Compass: Money Matters

2023-02-12

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

For today’s discussion from the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus’ clear teaching on giving and possessions. This was an important topic to Jesus. He spoke about money and possessions in 11 of his 39 parables and there are over 2,300 verses in Scripture that reference money. Thus, it is important for us to understand God’s plan for our possessions.

Matthew 6:1-4; 19-34

1. The Gift That Gives

Matthew 6:1-4 (NKJV) Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

  • Jesus’ main emphasis here is we are to “do good” for the sake of helping others not helping self
  • Giving for recognition may actually make a positive impact but God won’t honor the gift, your reward will only be what this world has to give
  • Giving for the right reason and with the right heart will be celebrated and rewarded by God

2. The Gift That Destroys

Matthew 6:19-24 (NKJV) Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

  • This is not an indictment against being successful, Jesus clearly wants people to know your possessions are not the end game, they are a pathway to Kingdom impact
  • Our resources are to be used to provide and sustain, not to hoard for selfish gain
  • Look at your resources as a tool to be used rather than a thing to have

3. The Gift That Sustains

Matthew 6:25-34 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

    A. So trust Him fully

27Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

  • Jesus wants us to see worry is a waste of time
  • When we trust Him and His goodness, we will see how He always provides

    B. Seek Him Fully

 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

  • Jesus is not simply referring to Heaven’s blessings, He actually is referring to blessings here
  • Part of this promise stems from the body of Christ doing its part to bless

Application:

1. Use an open grip to hold on to what He’s blessed you with.

2. Recognize the real value of your time, talent and treasure.

3. When fear grips you, let go and let God do what He does best.

 

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