Compare and contrast Kingdom wealth with earthly wealth. How do perspectives change our choices and guide our path? How do we get an enlightened perspective? How do we strike the right balance between wealth in this world and the next?
Permanent Wealth
Overview
Matt 6:19-24; Luke 12:33-34, 11:34-36; 16:13
Objectives
- Bible Passages
- The Balance of wealth
- The Blazing perspective
- The Benovelent master
- Recap
- Discussion
OBJECTIVES
To understand:
- The power of perspective
- The controlling forces
- How to acquire and maintain the balance of wealth between heaven and earth
Bible Passage
Matt 6:19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
The Balance of wealth
Where your treasure is…
|
Earth |
Heaven |
|
Career |
God’s guidance |
|
Money |
Living His purpose |
|
Possessions, |
Eternal rewards |
|
Family |
Spiritual family |
|
Health |
Spiritual health |
..There your heart will be
The Balance of wealth - How do we store?
| Earth | Heaven |
| Develop skills | Acquire spiritual gifts |
| Work | Develop |
| Save/ invest | Share |
| Accumalate | Invest |
| Fitness | Spiritual Fitness |
The blazing Perspective - It’s all in the eye
Matt 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
One school of thought
One school of thought:
Have the cake and eat it too!
What the bible says:
Allegiance is only with one master
You can only traverse one path
The blazing perspective
Our perception seals our choice and sets our path.
How can our eye be clear? How does that divest the whole body with light? What are typical challenges faced here?
The blazing perspective
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
Spiritual darkness is the greatest darkness. Even partial spiritual darkness (where most of us are at) is extremely dangerous.
How do we fight the darkness within?
The benovelent master Choose your master
Matt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Our treasure determines our master
Only one master
- Never disappoints
- Always fills us to satisfaction
- Is very patient and gentle
- Aligns with our capabilities
- Rewards far beyond what we deserve
With treasure that never fades
The earthly master leaves you empty
The heavenly master keeps you full
Recap
The Balance of wealth
- Earth
Career, Money, Possessions, Family, Health
- Heaven
God’s guidance, Living His purpose, Eternal rewards, Spiritual family, Spiritual health
The Blazing perspective
- Have the cake and eat it too
- Choose your master/ path
The Benovelent master
- Keeps us full
- The earthly master leaves us empty
Discussion
- Why is it that the earthly master blindsides and attracts us still? How does he empty us?
- How can we ensure our allegiance to Jesus is not only verbal and partial but complete?
- Share experiences where Christ has filled you to abundance as you empty yourself for others