The Sermon on the Mount #4

Excellent. Good morning.

Morning to people at home and the cameras.

Well, this morning, what is it you treasure?

I'm going to, I've brought in a few little treasures as a show and tell.

And so here's one thing I treasure.

My family, that's my wife Deb, and that's my daughter Adelaide and my son Hamish.

They're both actually taller than her now.

That was taken just before COVID and it's hard to find a photo.

Anyway, she's in year 12 this year and he's going into year 9.

So I treasure them.

And I also treasure this, which I'm going to get now as part of the show and tell.

I treasure this painting.

This painting was given to me for Father's Day by my daughter when she was three

and she painted it herself.

Now, come on, gifted? What?

No, no. Everyone's kids are gifted. I'm joking.

She's not doing art, but she is doing D&T and drama.

So it's something I treasure.

Something else.

I treasure these.

I got a silver medal at the World Championship in St Andrews playing frisbee.

And I've got a bronze medal playing frisbee.

And this was the first Australian team ever to get medal overseas.

So I kind of treasure them, but when you look at them, they're actually a bit cheap.

And they'll rust.

You know, they're not going to last.

And something else here I treasure is the jersey.

When you get to play for your country, like you have this little dream.

And yes, it is a real sport.

And, you know, you do have to be a little bit fit and know what you're doing.

So it's a little fringy.

But anyway, moths will eat that.

It just won't last.

And the thing that I really treasure is my relationship with Jesus.

And that lasts forever.

And I hold on to that.

Today's passage in the Sermon on the Mount, as Jesus commenced his public ministry,

he listed off the beautiful attitudes meant for his followers.

He taught how we are to live as subjects in the long-awaited kingdom of God.

And this is the best life for us.

If we're to be followers of Jesus, we must listen to Jesus' words and obey them.

The standard is high.

And when we live this way, we are salt and we are light in the world.

Even though it will make us stand out and often put us at a disadvantage to others in the world

and by the standards of this world.

The Sermon on the Mount challenges us to make significant changes,

to live for God's upside-down kingdom.

It's opposite to the way the world operates.

And today I want to talk about an area that actually needs serious attention,

but it's a sensitive topic.

It has to be one of the least popular ones for us to talk about as Christians,

especially from the pulpit, because people feel like being bent behind their back.

And whether you have a little or a lot, as we head into this new year,

we need to hear what God has to say about treasure.

It's a touchy subject.

But most of our life kind of revolves around the acquisition of stuff.

Get a qualification.

Get a career.

Work.

Mortgage.

Clothing.

Bills.

Save.

Super funds.

Amass material blessings and wealth.

Save for a restful, prosperous retirement,

where the person with the most toys wins.

This can be a real trap.

In 1 Timothy 6.10, we're reminded,

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith

and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Money isn't evil.

It's the effect it has on us.

It's what people do with it.

People lie for money.

People kill for money.

Families face bitter splits at the reading of a will.

I've seen it happen.

People betray friends for money.

No one ever thinks they've got too much money.

Hardly anyone thinks they have enough money.

Acquiring money for security and comfort drives our life.

The opportunity to earn more money can motivate people

to reorder their priorities in life.

A big loss of money is a huge tragedy for most people,

second only to death itself.

We need to ask ourselves,

what is it we treasure?

Jesus concluded,

you cannot serve both God and money.

Who or what has mastery over our hearts?

We serve whichever master has control over our heart.

What would the world offer you that could entice you away from Jesus?

And the answer Jesus gave is money.

Listen to what Jesus has to say to those who are to follow him.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,

where moth and rust destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up 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.

Two treasures.

Treasures on earth,

treasures in heaven.

Don't store up the first for yourself.

Store up the second.

Sounds simple,

but in practice,

treasure on earth.

We need to note what Jesus is not talking about first.

Money doesn't grow on trees or fall from the sky.

Please God.

Oh, there we go.

Sweet.

No, Jesus is not talking about

making sensible provision for the future.

He's not talking about

working hard to avoid poverty.

He's not talking about

enjoying with gratitude

the good things that God has made.

And he's not talking about

providing for our dependence.

I think we know what Jesus is talking about.

The human desire.

Give me more.

The love of wealth.

What has got our hearts?

What do we treasure?

If we treasure

honour and fame,

then our heart will be ambitious.

Sorry, I said treasure.

I was thinking of true love then,

but if we treasure...

That's what I started.

Anyway,

if we treasure pleasure,

then our heart will be self-indulgent.

If we treasure money,

then our heart will be greedy.

Whatever has our heart,

we actually worship.

And how do we know we worship it?

We make time for it.

We make sacrifices for it.

Whatever's on our heart

will master us.

We live with the cultural delusion

that wealth equals security.

With wealth,

we can be our own gods,

independent and not rely on God.

Because we're self-made,

we're self-sufficient.

Wealth gives us control and power

over our own fate

and over other people.

Personal wealth

and worth

can build our self-esteem

and value.

And they can be tied together

with material possessions.

We can feel good about ourselves

if we dress and drive

and dine

and decorate well.

With wealth,

we can indulge our every desire,

whether it's the exotic vacation,

the luxurious wedding,

the finest dining

or the most extravagant home.

people abandon Jesus

and choose money

and earthly treasure

and it's a strange choice.

If we read in Timothy,

we brought nothing into the world,

we can take nothing out of it.

The same fate awaits everyone.

Treasures on earth

just don't last

and we don't take any of it with us.

Imagine gaining the whole world

yet forfeiting your soul.

The person with the most toys

doesn't win.

In this section

on the Sermon on the Mount,

Jesus warns against

the extremes

of wealth

and worry.

As God cares

for the flowers in the field

and the birds in the air,

how much more

his own children?

Therefore,

I tell you,

do not worry about your life,

saying,

what shall we eat

or what shall we drink?

What shall we wear?

For the pagans

run after these things

and your heavenly Father

knows that you need them.

But,

seek first

God's kingdom

and his righteousness

and all these things

will be given to you.

They'll be given to you as well.

Therefore,

do not worry about tomorrow

for tomorrow

will worry about itself.

Do a quick tangent here.

I just thought of it.

My grandmother,

when she was dying

of bone marrow cancer,

she was a Christian

and she had a little EP.

This is back in vinyl days

and it was a country

and western song,

One Day at a Time,

Sweet Jesus.

That's all I'm asking you for.

And she'd play that every day

until she went home

to be with Jesus.

Don't worry about tomorrow.

Each day has enough

worries of its own.

Live one day at a time,

sweet Jesus.

Well,

later in the parable

of the sower,

Jesus spoke of the thorns

and the worries of wealth

in Matthew 13.

Talks about the seed

falling among the thorns,

actually refers to the person

who hears the word,

but the worries of life

and the deceitfulness of wealth

choke the word,

making it unfruitful.

We need to weed out

the thorns in our life.

Don't worry

and amass wealth

like the pagans.

Real security

comes in a relationship

with God.

Seek first

God's kingdom

and all these things

will be given unto you.

So do not store up

for yourselves

treasures on earth.

Jesus shifts now here

from the heart

to our eyes.

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,

how great

is that darkness?

We actually can't

separate the heart

and our eyes.

We set our eyes

on our heart's desire.

The two are entwined.

What is on our heart

drives what we look at.

What we treasure,

we watch.

It's what we read.

It's the magazines

we buy.

It's the movies we watch.

It's the internet searches.

Whatever masters our heart

masters our eyes.

And what our eyes see

in turn

feeds our heart.

It's this cycle.

Are your eyes good

and full of light?

Or are your eyes bad

and full of darkness?

Jesus is saying,

if our eyes are set

on earthly treasures,

on treasures on earth,

then our eyes

are in pretty bad shape.

And by inference,

so are our hearts.

If we can't see

that it's meaningless

chasing treasures on earth,

that it's just like

a chasing after the mist,

and if we can't see

that it's actually wise

to store up riches

in heaven,

then we need more

than spectacles.

We need to readjust

our lens

to that which emanates light.

Open our eyes

afresh

to God's word,

which is a lamp

to our feet

and a light

to our path.

Just on this,

again,

a little quick tangent

that's not in the notes.

Have you ever done

a kaplunk?

Kaplunk is,

God,

I don't know

what's going on,

just, you know,

you've opened the Bible

and you've pointed

to a passage

and hope it's spoken to you.

People have done that?

I'm really interested.

I've seen a few notes.

Righto.

Well, get this.

Married, no kids.

My wife and I

go to a conference

and it's a conference

on international schools.

We're both educators

and we heard

you could go to Berlin

and Jakarta

and Tokyo

and teach in all these

international schools

and you got paid

pretty well

and looked after

and even got accommodated

and some schools

even offered you

a security home

and a chauffeur-driven

car to inform us.

Anyway,

I was like,

well, this sounds good,

you know,

and so,

should we do this, God?

You know,

we'll come back to Australia

and we'll have a deposit

for a house

and we'll be all set up.

Kaplunk time.

James, chapter 4.

James 4 · chapter mention

Who are you?

Just say you'll go

to this city

and that city

and make money.

You are but a miss.

What you should be saying

is what is God's will

and do that.

Anything else

is evil.

Okay, God,

we're not going

to international schools.

Got it?

Kaplunk.

Very good.

So,

God's word is a lamp

to our feet,

a light to our path.

Fill our eyes with light.

If not treasures on earth,

then what are we to live for?

Jesus tells us

what our motivation

should be like.

Jesus said,

store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven

where moths don't eat,

rust doesn't destroy

and where thieves

do not break in

and steal.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart

will be also.

What does Jesus mean

by treasure in heaven?

According to Don Carson,

the words treasure in heaven

go back to early

Jewish literature.

Here it refers to

whatever is good

and of eternal significance

that comes out

of what is done

on earth.

Doing righteous deeds,

suffering for Christ,

forgiving one another,

willingness to share

what you have.

You remember the early church

people sold their houses

and their land

to give out.

In other words,

what has eternal significance

is leaving out

the complete package

outlined in the

Sermon on the Mount.

Now, while we don't know

what the reward in heaven

is actually going to look like,

we get a picture

of what heaven

actually will look like

to some degree

in Revelation

and it's beautiful

and majestic

and amazing

but we still actually

can't fathom that

because we're sitting

in these chairs

and we're in these

mortal bodies.

We can't fathom it.

But let's face it,

none of us are really

concerned about receiving

some kind of material

reward in heaven,

surely.

the best treasure

in heaven,

this is what I hope for,

will be to see

the people we know

and love,

the people we've

come in contact with.

Our friends and family

are going to be a given

that we want to see

them there

but what about

the people we meet

on the streets?

Sometimes I'll get

on public transport

and I'll sit on a bus

and actually face

the opposite way

and I just look down

the barrel at all the people

and I'm thinking,

do you know Jesus?

Are you ready?

I'd love to see you

all there one day.

I don't know you

but I'd love to see you there.

And it's the image bearers

of God

that Jesus died for.

Not a car

or an Australian

frisbee jersey

or a rusty medal.

What has eternal significance?

Doing God's will

on earth

as it is in heaven

and sharing the gospel

with our whole lives.

I don't think it's

too much of a stretch

but I honestly believe

that the treasure

we store up in heaven

is the people

we personally point to Jesus.

Normally if you give

earthly treasure away

it's gone.

The gospel is better

than a Tim Tam pack

that never runs out.

In his great mercy

he has given us

new birth

into a living hope

through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ

from the dead

and into an inheritance

that can never perish

spoil or fade

kept in heaven

for you.

The gospel

is the treasure

that keeps on giving.

When we share the gospel

we still have it

but so does someone else.

It's God's treasure

that never perishes

never spoils

never fades.

As we share the gospel

and give generously

to support ministry

of the gospel

both here

and with overseas mission

we are using riches

on earth

to build treasure

in heaven.

In this life

we won't always see it

but what joy

there will be

what treasure

in heaven

when we are united

with those

who have come

to know Jesus

either because

of our direct connection

in sharing our lives

and the gospel

with them

or indirectly

through our partnering

financially

and mission

both locally

and globally.

Jesus concludes

no one can serve

two masters

either they will

hate the one

and love the other

or they will be devoted

to one

and despise the other.

You cannot serve

both God

and money.

Why can't we have it all?

Why can't we have both?

A couple of observations here.

In this western age

of individualism

selfishness

instant gratification

people today

find it hard

to miss out

on anything

that money can buy

if they have the means.

Needing the right

brand of clothes

cars

mobile phones

gaming consoles

spectacular holidays

not many of us

are willing

to go without

or prepared

to make costly

sacrifices

in laying down

our lives

for Jesus.

Worldliness

can so easily

entangle

like the thorns

the Christian life.

Nothing but the best

will do for me.

I've earned it.

I deserve it.

We place limits

on trusting Jesus.

I'm not prepared

to step out

in faith

and trust God

and let him

take me

where he'll take me.

I'm scared

that my pay package

will drop

that my standard

of living

will lower.

Not many people

are prepared

to downscale

for the sake

of the gospel

buy a cheaper

brand

or generously

support mission.

When Jesus

says no one

can serve

two masters

it's an image

of slavery.

Slaves

were owned

by a master.

They were required

to obey

and serve

their master

full time.

There was no room

in their lives

to serve

another master.

Two treasures.

Treasure on earth

or treasure in heaven.

We'll hate one

and we'll love

the other

or we'll be devoted

to one

and despise

the other

but we can't

serve both

God and money.

who

or what

has mastery

of your heart?

Have you been

enslaved

by earthly

treasures

because it's

idolatry?

Whatever you do

and this is a popular

thing

just follow your heart

listen to your heart

don't listen

to your heart.

Jeremiah 17

9

reminds us

the heart

is deceitful

above all things

but praise God

in Ezekiel

we're reminded

that God wants

to give us

a new heart

and put a new

spirit

to remove

our heart

of stone

and give us

a heart

of flesh.

We all need

to hear these

words

and to take

them seriously.

The heart

of our living

is to be

for the kingdom

of God.

What then

are we to do

with earthly

treasure?

The first thing

we need to acknowledge

that we are rich.

Did you know

that if you earn

$90 a day

you're in the top

1%

of the richest

people in the world?

You don't have

to be Elon Musk

Bill Gates

or any of these people

$90 a day

will put you

in the top 1%

of people in the world.

As we are blessed

we need to be

a blessing to others.

Jesus said

to whom much is given

much will be required.

And we need

to acknowledge

that this is actually

all just a loan

from God.

In Psalm 24

Psalms 24:1

verse 1

we read

the earth

is the Lord's

and everything

in it

the world

and all

who live in it.

In other words

everything we have

is just on loan

from God.

If it wasn't

we'd take it with us

when we die.

So what do we do

with earthly treasure

God has given us

on loan?

We get a really

clear indicator

in Timothy.

Command those

who are rich

in this present world

not to be arrogant

nor to put their hope

in wealth

which is so uncertain

but to put their hope

in God

who richly provides us

with everything

for our enjoyment.

Command them

to do good

to be rich

in good deeds

and to be generous

and willing to share.

In this way

they will lay up

treasure for themselves

as a firm foundation

for the coming age

so that they may

take hold

of the life

that is truly life.

be rich

in good deeds

be generous

and willing

to share.

For those

in the family

of God

our inheritance

is in heaven.

This treasure

is secure

and it lasts

forever.

There's a story

of a rich

diamond merchant

who was looking

for a particular

diamond for his

collection

and there was

a New York

jeweller

who traded

in diamonds

who knew of this

and he discovered

in his collection

a diamond

that this Dutch

diamond collector

would like

and he flew over

and he said

come on over

and he got his

associate

his best salesman

who knew everything

about diamonds

to talk about

this diamond

and at the end

of him discussing

all the technical

details of the diamond

the guy decided

he wouldn't buy it.

He wasn't interested

after all

and then the owner

of the shop said

hang on a minute

can I just take that diamond

and give it one more crack

and then he explained

all this about the diamond

and the gentleman

decided to buy it

and then he said

sir I wonder why

you're able to sell me

this stone

when your salesman

could not

and the owner replied

that salesman

is the best

in the business

he knows more

about diamonds

than anyone

including myself

and I pay him

large salary

for his knowledge

and expertise

but I would gladly

pay him twice

as much

if I could put

into him

something

I have

which he lacks

you see

he knows diamonds

but I love them

what we love

what we treasure

what we're passionate about

passionate about

we talk about

if you like skiing

I'll know you like skiing

because you'll start

talking about it

or some kind of sport

or music

or your family

Jesus said

out of the overflow

of the heart

the mouth speaks

what's on our heart

we speak about

it just comes out

it's one thing

to know about Jesus

it's another

to love Jesus

and if you love Jesus

and treasure knowing him

you can't stop

talking about him

we're jars of clay

and like jars of clay

we're fallible

we're broken

we're fragile

yet we have this

glorious treasure within

that will not perish

and will not fade

when we truly love Jesus

and truly love our family

and friends

and really care about

other people

we don't want them

to miss out on heaven

the diamond salesman

loved earthly treasure

and loved talking about

that treasure

but that doesn't last

if we love Jesus

we have a different

perspective on life

looking forward to a place

where moth and rust

do not destroy

and where thieves

cannot break in and steal

and as a result

we focus

I hope on things

that have eternal significance

if we love Jesus

we love sharing the gospel

godly treasure

and use our worldly treasure

God has given us

on loan

to support ministry

of the good news of Jesus

both here

locally

nationally

and globally

Oscar Schindler

and his wife

saved over 1200 Jews

from near certain death

at the hands of the Nazis

in the Steven Spielberg film

Schindler's List

it records how Oscar

used his worldly wealth

to rescue Jews

at the conclusion

of World War II

Schindler was given

a gold ring

this is true

it's not just a movie depiction

and on the ring

the gold ring

from the survivors

and the gold

was actually extracted

from the tooth

the bridge in a prisoner's mouth

and they got the ring

and they inscribed it

with something

from the Talmud

and this is what it read

he who saves a single life

saves the entire world

the film marks

this moment powerfully

on receiving the gift

Schindler breaks down

and he removes his watch

and he removes a gold pin

and he says

this could have been one more

this could have been five more

he could have used his earthly treasure

to save more

one day

we will see Jesus

could be sooner than we realise

and we'll look around

all the people

that we shared the gospel with

or we supported

in ministry

and ministry of the gospel

will we wish we'd done more

those who point others to Jesus

the one who saves life

store up treasure in heaven

when the Christian community

is salt and light in the world

generosity is a sign

that this world

has not taken hold

and that we've weeded out

the thorns of wealth

accumulation and worry

from the garden of our lives

there will be an observable difference

as we live by using

treasure on earth

God has given us

not to invest in property shares

or our portfolios

but rather investing

in sharing in the gospel

I pray this happens

as we listen to the teaching

of Jesus

and respond

by living for God's

upside down kingdom

seeking to build treasure on earth

treasure in heaven

not on earth

so as we head into 2022

it's a great opportunity

to reassess our motivations

where our hearts lie

and what it is we really treasure

it's a chance to examine our finances

rework the budget

prioritise giving

we cannot serve two masters

we either live for treasure on earth

or live for treasure in heaven

which treasure

will we live for today

it's a choice

we have to make constantly

stir up for yourselves

treasure in heaven

where moths don't eat

rust doesn't destroy

and where thieves

do not break into steel

for where your treasure is

there your heart will be

also

let's pray

heavenly father

lord

weed out our hearts

lord

take from us anything

that's

taking us away from you

whatever we've

it's encapsulated us

in this world

you've made a good world

it's an amazing world

lord

that

it's broken

and it's fallen

and we need Jesus

lord

let this world

not distract us

let us live in this world

but not of the world

let us fix our eyes on Jesus

the author and perfecter

of our faith

and lord

motivated by love for you

and love for others

can we just share this

treasure

this gospel treasure

with all we come

in contact with

with all we see

and may they know

the love of Jesus

and the hope we have

the new creation

lord

we hope for that

in Jesus name

amen