Monday, October 22, 2018

October 20-22, 2018 Pastor Timothy J. Spaude Text: Luke 12:27-34 “WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS…”


STEWARDSHIP

October 20-22, 2018

Pastor Timothy J. Spaude

Text: Luke 12:27-34



“WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS…”

1.     Let’s check where God’s treasure is.

2.     Let’s check where our treasure is.



Luke 12:27-34 (NIV 1984) “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”



          Today we are going to be talking about money so if that will bother you, you should probably leave. For visitors here today please don’t go away thinking we are one of those churches where all they talk about is money. We aren’t. We are actually one of those churches where all they talk about is Jesus and since Jesus sometimes talked about money we sometimes do too. So if talking about money at church bothers you maybe you shouldn’t leave because the only reason Jesus is going to be talking about money is to draw us further into His kingdom.

          He does that in Luke 12. First Jesus warned the people he loved against adopting the values of the society they lived in which valued pride in outward obedience over humble repentance in the heart. Not really much different from ours. He then warned the people against placing too much value in money and placing their trusting in the size of their bank accounts rather than God. And then in our reading he followed with the reason why. Where your treasure is there your heart will be. Did you hear that correctly?  He didn’t say, “Where your heart is you will put your treasure, your money.” He said, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be!” Your heart follows where you put your treasure. There’s another way of saying that. “Follow the money.” That phrase has many uses but in essence it says if you follow the money you will get to the heart of the matter.

          Let’s do that with God. Let’s check where His treasure is. Follow the money. Only we realize God uses a different form of currency. Gold is paving material in heaven. Worthless. Diamonds as valuable as glass. What is God’s currency? Not with gold or silver but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. That’s the price God paid. His treasure is His Son. Now follow the money trail. No follow the blood trail. For whom does Jesus bleed? Follow the blood when it drips from His head as the crown of thorns is smashed down again and again. Follow the blood as His back is laid open with a Roman scourge. Follow it as it drips from his chin as he staggers under the cross. Follow it as it bleeds anew when the spikes go into foot and hand. God’s treasure trail leads to you. God spent His treasure on you. He spends His one and only Son Jesus on you to free you from your sins, to keep you out of Hell. God spent His treasure on you and so that’s where His heart is. He cares most about you. Listen to what He says!

          “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”  “Don’t be afraid.” God says, “My heart is yours. Look what I do for what I created that does not have my heart. I take care of my creation. I will take care of you. Don’t be afraid,” God says. “I spent my Son for you and it pleases me to give the kingdom.” Did you hear that? You own a kingdom. You are royalty. Kings. Queens. Princesses and Princes. Because God put his treasure on you.

          Now why is the Lord telling us these things? To help us in our weakness. To help us avoid falling into the trap of the unbeliever and putting your treasure on what will not last because where you put your treasure your heart is going to be. Listen to what He says. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” God wants you to have lasting blessings that won’t wear out or be destroyed. He’s talking about people. Only people go to heaven, not things. To work to get people in heaven is divine.

          But hard to prioritize. Sell what you have and give to those who don’t have. Even pagans agree that is noble. But how far do you go? Jesus knows we will never be perfect in this. That’s why He was perfect for us. Jesus also knows we can be better so He encourages us. “And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” What are things we might put our treasures towards and set our hearts on? The people that Jesus was talking to were poor. Their treasure, their money would be spent on food and drink the things that they needed. We will be a little different because we are rich. Not feeling rich are you? Well consider this. Rich people wonder what they will eat for their next meal. Poor people wonder when they will get their next meal. Rich people wonder if their clothes look good on them. Poor people wonder if their clothes will keep them warm at night. Rich people complain about how much it cost to fix their car. Poor people don’t have car. Got it? And so my fellow richies where is your treasure? Follow the money. It will show you where your heart is.

          For us rich people it won’t be the necessities. If you buy a case of toilet paper at Costco your heart won’t be there. You have to. It’s needed. I’m talking about where you are putting your treasure when you don’t have to. If an auditor came and checked your wants not needs spending where would they find your treasure at? Alcohol? Restaurant eating? Club sports? Clothing? Golf? Now don’t misunderstand me. It is not wrong at all for us to enjoy things. God chose to put us in a wealthy country and God has given us wealth. But friends, it is not a good sign for our hearts if we don’t bat an eye at paying $700 for a seat a game or concert or $3000 for a nice vacation or $4000 for our kids extra curricular activities but inwardly cringe at and can’t get ourselves to give $5000 to spread the Gospel and save souls for heaven. There is no wiggle room here. Jesus is black and white. Where your treasure is there your heart will be. If your treasure is with Jesus your heart will be there too but if your treasure isn’t with Jesus don’t fool yourself, your heart isn’t there either.

          I have to confess to you that there was a time, when I was in high school, if you had told me that to win a football championship game I would have to blow out my knee I would have said, “Sign me up!” I was willing to spend the treasure of my knee. You can guess where my heart was. Now most of you are thinking Pastor was sure a dumb kid and you’d be right. Juvenile priorities. In my defense I was a kid. And now I have grown. I don’t  think that way anymore. As you check where your treasure is if it reveals something you don’t want to see or admit to, turn back to these words of Jesus. He not only tells you what to do but gives you what you need to do it. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus loves you. He forgives you and me for misplaced priorities in high school and old age. He knows we can’t be perfect in this or any other way so He was perfect for us. He also knows we can get better. So He promises, He promises, that when we put our treasure on Him and for His kingdom He will give those things we do need, that will provide lasting happiness. For then our treasures and our hearts will always and only be with Jesus. Amen.


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