Today's Scripture
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: 1 Kings 3 -5; Matthew 6:19 -34
Treasures – Matthew 6:19-34
Concerning Treasures
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a]consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust[b] consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Sound Eye
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Serving Two Masters
24 “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.[c]
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,[d] or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?[e] 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God[f] and his[g]righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Yesterday, during the Sunday Bible Fellowship, the youth joined me at the lounge. We were talking about college and their dreams. Then the topic moved to what ‘What will happen if we had enough money, not to work’ and then to the lottery.
It is so interesting how we always live in constant tension between work and money. Both of them are essential to our lives. Both are elements we pursuit for our happiness. The question led us to ask, ‘How should we view money as Christians.’
And we were led to this passage. Jesus talks about money during the sermon on the Mount. The sermon contains the heart of Jesus message. Jesus doesn’t say we shouldn’t possess any money. Jesus says our hearts should be occupied by neither thoughts of having more nor worries of not having enough. Jesus shares how our hearts should be focused on the Kingdom and see how others work out, by setting the priority straight.
There is much more I would like to share about money, but can’t do it here. If you would like to discuss more, please feel free to contact me.
I want to end with the rules John Wesely shared with his people.
“Earn as much as you can!”
“Save as much as you can!”
“Give as much as you can!”
Prayer
Lord, money is such an important part of our lives. Let is not take your place in our hearts, but help us to be good stewards of your money. In the name of Jesus, we pray, AMEN.
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