Bible Study - Transformed (3) - Transformed in My Possessions - Matthew 6:19-24 - June 19, 2016

Bible Study – Transformed (3) – Transformed in My Possessions – June 19, 2016

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Transformed: My Life in GOD’S Kingdom.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 6:19-24

Possessions don’t last. Your relationship with GOD does.

Our eldest son went to be with The LORD August 1, 2012. He fell down a flight of stairs while attending a workshop. I was his “personal representative” or what used to be called “executor” of his estate. I settled his estate. Debts were settled and what little that was left went to our granddaughter. He took no earthly possession with him but he did have treasure waiting for him in heaven. Not only is he with the LORD JESUS in heaven but what he sent to the heavenly treasury was secure.

Do you have heavenly treasure waiting for you? What is heavenly treasure? 

Let’s explore!

Let’s read Matthew 6:19-21:

God and Possessions

19 "Don't collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

JESUS continued HIS teaching. Making money is a gift from GOD but what we do with the money we make reflects the attitude of our hearts.

In last week’s lesson, JESUS was teaching Christians how to pray and HE instructed them on their daily need for both Spiritual and physical needs: “Give us today our daily bread.” How and what Christians do with their daily bread is a reflection of their hearts.

In the scripture for this lesson, JESUS makes it clear that the things Christians treasure reveal their hearts.

This scripture in no way means that Christians are not to plan for retirement or have a budget. JESUS cautions Christians not to depend upon their material possessions to get them through life’s difficulties. Material possessions are subject to vanishing in any number of ways e.g. physical disaster, thieves, and the list goes on.

JESUS emphasized the need for Christians to focus on “collecting heavenly treasure.” What is “heavenly treasure?” Our salvation is the most valuable heavenly treasure. There is also holiness of character, obedience to the Holy Spirit, the salvation of others, nurturing others in the name of JESUS. We do not know all of the things GOD considers “heavenly treasure” but the Apostle Paul addresses some in 1 Corinthians 3:9-14:

9 For we are God's co-workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to God's grace that was given to me, as a skilled master builder I have laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid-that is, Jesus Christ.

12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw,

13 each one's work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one's work.

14 If anyone's work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone's work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire.

All Christians build upon the solid foundation of JESUS CHRIST. There is no other foundation upon which Christians build. We build with a number of materials: gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw.

A speaker, at a CBMC conference, I attended many years ago had done a study of these building materials in GOD’S Word and related them as follows:

Gold is a Christian’s reflection of JESUS in their lives. We will likely never know that we have reflected CHRIST in something we have said or done that ministered to another person: Thus a gold reward.

Silver relates to salvation. Silver relates to our salvation and the salvation of others in whom we have been instrumental in leading them to a saving knowledge of JESUS. We may not know that the person actually asked CHRIST to come into his or her life but we planted a seed, encouraged, gave a cup of cold water, added a piece to life’s puzzle, led the person to CHRIST, helped remove some weeds, gave nourishment and the list goes on. Whatever our role along life’s journey, as we obediently serve our LORD JESUS that leads to the salvation of another person goes into the heavenly treasure as a silver reward. We, often, have no clue that GOD has used us in such a mighty way. GOD is the record keeper.

Costly stones or precious stones relates to our knowledge of CHRIST. As Christians study the Bible and discover truth about GOD and JESUS these are precious stones, gems. As we obediently serve our LORD and we learn more about HIM as we walk with HIM, we earn precious stones. Every Christian has the opportunity to get to know GOD through his or her relationship with JESUS. As false notions about JESUS and GOD are dispelled, truth prevails. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to know HIM in truth not some fabricated notions.

Wood, hay and straw relate to the things we, as humans, count as important. These are good things in the eyes of society such as giving to worthy organizations, building medical centers, building charitable organizations, giving to church and the list goes on. One may ask what about giving to religious organizations or charities? We must keep in mind that GOD looks at our hearts. Do we give to or build these various institutions because GOD has led us or to earn our way to HIM? If we operate via ego, then our works will be tested by fire and not survive. However, if we have been led by GOD, then they will survive. No person can earn his or her way to heaven. Salvation comes only one way and that is by placing your faith in JESUS the CHRIST.

All of our works will be tested with fire. Will they survive or be burned up? It is important for us to focus on verse 15, even if what we, as Christians have done in the flesh is destroyed, they themselves will survive. Heaven is the ultimate destination of all who place their faith in JESUS.

Have you placed your faith in JESUS? If not, now is that opportunity. Ask HIM to forgive you for your sins, believing that HE died for you to pay your sin debt in full and ask HIM to come into your life now. HE will. If you did ask HIM into your life then thank HIM for saving you. If you are not already in a Bible believing and teaching church then ask HIM to lead you to the place where HE would have you to be fed, to grow, mature Spiritually and to obediently serve HIM.

JESUS ends with this “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your heart? The opportunity for every Christian to earn daily rewards is available as we journey through life obediently serving our LORD. Are we, as Christians, more concerned about serving ourselves than serving our LORD? Father, help me to see and keep my eyes focused upon the things that are important to YOU.

Let’s read Matthew 6:22-23:

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light within you is darkness-how deep is that darkness!

JESUS continued to teach.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:17-19:

17 [I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

18 [I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints,

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.

Notice in verse 18 “the eyes of your heart.” What are the eyes of your heart? To me this is the very core of our being. It is where we come before GOD and truth is revealed and either accepted or rejected. It is where the rubber meets the road of our lives. We can fool others regarding our relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST but we will never fool GOD. Truth prevails in the “eyes of our hearts.” 

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:16:

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children,

I believe “the eyes of the heart” is the place that JESUS was teaching about as HE related physical light to Spiritual light. The very core of every person either allows the light of GOD to shine into his or her very core or false notions, evil or any number of filters block the true light from GOD to penetrate in his or her very core.

When a person rejects even the glimmer of Spiritual light, he or she must know that Satan has planted a stronghold in his or her life and that stronghold must be dealt with by the power of GOD. Strongholds can come from ancestral lines and/or come from things we have opened ourselves up to such as astrology, fortune tellers, horoscopes, mind over matter, ESP, witchcraft, devil worship, tarot cards, bitterness, hatred, bearing false witness, lying, cheating, various addictions, pornography, sexual deviations and the list goes on and on. Satan’s desire is to control your flesh appetite and prevent you from experiencing the joy of salvation. Satan’s intent is to destroy you, thus barriers and filters are in your life to prevent the light of JESUS from penetrating to the core of your existence.

If you sense that this has happened to you, confess it now and ask JESUS to dispel this and to reveal truth to you by removing the blocks and filters that Satan has placed in your life. Seek truth by placing your faith in JESUS the CHRIST Who gave HIS life that you might be set free from your sins and to walk in the light as HE is the Light.

This leads us to our next verse.

Let’s read Matthew 6:24:

24 "No one can be a slave of two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves of God and of money.

Who do you serve? Every person either serves GOD through faith in CHRIST or Satan by serving the flesh. JESUS made it clear that every person is either a slave, meaning belonging to, to GOD or to Satan. There is no in between. Many of us try to straddle the fence but do you know what straddling the fence means when it comes to being a Christian? It means that you make GOD sick.  

In the Book of Revelation 3:15-16:

15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot.

16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.

Many Christians are lukewarm because they are afraid to take a stand. I know I was and still find myself lukewarm at times now. Are you lukewarm? Am I lukewarm? Each Christian must ask this question. As stated, there are many times I am lukewarm. But guess what? When we confess it, JESUS restores our relationship and encourages us to move in lock step with HIM. There is much to do in GOD’S vineyard and the laborers are few. Christians must work while there is still light.

Christians must keep in mind that they are the salt and the light. Father may we as Christians obediently serve YOU and walk with YOU each day as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Help us to be hot and not lukewarm. Only YOU can reveal our Spiritual temperature to us as we walk with YOU. Walking in the flesh is of no value to Your Kingdom. May we, as Christians, walk in obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Blessings!!!