Good morning,
This week we will learn more from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6 speaks of the hypocrisy of Israel’s religious leaders in giving, prayer, and fasting. Then Jesus teaches us about investing in the future. Finally, Jesus reminds us that He will meet all our needs.
Treasures in heaven (19-21)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“Some people doubt money is a spiritual topic, but Jesus talks a lot about it. He says your “treasure” can be gathered up in heaven. You can do that by putting it in the Lord’s work. Don’t just give to anything—investigate how your treasure will be used. Make sure you’re giving to something that’s going with you to heaven. You’ll think more about heaven that way, too.” (Through the Bible, Matthew Bible Companion, pgs. 36-37)
The light of the body (22-23)
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
The ultimate financial planner is God. His plan is to invest in heavenly things. What might that entail? Pastors, lay people, missionaries, who are leading others to Christ. What else goes to heaven? Nothing!
Second Peter 3:10-12, states, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”
None of our things go to heaven. The only things that go to heaven are those who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Those who are saved.
So the best investment we can make is in the lives of people.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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