Seeking the Kingdom

No sitting on the fence

Matthew 6:19-34

OPEN WITH A PRAYER

Last week we saw Jesus’ concern about our private life “in the secret place” (giving, praying, fasting); now He turns to our public business in the world (questions of money, possessions, food, drink, clothing and ambition). We cannot really separate these into sacred and secular because everything we do is “sacred” in the sense that it is done in God’s presence and according to God’s Will –we have an Audience of One, as we heard last week. So “your heavenly Father sees in secret” and “your heavenly Father knows what you need.” In both areas however, Jesus makes the same insistent call to be different from popular culture: different from the hypocrisy of the religious and different from the materialism of the irreligious. Here He places the material alternatives before us: two treasures (on earth and in heaven), two bodily conditions (light and darkness), two masters (God and mammon) and two preoccupations (our bodies and God’s Kingdom). We cannot sit on the fence with our choices!

v       It is the nature of compromise not to make a choice between two options –to sit on the fence, so to speak. Here Jesus is basically urging us to make a choice for the Kingdom of God rather than for the world. Discuss what you understand by the Kingdom of God.

Treasures in heaven

It ought to be easy for us to decide which treasures to collect: treasures on earth are corruptible whereas treasures in heaven are incorruptible and therefore secure. We should then concentrate on the kind which will last. Jesus does not forbid earthly possessions, nor does he prohibit saving but what He does forbid is the selfish accumulation of goods, extravagant and luxurious living and the hard-heartedness which does not feel the colossal need of the world’s underprivileged people. He doesn’t directly define the treasures of heaven but it would appear that He wants us to focus on the development of Christlike character (since all we can take to heaven is ourselves); the increase of faith, hope and charity (all of which ‘abide’); growth in the knowledge of Christ whom we shall one day see face to face; the active endeavour (by prayer and witness) to introduce others to Christ; and the use of our money for Christian causes.

v       Why do you think that so many find it difficult to make the choice between the treasures?

v       Discuss the ‘treasures of heaven’ defined above. How do we ‘store up’ these treasures?

Developing our vision

In saying that ‘the eye is the lamp of the body’ Jesus is dealing with our vision –the knowledge of the direction of our future. Just as businesses today develop Vision Statements, Jesus is calling us to know where we are headed from the perspective of where we are now. Our ambition (where we fix our eyes) affects our whole life –if our vision is clouded by the false gods of materialism, we lose our sense of values. On the other hand when we have a single-minded ambition to serve God and His people we find meaning and purpose in life and it throws light on everything we do.

v       Upper Umgeni’s Vision is “To be a community of Believers who serve the Lord with great humility. To preach the Gospel publicly with our words and actions so that it would be helpful to everyone and enable them to turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” How would you define your personal Vision Statement? In other words what do you want to do with your life?

Which master?

Jesus has given us a choice between two treasures (where we lay them up) and two visions (where we fix our eyes), now He gives us an even more basic choice (whom we shall serve). It is the choice between God and mammon –the Creator or an object of creation. We cannot serve both and why, anyway, would one choose between a glorious personal God and a miserable thing called money?

v       It would seem inconceivable that anyone could make a wrong choice, yet it happens all the time. Why, do you think?

Life in the Kingdom of God

The conclusion for our right choices with regard to our treasure, our vision and whom we shall serve is that all anxiety is lifted from us. We don’t need to worry about what we shall eat or wear, what our life will be like. It is a focus on worldly wealth which brings anxiety –do I have enough? Is it safe? It is a lack of purpose and vision which leaves us floundering, not knowing which way to turn and how to make our decisions. It is when we serve an impersonal master (wealth, and the things and ambitions of the world) that we are driven into despair. When our focus is on the things which God has given for our benefit, they become our master and the driving force of our life. These wrong choices, says Jesus, lead only to worry.

Instead He tells us that when we make our life in the Kingdom of God –placing ourselves under His Lordship, all things will be well. He feeds the birds, He clothes the lilies of the field –How much more is He concerned then about those made in His image and to whom He has “granted authority over the works of His hands and everything under His feet.” (Psalm 8:6)

v       Discuss the things that bring us anxiety.

v       How would the three choices for treasure, vision and master help to alleviate this anxiety?

CLOSE IN PRAYER