Today’s Reading: Matthew 6:19-24
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8
Have you ever read these verses and responded, “So what’s the catch?” We have all asked for something we did not receive, so what must we do to gain understanding of this promise spoken by Jesus? Let’s go back to what Jesus said in his sermon right before he said this.
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” – Matthew 6:33
Again, Jesus speaks of righteous living, this time in the context of focusing on the Kingdom of God as compared to focusing on our own needs. Jesus challenges His listeners to consider their focus, and so I choose to take that challenge this morning as well.
Am I serving God or myself? Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21
What does my heart desire? Am I willing to let God fill my heart with what He desires and with what breaks His heart instead of letting my own desires for earthly gain grow? Am I so caught up in the temporary pleasure of acquiring the newest “toy” that I miss God’s prompting to serve Him with my money?
Am I serving God or myself? Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?
“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!” – Matthew 6:22-23
Consider how much life would change if we were to lose our sight. Our eye is such a small part of the body and yet, without its ability to let light in, our life would be so different. Our focus in life influences our eyes – our heart determines our focus and our focus determines what our eyes see. So where am I focused? I am either seeing the light of Jesus or I am focused on the light of the world, which is really darkness disguised as light.
Am I serving God or myself? Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
We serve a jealous God. The first of the Ten Commandments is “You must not have any other god but me” (Exodus 20:3). “And you must love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, and ALL your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6). Am I serving God or money? This is essentially the same as the questions we have been asking:
Am I serving God or myself? Am I working to advance the Kingdom of God or am I building my own kingdom?
God, thank you for the reminder this morning that what you desire for my life is so much more important than what I desire. Your purpose for my life has value, and so I choose to rest in your provision and trust you to use me to advance your Kingdom in someone else’s life. Give me eyes to see the good in people, and hope to see the possibilities before me. Amen.