Chapter 6

                Do you do good deeds in the presence of others so that they are pleased with your actions?  People may be impressed with your giving, prayer and fasting- but God is not pleased when you do it to impress others.  He wants you to be concerned about pleasing Him.  I think all of us struggle with being approved by others in some realm of our life.  In the context of giving, praying or fasting, it’s hard not to want some recognition of your generosity or persistency in prayer toward another.  We think our “holiness” needs to be known by all- but I think in reality it shows your unholiness, since you are trying to please man rather than God. {Galatians 1:10~ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.}  So in essence you are more displeasing than you are pleasing to God. 

                Do you hold unforgiveness against someone?  Jesus says that if you have not forgiven someone, that you are not forgiven.  Friends- this is extremely important!!  If you aren't forgiven, are you truly saved?  If you have not forgiven someone,  I would question whether you understand Christ’s forgiveness.  If Jesus died on the cross for your sins- and the sins of the whole world (sins including murder, rape, idolatry, adultery, sexual immorality) and these sins are forgiven, then how can you say you can’t forgive someone who has wronged you?  Do you think the wrong done against you is greater than all the wrong done against Jesus?  If you have truly received Christ's forgiveness, then you should be able to extend forgiveness to others.  I'm not saying it's an easy task, but I'm saying it is required, if Jesus is your Lord and Savior. {Read Matthew 18:21-35}

                So...what do you store up on this earth?  I love the picture of rust and moths destroying our earthly treasures, because it really emphasizes that what we store up on earth are really just "things".  What are your earthly treasures?  This text tells us to lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven instead- for they have eternal reward.  What does this mean exactly?  Investing in lives.  Loving people. Serving your church body.  Raising your children to know Jesus.  I can say that I used to have a desire to be rich- to have a house full of things.  My parents used to always say that I would have to marry a rich man to fulfill all my dreams.  Did I tell you my husband artificially inseminates cows?  Yeah, not exactly the "rich man" my parents were speaking of.  Although I'm still human and get desires once in awhile for things out of our financial reach, I really have reached a point where I am really content with what I have.  Infact, Joey and I have been downsizing our stuff.  The closer I have grown in the Lord, the more I have realized that the things I once desired, will bring me no happiness. Oh, they might be fun for the first few days... until the excitement wears off and I have a hunger for the next thing on my dream list.  I think many people who store up for themselves treasures on earth, really do seek the "treasure" from these things.  They think it will bring them excitement as if finding the treasure from a childrens treasure hunt.  They have a need to obtain something...but instead of finding a life full of Jesus, they find their things that won't fill the longing they have inside that only Jesus can fill.  I think some of us (including me) sometimes forget that... and remember our earthly desires once in awhile.  I have even gone to buying something, then after I got it home and had it a few days... I still felt empty.  I realize at that moment my wrong impression on these treasures, re-position myself before God... and return whatever it is that I bought.  Some of my treasures include: clothes, shoes, makeup, jewelry, home decor or kitchen anything.  Of course, those are only the treasures I can afford so that's why they are easy to act upon.    I also have the unreachable treasures too- just like everyone else.  The most important part of this lesson from Jesus, I think, is the last verse of this section:  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Ouch.  Girls especially are so quick to give their hearts away to boys when we are young teenagers.  As grown women, we realize the devastation it does to us.  How quickly do we give our hearts away to our earthly treasures?  What are we willing to do to get those treasures?  What devastation does it bring upon you? If we know this displeases the Lord because we are giving our hearts to something other than to Whom it belongs, does this change your mind about the treasures you are seeking?  Surrender your treasures to the Lord today, and let Him be your treasure. 

On Matthew Chapter 6

• Leanne