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in heaven. But how do we do that? We invest our time, strength and money in people because people are eternal. If we use our resources to help people give their lives to Christ, they will live forever with Him. Putting our treasure in heaven also gives us the right focus. Our hearts will be where our treasures are (v. 21). How can we develop a heart for God? By putting our treasures in the right place - to advance His kingdom.
Our eyes are like lamps that illuminate inside of us. When we close our eyes, everything goes dark. When we open our eyes, light floods in. If we have good eyesight, the light shines in and it's bright inside of us. But if we have bad eyes, everything inside becomes gray and dim. (v. 22-23) Our perspective is either light or darkness, heavenly or earthly. Jesus warned us that we can't serve two masters: light and darkness, God and money. (v. 24) You can serve money in reality and pretend to serve God, or you can serve God and use money, but you can't serve both. Do we serve God and use money, or serve money and use God?
Some of us worry a lot about our money or shortage of money. Worry can make us sick Worry also drives people to drugs and drinking and even suicide. Jesus says; "Do not worry". (v. 25-27) If we value what is eternal, we will choose to serve God. If we commit ourselves to Him, He commits Himself to us. If we have double vision - looking intently on earth and trying also to look at heaven - we will stumble and fall flat on our faces. Our lives will be full of worry and fear.
Jesus didn't mean that we shouldn't think about tomorrow (v. 34). The verb means "don't give anxious thought about tomorrow". "Don't worry" also doesn't mean "Don't work". (II Thess. 3:10) Jesus used birds as an
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example. Birds work hard for food and shelter, but they don't worry. They sing! The Lord brings our needs down to what we eat, drink and wear. Life is fueled by food and drink, but it's far more important than its fuel. The body is covered with clothes, but it's much more important than its covering. Worry cannot add one hour to our lives. In fact, constant worry may subtract some hours or years by causing ulcers or heart attacks.
Is worry necessary? (v. 28-32) Why do we worry? Jesus said it is because of our little faith (v. 30; Matt. 8:25). We have a generous and gracious heavenly Father who knows perfectly what we need. Jesus said the pagans (unbelievers) "run after all these things" . Materialism in this world is their treasure. If the Lord is our treasure we will trust Him to take care of us.
Worry is needless. If God could create everything there is, surely He can take care of our small needs. (Isa. 46:4) God is both Creator and Sustainer. He is presently involved in our world, and well able to supply what is needed. Worry is useless. It does nothing to meet our basic needs. But if we focus on earthly things we will find reasons to worry. Worrying is also faithless. We will live someplace forever. Some people have enough faith to believe that God will get them to heaven, but not enough to believe that He can get them through their problems today.
Our worrying is like saying that God cannot be trusted. If we have given our lives to Christ, we have a heavenly Father (Matt. 6:8, 9, 18, 26). Our righteousness has to do with our relationship with the heavenly Father through the death of His Son. If He gave that great Gift, won't He give whatever we need? (Rom. 8:32) Worry is impractical. God has divided life
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into bite-sized chunks called "days" and trying to chew on more than one at a time can choke us. We need to take one day at a time. (v. 34)
What should we do instead of worrying? We must seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. (v. 33) We make God's kingdom the center of our attention. That means we must be doing His will and reaching out to the lost and straying in our families and villages. And we should be hungering and thirsting to become righteous as He is, (Matt. 5:6) trusting His promise that He will give us "all these things" as well.
We must live one day at a time, trusting God for what's coming up, even when it looks like things in this world are getting worse and worse. (v. 34) We should consider it an honor to suffer for Christ's sake (Matt. 5:11-12). We need to try to understand God's view of suffering, committing ourselves to our faithful Creator, and continuing to do good regardless of what we face (I Pet. 4:19).
Often when we think of the future we not only worry - we are really afraid. In Luke 12:32 we are told not to fear because the Father has been pleased to give us, His little flock, the kingdom! We can freely share what we have because we are not poor. We are part of God's great and everlasting kingdom. We may be victims in this world, but the day will come when we will be part of His eternal victory. U
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