You Can’t Love Money and Live for the Kingdom of God! (Pt. 1)
You Can’t Love Money and Live for the Kingdom of God! - Matthew 6:19-24
Misconceptions
One of the great misconceptions many Christians have today is that they can pursue worldly success wholeheartedly and still be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ – the same Jesus Christ who told His disciples in no uncertain terms, “If anyone would come after Me, let Him deny himself, pick up his cross daily and follow Me,” Matthew 10:38.
Where did Jesus lead His first followers? Not to earthly riches! Not to positions of power among the great men and women of the earth! Not even to fame as the most skilled artisans, grandest musicians or artists, the most savvy businessmen, or triumphant athletes.
He led His first followers to the cross. As Jesus hung there, those first followers saw with their own eyes where following Jesus Christ would lead in this world. In the eyes of the world, Jesus Christ was a loser! He died with no earthly possessions, no organized following, no great literary work, no military battles won, not even a scrap of famous carpentry work left on display. The reputation He developed among the leading, educated elite was that of a blasphemer. He died a criminal’s death – a poor, deluded, and unsuccessful carpenter from Galilee.
The book of Acts records that His followers did not fare much better. They were imprisoned in Jerusalem, driven from their own homes, and scattered around the world. Many were tracked down, captured, and killed. Christ’s closest disciples were mocked, banished, stoned, and crucified.
Yet Christians today still fancy that they can hold Jesus in one hand, and the pursuit of great worldly success in the other, and there be no conflict. Too often Christians attempt to have their heavenly cake and eat it on earth.
As you read this important message, think about this question:
What real financial sacrifice have you ever made because you are a Christian, because you want to excel in ministry and spiritual growth? Can you point to any reduction in your lifestyle at all due to the pursuit of God’s will in your life?
The Jews of Jesus’ day were a materialistic bunch. In fact, they measured success with God by accumulation of wealth. The common assumption was that the rich were the ones most in favor with God. Why else had God blessed them with wealth? At one time in Matthew 19:23 Jesus warned, “How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” and Jesus’ Jewish disciples were amazed and declared, “Then who can be saved?” The rich were assumed most worthy of entrance into the kingdom. If they did not make it, who would?
Of course, there are many examples of believers in the Old Testament blessed with wealth and living for God. However, these were not men who pursued wealth. They did not make it their life’s ambition to gain fame and financial success in this world. They pursued living by faith not sight. They worked for God not riches. In Solomon’s case he asked God for wisdom not wealth, and God gave him both, 1 Kings 3:10-14. David chose to live in caves and holes in the ground pursuing the will of God before he ever lived in palaces. Abraham abandoned all he had to follow God’s will to the Promised Land, Genesis 12:1ff. But the Jews in Jesus’ day, just as Christians today, had perverted this Old Covenant teaching and made greed and worldly ambition acceptable to a devout follower of God.
Jesus contradicts that prevailing thought by teaching that true wealth is found in serving God not in earthly treasures. Yet how do you know which one you value more? How do you know if you work more for money or for God’s kingdom?
This passage here presents three ways to tell what you value most. In the coming days we will examine these three ways. Stay tuned!