Treasure and Trust

And I were sitting couple of summers ago the beautiful beach in a beautiful St. here in North Carolina is one of these perfect days for the beach and for me it was perfect because the boombox to be a heart I we sat there for about 50 minutes breach was not particularly targeted and then we were joined by three young women, probably in the late teens and a boy of about 12 and they sat quite close to us and no sooner had they sent to a set time than the iPhones appeared and that the body probably your younger brother by 12 was conscripted to take photos. I could see many many photos of these three young woman. After some time they went into the ocean and to him. To my surprise they took the iPhones into the ocean and held them up high and again. Surprise surprise, they were taking photos of themselves when they came back they lay dying stretch started on the beautiful sand and water and grass yes you got it and that iPhones know that posting the pictures and the dog seeing how many of their friends like the picture. There was zero conversation. Are they seemed unaware of the beauty of the day. They did look at the sky, the ocean, wincing to hear the sound of the waves.

The screech of the seagulls totally engrossed, totally absorbed in themselves and their there was a tiny little world.

But as I reflected on that. I thought that as a mentor for not just for girls about 16 or 17. The metaphor I think for so many of us that we live our lives, self absorbed, self focused, yes, in our tiny little worlds and then something happens. You see, God has his way of shaking us, God has his way of getting out attention sometimes in difficult ways such as covert, 19, such as the protests that are going on and we sort of wake up from a routine and from our own self absorption and perhaps from about a comfortable life and then understand there are things going on in our world that we have no control of today's Scripture comes from the lips of our Lord Jesus, I think is good to be a tremendous help to us because Jesus is challenging us on two central issues in all of our lives, our possessions and our anxieties, all of you have some sub bops of your body.

Not much left of your older man. Perhaps you have a lot of stuff but all of us stuff things we possess and I suspect that all of us have it on worries and anxieties.

I call this message. Treasure and trust first on money and possessions. Jesus reference to it as our treasure old-fashioned word, living a good word. Our treasure meeting. What we have what we possess.

What's important to us in our lives.

Let's listen to Jesus first of all, tell us about our treasure. We continue our study in the sermon on the Mount and come to Matthew chapter 6 verse 9T and now you have had these words before condemn us in the fresh them if you got your Bible there at home to get. I didn't read it and follow it with me. I want you to hear the words of freshly coming from the lips of Jesus the living Christ is really saying to us today.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay off for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body.

So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness great is the darkness no one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money that interesting coming from the lips of Jesus and that he saying to us in these verses.

Trust God with your treasure is telling us something very important that treasure in heaven is eternal. He says in verses 19 and 20 that you're either laying up for yourselves treasures on earth, or verse 19 he says no, the one you do that I want you verse 20 lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven that the first of the teaching of Jesus is not the amount of our treasures on the minds of our stuff, but as our motivation is our ambitions insert love in life. Whether you trying to achieve your life about ability more money for more stuff is that the driving force in your life. Your you envy those who have more stuff that you haven't so much of your life is geared to the accumulation of stop trusting in that stuff.

Trusting in him.

Perhaps her capacity to and money orders.

Your trust in God.

I find it interesting as we will see this morning that immediately after the teaching of Jesus on our stuff on treasure.

The Lord teaches about anxiety because it is the true our finances are stuff on one of the main sources about anxiety rather don't have enough branches about arrangers that would like motor got so much stuff when anxious about what to do with it a lot of anxiety whether self husband and wives arguing about money employees being frustrated with her employer that he doesn't give them enough employers being frustrated about what they think are greedy employees. People cheat commit fraud steal stuff. I discovered that one of the best tests of your spiritual life you ready for this is how are you handling your stuff. How are you handling your money. That is a very very good test of whether or not your trust is in God and yourself, or whether there's greed whether there's coverage is not whether the basic insecurity in your that your trusting in that rather than trusting in God but is what Jesus says in verse 21 you find is convicting to for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also so what your creature treasure dealing up treasure in our treasure in heaven.

Many people amass more and more money, more and more stuff that they can possibly spend the user even usefully bequeath and they measure their success, their worth times are judged by others as to their success and their worth in life by how much stuff you have other like hamsters on on that little ring and going round and round and round and seem unable to get off. They believe that at some point they will accumulate enough stuff to be happy and to be two things that their successful, the vast, vast majority of people on the illusion that always wants a little bit more.

How many employees are really happy with their remuneration. How many business people are really happy with the prophets. How many people move investments are really happy with the way that the stock market has behaved how many students are happy with the mind of money to have in their pockets says Jesus when you're treasures, there your heart will be also so basically Jesus saying these two kinds of treasures those on earth and those in heaven that that is it may be possible for you to be a multimillionaire and be admired by others because of your financial success, but as far as God is concerned you're spiritually bankrupt because you have no treasure in heaven is all treasure laying up for yourselves. Verse 20 treasure in heaven is that treasure in heaven are thinking about you.

What what does Jesus actually mean here. Verse 20 lay on for yourselves treasures in heaven think about heaven I did yesterday as I conducted the funeral for the one over members was a 48 years old now in heaven one sitting in these very computers, one singing the hymns and songs that we love all one's interacting with us. I know he is no longer here, but well we miss and we rejoice is in heaven, but it's not like different is it worth to you. The heaven 1 there about the treasure in heaven what are these treasures in heaven. I would counter was a famous British archaeologist and Egypt colleges became world-famous after discovering that the tomb of Tutankhamen Lord cannot bring financing the venture and other wonderful story is told that on 26 November 1922 concert was able to make a tiny hole in the doorway and peered into it with the light of a candle and he saw the gold in the ebony treasures amazing treasures of the tomb of tooth and, cannot room was behind them and was so excited that the Askar but he said can you see anything and I would counter gave this famous response. Yes, wonderful things he saw the treasures of Egypt and was amazed of their beauty. Just think if these treasures are spectacular.

Think of the beauty and the wonder, the sheer brilliance of treasures in heaven.

The Scripture says no. I have seen the ear has heard, nor is it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him suggests we spend a little time thinking about treasures in heaven, wonderful things. Imagine the spectacular beauty of the treasures of the new thing that you heaven. This world, even although it's fallen is spectacularly beautiful, isn't it. Think of the amazing sunset thing of the beauty of standing in the mountains here in North Carolina and Tennessee and seeing the beauty of the mountains think of sending another beaches and seeing the beauty of the ocean. Yes, this world is spectacularly beautiful but as a fallen world is groaning. Think of the treasures in heaven to followers of Jesus as we follow Jesus were laying up treasures in heaven, so if that's true, Jesus teaching it. Verse 19 don't have the stuff of life is your priority.

Jesus is normally up for yourselves treasures on the Bible and Jesus never condemns money in and of itself. In fact, the Bible and some of us need to hear this instructs us to work hard so that we will have material resources that we will be able to take care of ourselves and their families and to give to those in need. Proverbs.

In fact other scriptures as well. I condemn the lazy and the undisciplined person whose is able to work but just lazy, undisciplined, nonorganized, and he doesn't work, or she doesn't work. Apostle Paul writes second Thessalonians 3 verse 10 if anyone is willing to work, let him not put it directly to you under each work. No, the Bible is condemning work doesn't condemning getting some resources and find God want you to have money is important, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but lay up verse 24, yourselves treasure in heaven. Some people save save save other people's friends friends friends but whether you're a miser on a spendthrift money is the title of your life. Your regular worship vague money you and said, but at the very center of your existence, you judge yourself and others by how much money you have and that is the driving force of your life.

Jesus, I don't do that do not lay up for yourselves treasures on one of the things Jesus is teaching again teaching his disciples that if you're following him. Life is difference. Then we forgotten is only we think we can say we follow Jesus and then I drift along like everyone else know is a sale you follow me, and if you follow me all of life is transformed, including your possessions. Paul gives an example in Ephesians 4, verse 28 of an individual who is transformed by the gospel here is an individual who before he comes to Christ as a thief money to him is not to be on doing work for you. Take it he's got the spirit of entitlement. In fact, the things you got too much money and his genitalia for you and put it in his own pocket is a thief is and what Paul says this is this is wonderful. He says let the thief no longer still is pretty obvious when the commandments I shall not steal but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands. We understand that sub ceiling get to work. Bigger living, stopping a sponge or but then Paul says, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need of mind before he saved. He takes takes takes is a thief now is following Christ.

Here is a transformation of the gospel. This man though Wantagh not only to take care of himself and his family, but so that he has something to give to those in need by splitting up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Do you give to those in the give generously to the work of art, your greedy coverages.

Personal giving is for others that the richer people than you but but not you. You made all kinds of aches, excuses to rationalize, but option security. Perhaps you greet perhaps a dishonest man in this culture is obvious by the verses I read treasure would be mainly kept in the house. These teaching that is the treasures on our one last verse 19. This is Martha and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal your minds are wonderful beautiful garments, but the moss got them in the through the holes to someone who is very greedy in the end this put in these house quite a bit of money. Perhaps under these better than a thief comes in and takes it all Jesus showing the futility of laying up for yourselves treasures on earth, but most of us don't have all of the treasures in the house.

You may have them invested. You may have some money in your house certainly stuff but the point is this things on our are subject to the value.

The valuation decay draft deterioration.

The collapse of the economy. Think of what Colby 19 has done millions without the work businesses, which were once thriving are now declaring bankruptcy. So if that is your focus. If you're putting your treasures on our just realize is subject to decay. Think of the volatility of the stock market was the point Jesus making them this point everything in this life is transit it doesn't last.

There is no security in this life. Why then put your trust in treasures on earth, Spiller said Richards may leave us while we live example of people who become very poor during equipment 19 Richards may leave us while we live, we must leave them when we die pulses we brought nothing into this world and you can't take anything you ever seen a baby coming into the world with her cutting a gold bar numeracy of a baby with the keys of a parcel being born no every single one of us comes into this world never seen anyone when they die taking your possessions into no balls right we come in they could and we go out naked. Why then, when were here for us such a short time are you so focus on treasures on earth.

That's the point Jesus is saying for what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. No was the point. Verse 20 lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven were neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal power of God, not stuff is your priority treasures in heaven will last.

Heaven is immune from unemployment heaven is immune from covert, 19 heaven there treasures in heaven are immune from the volatility of the stock market your treasures in heaven will never be stolen. They'll never deteriorate, though never decay in first Peter one writes of an inheritance. He says, which is imperishable on the file and unfading In heaven for you. That's the kind of treasure you want is the because it will last. Not just for a few years, but for the countless ages of eternity. Therefore, Jesus is saying as you pursue the priorities of the kingdom of heaven. Remember the context of the list seven on the mind is called his disciples come and follow me. Repent and believe in the gospel. Neither following what what kind of lives are we to live. You must have your priority is the kingdom of heaven and trust God with your treasure know money is not the root of all kinds of evil is the love of money you can love money if you only have a dollar in total worth. You may be a multimillionaire not love money know it's not their minds is the motivation is agreed as a covetousness is the desire to control your life is designed to think that if you have enough stuff you can live independently of God is a God shakes us. God shakes the world you think you thought you were so wise that you you thought you were so secure.

Look what's happening, the very world shake put your trust not in yourself but put your trust in God and look at 12 Jesus says your life doesn't consist in the abundance of your possessions. Notice what he says in verse 22. The eye is the lamp of the body.

So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of lights, dry his health or your whole body is full of light your eyes on yourself and your stuff and your happiness and your self absorbed and everything. Everything is affected is wrongJesus in verses 24 – 24. You can sap God and money. Another one serve here is the word from which we get slave if you're a slave of this master. You are not the slave of this one you see what I can. I can work two jobs.

In fact, I worked three jobs I work for McDonald's and Wendy's and Burger King meso Jesus saying talk about slavery you cannot have two Masters if you're a slave zero but mostly just we are were slaves of the Lord Jesus.

Paul begins this epistle sometimes describes himself as this is a slave is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, yes, now in following Jesus Christ. I pronounce control of my own life I have said I have I have decided to follow Jesus and I can do that and also love money. We are to be wholly devoted to Jesus Christ John Calvin says when Richard told the dominion of the heart.

God lost his authority. You know that your rule by yourself and your money and your career and your mission. God is no longer in control of you know, our churches and in the future and the wonderful news is that no one or nothing to dig the way the world can shake but we have Christ and we are guaranteed through his grace of this tremendous future that we have therefore lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, single-minded Jesus saying it's seeking the kingdom of God.

Trust God with your treasure if you drawn slave if you're laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, there is no need to be anxious. Notice how verse 25 begins.

Therefore I tell you, there's a connection with what he say this is true. If you are pursuing Christ there is no need to be anxious not limited verses 25 through 34 and make a few brief comments on the beach.

These surely are some of the most beautiful words ever spoken by our Lord when I was 12 years old school. I was going we had was a Christian school, but we had the school assembly once a week and the Bible was red, and the headmaster's favorite passage was this one and that sort of had that many many times it was in the King James for them to read it in the ESV can you listen to the words we need to hear them. Therefore I tell you, says Jesus. Do not be anxious about your life, what we will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Is not life more than food that the body more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and yet here heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they in which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life and why are you anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field as they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, all ye of little faith. Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear for the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Words of the most brilliant teacher Lord Jesus Christ. Was he say trust God with your anxieties. Notice verse 25 therefore I tell you, do not be anxious, verse 31 therefore do not be anxious. Verse 34 therefore do not be anxious your point. Don't be anxious. Don't worry, is a challenging command that it is a command. All of us know what it is to be anxious were torn up inside is a dreadful experience is not. We feel the emotion that the pain in her stomach sometimes. Perhaps the tension in our heads and that we know that anxiety is very bad for her health doctor will tell you that affect your blood pressure.

It affects us in so many ways wording on the anxiety is very bad for us even in our physical body is a massive problem in our society we hear more and more that children and students in school, even elementary school are suffering from stress, anxiety and worry is a command from Jesus say, yes, it is a command. Do not be anxious about your life what you anxious about fast you honestly to write down your words will just think a troubled world is many things to be anxious about is that over 19. The unemployment civil unrest and anxiety of who are new presidents going to be Donald Trump was an enemy joke by then. I think that causes anxiety to many doesn't the violence in our cities. The injustice in our communities, health issues, difficult family relationships. What is at work shouldn't anxious over the exams.

The athlete anxious about whether or not she's going to make the team all kinds of anxieties on you to listen to Jesus do not be anxious, trust God with your anxieties though Jesus is not advocating a responsible, loving nothing. Have an undisciplined life when he does wander through know another tall times legitimately when were afraid, but he says don't be anxious using nothing is to distract me from following Jesus, not my money to my possessions. That's not to distract me first and foremost is Jesus up to get by on him and and if I'm worried that I attended off-track.

I tend to get from literally from Jesus and neither my possessions nor my anxieties are to distract me following Jesus to in your trust is in God, there's no need to be anxious. Is this what Jesus is saying three important truths very quickly by trusting God with your anxieties on you the glass and first of all, trust your heavenly father who knows and provides for your needs. Verse 26 look at the birds of the air.

Verse 28.

Consider the lilies of the field. Can you take a lesson from the birds. I'm a little interested in, and birds told you before about the birds in the tree outside my study first thing in the morning it sings well I don't know what key it sings in agreement, but it sings well this little bird with a tremendous voice and puts back his little head and it sings praises to God. Also, these birds feed on little insects, little bugs, little worms, countries, yes, as I is on the sparrow Jesus says that the Matthew chapter 10 why you anxious. God knows when the birds fall by the defendant more value than the birds in your in the family of God. We saw last week.

This great God is your heavenly father and he watches over you and he provides for you and the little birds are singing the praises of God and not worrying God feeds them as a point so trust God knows all about you was a difficult situation. He knows a health problem, knows a difficult relationship in your life knows trust logic knows your needs.

Consider the verse but consider that the lilies, the flowers, magnificent flowers of all of the varieties of flowers, even wildflowers, as we as we travel we see them every country will flowers as is Jesus thing of the lilies of the field trip into Israel.

You know some of the beautiful flowers. Solomon the richest man there was food all of the gold. All of the treasures that anyone could want to know the address magnificent leg know he was not dressed as nicely and is beautifully under spectacularly as these flowers support God's handiwork is in the flowers. God watches over the parts look at the flowers. That tiny little world of yours. You to focus on your problems are you looking dark too much. Look up to God. And when you're out for a walk.

Think of the birds. Think of the flowers and remember your father you to trust, who knows and provides for your needs. Verse 32. The pagans all mankind to shape over these things were not you as a point verse 32 by your heavenly father knows that you need them all every single need that you have brought your heavenly father knows it was all as when we come to God with respect, but would love and say our father in heaven. Here is my need here is my anxiety. I know you're watching over. Secondly, not trusting your heavenly father in the negative way results in anxiety – 27.

Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to respond of life.

The word then Cupid could refer to height or it could refer to extending a lot, but both are true.

I grew up in the house of bodies.

We took great pride in her big we were going to be. We wanted to be bigger than everyone else. Jehovah anxious. We were, we could then store height you can do that was the point and also you can add to your life. You don't decide how long you're going to live is in the providence of God tall you are. Hello, you're going to live so these things is the point anxiety produces nothing.

In fact, its current turn productive know is we just have to humbly accept things that we can change this is how it's going to be my hug how long I live. These things are in the hands of God are totally out of my control. Therefore, why my worrying about them. I'm to trust them to God because if I'm not trusting my heavenly father. I'm going to have anxiety over these things of which I have no control is the third one being anxious about tomorrow will rob you of today's joy and strength.

This is important for being anxious about tomorrow will rob you of today's joy and strength. Verse 34 is Jesus teaching.

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. This is not wise of our Lord. The your heavenly father has given you today and he's going to give you the strength, the wisdom and grace that you need for today. Tomorrow is another story. Why you worried about tomorrow. Pools of future who's in control of the future God. Of course, so you have today. Be thankful for today God's promise is going to help you. All your needs today. The future belongs not to you. Yes you can plan about it was always subject to the will of the Lord.

The future belongs not to you, but to God, the one you want to some people when you're way ahead with the going to do when the retire there there worrying is 40 years old and I wondering will have enough money to when I'm 19 years. Although you may not live to be 90 years old will you when you doing your you're worrying about some health issues. What if I sense in such you haven't darted. You may never get it and if you get it. God is going to help you while you wearing today the anxious today. Lobster of God's joy and strength is what we need to do with your I want you to put off the worry until tomorrow, but when Jesus says I want you today to a fresh affirm your trust in God you are my heavenly father and you have promised to help me and to watch over me today. Your eye is on the sparrow and I know you watch are watching me. I know you care for me.

I know you're with me today. I know you will help me today if what is only for tomorrow is Jesus is saying you are free of anxiety today so I'm taking what is important tomorrow.

Monday is another day today Sundays a great day what my worrying about tomorrow the situation this this health concern of this doctor's appointment in two weeks time. This financial decision. I may make a decision about my my kids leaving home and whether going to go to college and all of these things cried into you and that single person say what I'm anxious about whom I going to matter if I'm going to moderations for tomorrow will be anxious for itself in the Jesus wants you to do something wonderful.

This is a life of freedom.

This is a life of joy. This is a life of trust him a moment by moment trusting you give my eyes and you today Lord and encourage and I have the wonderful assurance that you will never leave me, you'll never film a great is your faithfulness. Jesus is our firm foundation and all. Although my life may be shaken with imaginable difficulties of this I know, but on Christ the solid rock July difficult moment full of seemingly insuperable obstacles don't focus on these don't focus on the stormy waves don't be anxious at your problem focus on God, the God who can do all things.

The God who can move mountains seek first, Jesus is saying in verse 33. The kingdom of God. That's what your to do is a bad habit about the things I did not yet tested on cast your cares on him for he cares for you experience at supernatural pleas that Paul writes about in Philippians 4 we say what I live in the very end, unjust world and I'm really worried was happening to the world. I understand we need to look at the cross.

You talking about injustice to tell you about the greatest injustice that ever was for an innocent man, the God man, Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. Perfect son of God, crucified for your sins. That's that was unjust within the medical of the gospel. He takes our sin. They just eyes for the unjust, Peter says that he may bring us to God to come to God through Jesus Christ today will you trust you guys for your sins and rises again is eternally alive usually drawn in the grace of God I am saved on following Christ is your mess is the message he's applying.

I'm trying to make is applying the Jesus is saying in the verses we read follow him seek first the kingdom of God and trusted with your treasure and trusted with your anxieties, what would you do that that the pre-I want you to claim this glorious promise, promise of his peace.

The promise of salvation.

If you not believe that he will follow Jesus in the life of trusting him with your treasure trusting him with your anxieties. Knowing your heavenly father will take care of all your needs his eyes on the spiral and I know he's watching eternal God, we humble ourselves before you read, confess that we often engrossed consumed with the things of this world.

We realize that their futile but to have an attraction for us. Forgive us father for their materialism, for lack of trust for the times of anxiety.

I pray father for your followers to have anxieties and what is even though may they be costing them on you.

You've told us to do that to cast our burdens on you in the righteous will not be shaken. Help us father to stand strong in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and to seek first your kingdom as those listing father have not yet put their trust in Christ, may they repent of their sin color to Jesus to forgive and save everything today doesn't cost anyone away. He welcomes all who come humbly to him in faith save their souls father and blesses and we thank you that as we go through life and all of its circumstances, even through the valley of the shadow of death. You never leave us so fresh today.

We put our trust in you a great God of heavenly father Christ