Matthew 6:19-24 The Message (MSG)
Did you know wholehearted devotion to God provides us with spiritual vision? Spiritual eyes help us see what God wants us to do and to see the world from a righteous perspective. When we are less than devoted to God, our spiritual vision suffers and we struggle to understand life on God’s terms.
In our passage today, Jesus is sharing about worship. He encourages people to live for God by keeping heaven in mind. A true Christ follower has his or her eyes on heaven and makes behavioral decisions based on what effect it can influence for eternity. When we are generous, money is serving us; we are using money to love people and have heaven in mind. When all we care about is accumulating earthly treasures, we are serving money and loving self. Worship is oneness with God’s heart; it is living life in the Hand of God who loves through us.
Matthew 6:19-24 A Life of God-Worship
19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.
22-23 “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
24 “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
Prayer: Lord, you are generous with me and I want to remain generous and influential for your Kingdom. Please keep my eyes focused on heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.