do not share our bed with everyone. The pagans are stingy with their money and promiscuous with their bodies. We are stingy with our bodies and promiscuous with our money.”

CONTEXT> Jesus breaks this issue down in two parts, today we are going to focus on the first. I am indebted to John Stott and Randy Alcorn for the outline today, give credit to where credit is due. The main thing that Jesus hits on is in v21.

Big Idea> Money is a test to see how much I trust God.

APP> Before we get into the text I think we need to clarify a few things. Money isn’t bad, Money is neutral in the bible, money is specifically a test really.

Jesus is not against:

• • • Money
    • Possessions
    • Savings
    • Enjoyment.

Jesus is against:

• • • Greed- is the selfish obsession for gain.

1. Two Treasures: Earthly and Heavenly. v19-21

• • • “Do not lay up treasures on earth where moth, rust and thieves..” Jesus is getting down to brass tax here.

APP> All earthly gain is temporary. *ILL> This is a picture of John D Rockefeller. When he died in 1937 his total net worth was 1.5% of the nations total economic output, that’s about $340 Billion. When he died somone asked his accountant how much he left behind, his reply “All of it.” “Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.” Psalm 49:16-17

• • • “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven…” APP> Kingdom obedience is the greatest investment you can ever make.

2) Two Eyes: A Good Eye and Bad Eye. v22-23

• • • “The eye is the lamp of the body, so if your eye is healthy..” What is Jesus talking about here? He is saying essentially, you are in this room and it’s filled with light, if your eye is working properly, you can take the light in, walk around and not fall. But if your eye isn’t functioning properly, you can be in a room filled with light and still be in darkness.
    • The eye is a representation of the heart, and the word “healthy” can actually be translated “generous”

APP> What is Jesus saying? Money has the power to blind you of it’s power. It’s subtle. It influences where you work, how you work, your relationships how you parent… everything…

*ILL> There is a classic scene from the movie “The Mummy” where they find the Mummy’s treasure, Bennie is so in awe of the treasure that he starts stuffing his pockets and dragging bags of money out but he gets trapped and he actually gets trapped in the treasure room and the scene ends with his torch going out.

APP> A distorted view of money will destroy your life.

3) Two Masters: God or Money.

• • • “No one can serve two masters…” Notice what Jesus is saying here, Jesus isn’t saying that you don’t serve anything, that not the option.

APP> It’s not a question of if you serve but rather a question of who you serve.

Two ways to view Money:

• • • Owner – Money is my treasure to serve me.
    • Steward– Money is a tool to serve God.

“Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.”- Job 41:11

“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” Deuteronomy 8:18

Big Idea> Money is a test to see how much I trust God.

4) One Savior: Jesus Christ.

“When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:30

“it is finished” = tetelestai which can be translated “Paid in full”

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11