Jesus used two teaching methods: spoken word and action. The Gospel of Matthew presents these methods in an alternating fashion.
We see Jesus’ teachings directly quoted, followed by examples of his behavior that put those teachings into practice. This approach culminates in the ultimate illustration of his life – the crucifixion and resurrection.
How Jesus’ followers approach material possessions reveals the transformation that has taken place in their hearts.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[h] consume and where thieves break in and steal,
“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6.19-21).
The best news we can receive is the arrival of God’s Kingdom. If we truly believe this, our inner selves will be reflected in how we choose to spend our time and energy. We’ll naturally invest more in God’s Kingdom and less in the pursuit of earthly possessions and goals.
A Generous Heart
Jesus perfectly embodied generosity. He exemplified the truth: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
When we follow Jesus’ teachings and live a Christ-like life, generosity becomes a hallmark. In the verses you’ll find, the Greek word translated as “unhealthy” means “stingy.” Jesus emphasizes that our outlook should be one of generosity, not stinginess, towards others.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
“But if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6.22-23).
Think about it: a stingy approach to life can leave you feeling trapped and limited. In contrast, Jesus, the most generous person to ever walk the earth, embodied true freedom.
By embracing his kind of generosity, we too can experience that freedom.
Trust and Loyalty
Dallas Willard and Richard Foster offer insightful perspectives on the subject of materialism.
They don’t advocate giving away all of our money, as doing so would place the burden of managing our finances on someone else.
Instead, they encourage us not to let money cling to our fingers or our hearts, but to be guided by the Holy Spirit in the proper use of our finances. This is in alignment with what Jesus had to say about serving two masters.
“No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6.24).
In Jesus’ many themes in the Sermon on the Mount, he focuses on the inner person. He emphasizes that by embracing the arrival of God’s kingdom and trusting God’s care for his children, our inner selves are set free.
This freedom allows us to live generously, giving as the Spirit prompts, unburdened by the anxieties of material possessions.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross and I discussed this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 