Bear Grylls is one of those man’s man who I love watching as he recklessly throws himself into seemingly impossible situations; like the Man vs Wild series. In his biography Mud Sweat and Tears, he says
“At the age of 16 I lost my Godfather who was like a second father to me. He lived with us and we were super close. (It happened) totally out of the blue and it was a real shock to me. I remember wanting to pray but not knowing how to, and I remember sitting up in this tree and saying a very simple prayer that said, ‘Will You be that friend to me that You were when I was like five or six and it felt natural? Amen.’”…“And that was actually a prayer of finding a faith. And I think for life now it’s still a continued journey of not letting too much of the religious stuff cloud the heart of faith that is very simple. It’s about being loved. It’s about being forgiven. It’s about finding home. And those are great things that all of us need.”[1]…“The journey’s been that faith has been the wildest ride. And Jesus, the heart of the Christian faith is the wildest, most radical guy you’d ever come across. He was always hanging around with the prostitutes and the tax collectors and having parties and banquets, and I found myself drawn to that character not the kind of fluff that we like to box as religion.”[2]
There are real treasures out there for all of us like Bear found. I hope you noticed as the passage was read to us this morning as Jesus says the same thing: don’t store up – no one can serve - do not worry, clearly Jesus intends to warn something’s got to change in our hearts.
As Jesus puts it in verse 21
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This treasure Jesus speaks about is not simply one of just crossing one hurdle after another, or passing one test after another, or following our dreams with indifference; rather it’s about living each day as someone owned by God, as though stamped by God, knowing the forgiveness of our sins, and restored in our relationship with God. We are invited by Jesus to be determined to live for the joy of seeing Jesus glorified. So Jesus says in Matthew 6 verse 19-20
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
The treasures spoken of here think rich oriental garment. A richly embroidered costly item, the kind of Gucci or Clohé of ancient times. The sort of garment moths love to eat. We are to notice these treasures can rust, and again it’s rust not just thinking about coins & metals, that is disappearing over time corroding. It is also the same thought of say a farm & it’s wheat crop and all it’s supplies being eroded or corroded or fouled or destroyed. Then if we’re being the smart sort of listener, looking for a loop hole in what can’t be eaten by moths, or destroyed through rust or spoilt or destroyed, Jesus says think thieves who steal what’s left. The treasures on earth fade away, nothing’s left as it’s either eaten, rusted or stolen; just like the slender thread that our lives and how quickly it all changes: we get hit with illness, or the business goes broke, or life hits us sideways with a relationship breakdown. Jesus tells us store up our treasure in heaven. The contrast’s clear as moth’s can’t destroy it, rust can’t whither it away, and thieves can’t break in and take it. The question is what sort of treasure is that? As we start noticing what Jesus is speaking about is not how we usually think about treasure.
What we usually think about storing up are the sorts of things we hand over to our children, or the sorts of things we can see or touch or take. How many of us have heard it said that what we seek to do is to pass onto the next generation something more than what we had. Jesus tackles our hearts desires here as he reminds us how much we love idols, that is God replacements. So again let’s be clear about what Jesus is saying. This is not a blanket condemnation of money, or clothes or things in themselves; rather he has us look at the love of them, notice carefully it’s not money, it’s the love of money. Jesus isn’t just pointing us forward to think only about heaven and his challenge is how will we act right today. I think that it’s here that we’re often accused of having hard heads and soft hearts. Do we see what God has given us already? Are we using it for the joy of others knowing Jesus? As we read in verse
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
Jesus says have a big long look at yourself. Is it light in your eyes or darkness. Are you on full trim or is the light depleted. The test is who is your master.
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. verse 24
These masters here aren’t the nice employers protecting workers rights. In the first century masters ruled harshly over his slaves, as we know today we can realistically work for 2 employers. The difference is you can’t work all that easily for 2 slave owners, one ends up owning you in the end. Jesus links it up again with our lives and God and where what we’re serving becomes pretty obvious. That loyalty most likely shows up most when things are tough. In the end only one master will rule us. Jesus concludes these three little pictures with a pithy example “You cannot serve both God and money.” As a word money is about something we put our confidence in and eventually we all know our confidence is often deposited in riches or in material possessions. Jesus reminds us we cannot be simultaneously devoted to both God and money. We are forced to admit it we’re often most compromised in this area and keeping up with the Jones’ is a national pastime in Australia
Jesus keeps on bringing us back to question where do our loyalties lie. Are we loyal to king Jesus ? Or are you aware there is something or someone else who has taken our hearts allegiance and what lurks there beneath the surface, or is hidden away from the view others, but still there all the same and it’s eroded your confidence in God, or eating at your life. You might take the route to escape the things you know you need to face; or you might not be sleeping for the latest plan you’re brewing to earn your riches; you might be hooked on getting the latest gossip or dirt on others or are trying to track down the most gorgeous body. We know how hard it is to own up to those things, let alone look for help with them. Jesus says it’s time we get serious with him, verse 25
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
These earthly treasures don’t last, they don’t even satisfy. The question is where will you take your thirsty soul to drink? As we know our lives can so easily become darkened, our vision can so easily become blurred
we’re born worriers Jesus says, so…
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What will we draw strength from? Who will we dare trust to help us deal with this storm of life, that can hit like a typhoon and turn our lives upside down? Perhaps the words of Paul and Timothy are helpful for us at these times, Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests before God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When anxious we’re called to pray, to be thankful and to notice how God’s peace can overcome my fears; to trust in God’s goodness and mercy. It is the lesson we keep on being brought back to time and time again by Jesus. That is we are challenged to trust in the all wise – all knowing – all loving – all gracious God who knows us and is with us at all times. There are all sorts of things that can try and tear us away from God. So let these words of Jesus ring in your ears every time. Make it your prayer for the week…
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
David Hassan @ Tamworth Community Presbyterian Church 17/12/17
[1] Page 92 Grylls, Bear Mud, Sweat and Tears Channel 4 Books, Great Britain London, 2011
[2] http://www1.cbn.com/700club/bear-grylls-mud-sweat-tears