No One Can Serve Two Masters

No One Can Serve Two Masters
Matthew 6

January 13, 2019

Introduction:
A. Just before Christmas, we completed a series on discipleship. We came up with a
definition of discipleship for MVC which is four words. Does anyone remember
that?
1. Following Jesus, Impacting Others!
2. Following Jesus has to do with a wholehearted walk of obedience with Jesus.
3. Impacting others has to do with bringing lost people to Jesus and helping
believers become more like Jesus!
B. I want to speak today about an area of discipleship which according to the
statistics they say for about 80% of the believers this would be a very crucial next
step that would accomplish four major things:
1. First, the focus of our hearts and our entire spiritual life in following Jesus
2. It is also a step that would position us to have a greater impact upon others
for Jesus!
3. It is also a step that would position us to experience greater spiritual riches!
4. Finally, and most importantly, it will break down a major spiritual wall,
actually break down the major competing idol for our love and devotion to
Jesus Christ
C. What is that area? It is the area of stewardship, particularly our relationship with
our money.
• We need to see these big claims in God’s Word so you know these are not just big
preaching words but truth! Turn in your Bibles to …
I. Matt 6:19-24
A. First, we see in v19-21 that the treasure we seek determines the focus of our heart.
1. Read v19-20
2. Simple, straightforward teaching about not stockpiling your treasures here on
earth but rather in heaven. On earth, they are vulnerable to deterioration or
being stolen but in heaven, they are totally safe.
3. But in v21, he gives the reason why he says this, read v21.
 Where our treasure is indicates to us where our heart is. “Also” = it is also
there, my heart is right there besides it.
(a) If my treasures are stockpiled on earth, my heart is right here
with it focusing upon temporal things;
(b) If my treasures are being stockpiled in heaven, my heart is right
there with it, focusing upon eternal things
4. When we stockpile our treasures for the future in heaven rather than now on
earth, our hearts will focus upon heaven, because our hearts always go where
our treasures go!
B. Secondly, we see our perception about money impacts our entire spiritual life.
1. In v22-23, the context for this section both before and after is money. Think
of these verses in relation to money as I read v22-23
a) He is using the physical here figuratively to illustrate the spiritual.
(1) The lamp is what gives light
(2) The eye is the organ of perception that receives light to allow one
to see.
(3) The “whole body” I believe is referring to our entire life!
b) The “eye” here is used as the “lamp” which gives light to the rest of the
body.
(1) So I think the eye is doing double duty here both receiving the
light and then taking the light it receives and giving it to the rest of
the inner life.
(2) Illustrate with hands from sky to eyes then into body
c) Ps 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a light unto our path! Here I
believe Jesus is teaching us that God’s Word shines the light on the eyes
of our hearts and that light of God’s Word shines through the eyes of our
hearts (lamp) and shines upon our whole life so we can see clearly!
2. So in context He is saying:
a) If my perception about money is good (seeing it as God sees it = God’s
Word) then my entire spiritual life will be healthy
b) If my perception about money is bad (seeing it as the world sees it) then
my entire spiritual life will be unhealthy
3. Our outlook on money will impact our “entire” spiritual life.
C. Then Jesus summarizing the heart of He wants them and us to get about our
relationship with money and our relationship with God.
1. I will just read it now but will come back to it later.
2. Read v24
• But there is a second crucial impact this next step would accomplish and we see that
in
II. Luke 16:1-13
A. Luke 16 is the parable about the unrighteous steward who was unfaithful and
lacked integrity in managing his rich boss’s financial affairs.
1. The Story
a) His unfaithfulness was reported to the rich man and as a result, he was
going to be fired.
b) He was concerned about his future so listen – Read v3-4
c) He went to those who had accounts with his boss, took their bills, and
slashed what they owed him drastically.
2. Moreover, here is an amazing thing – his master praised what he did. Now as
I read this note he did not praise his lack of integrity but the fact that he was
wise enough to think about his future and using money to impact others.
a) Read 8-9
3. Jesus says here that His own children would be wise to use their money to
influence others in their relationship with Jesus and when they do, in the
future those same people will be there at the gates of heaven to welcome them
and thank them for the impact they had upon them for Jesus
D. Then Jesus says something very interesting as He indicates their faithfulness with
money will impact how much God can entrust to them the true eternal spiritual
riches
1. Read v 10
a) If you are faithful in little things then you will be faithful in big things and
if you handle little things with integrity then I know you will also handle
big things with integrity.
b) But if you are unfaithful in little things then we can know you will also be
unfaithful when big things are given to you.
c) In other words, these “little” things become the testing ground of our
faithfulness and integrity for “big” things.
2. The next verse helps us understand what the little things are and what the big
things are. Read v11-12
a) The little things are mammon = money and possessions
b) The big things are the true spiritual eternal riches.
3. Jesus is teaching us here that God uses money (the ‘little’ thing) to test to see
if we can handle and train us regarding the “big” things - spiritual riches, the
things of God, the true, important and “big” things.
4. God is using the money and possessions He has entrusted to you and me to
test to see if we are ready and to prepare us to be able to handle
• And most importantly we see that our heart relationship with money and our
faithfulness in caring for the money God has entrusted to us
III. Break downs a major spiritual wall, actually breaks down the major, competing idol
for our love and devotion to Jesus Christ
A. Our choices regarding money impact our ability to serve God, to love Him and be
devoted to Him with all our hearts. Read v13
B. This is one of those either/or passages – no gray areas as a hard choice has to be
made as Jesus makes it clear either you are serving God or you are serving
mammon = money and possessions. You cannot, not may not, but cannot love
and serve both at the same time.
1. Serving God and serving money are polar opposites that are mutually
exclusive, that are impossible to do at the same time.
2. Illustrate with the fact they are polar opposites with trying to walk two
different paths at the same time.
3. We heard this before at the end of the last section we looked at as Jesus says
the same thing in another context to a different group of people to summarize
the heart of what He just said.
4. I think Jesus is summarizing the key He wants them and us to get about our
relationship with money and with God no matter what context of Scripture or
what context of life in which we find ourselves!
C. Reread v13
• The choice to serve, love and be devoted to Jesus with our money breaks a major
stronghold in our hearts So:
IV. What do we do with all of this?
A. The stakes are high – one of the biggest and most important decision in life that
will impact your Following Jesus and Impacting Others and MVC being a disciple
making church!
B. My goal is simply a win-win by 100% participation because
1. Every person at MVC wins when they know and experience the great
freedom, joy and fulfilment of being devoted to Jesus and not held back by
money. Everyone living out our God ordained mission of being and making
disciples. I deeply want you to have that!
2. MVC wins when every person does what is best for them and obeys God in
giving to their church because then MVC will have the resources to make a
greater impact for Jesus upon this world, thus being a disciple making church!
a) At the end of last year, I shared a sermon that did quickly highlighted the
many ways that MVC is making disciples and Impacting the Lost for
Jesus and Believers becoming more like Jesus here, everywhere you the
people of MVC go and around the world by our missionaries!
b) At the end of last year, there was also a meeting of the membership of
MVC where by faith they voted to accept a budget for this year, which is
a 5% increase over last year’s, so we can be the church we believe God
wants us to be.
(1) I say faith because bottom line to meet that budget will require our
weekly giving to go up around $3,000
C. Let me speak to the 80% that stats say either just throw in a few dollars or do not
give at all.
1. The stakes are very high for your spiritual life here on earth now and your
treasures in heaven in the future.
2. For a major spiritual win in your life and for the sake of your church make
that choice, that will break the stronghold of money in your life and begin to
give joyfully to your church.
3. While there is an abundance of teaching on this in the Scripture let me just
share one verse with you that shows God wants us giving to the church we are
a part of, the place that ministers to us spiritually: Read 2 Corinthians 9:11
4. While 10% is the goal many people shoot for, the place I began when I first
started to give, some give a greater percentage, which I do now, and some
give a lesser percentage.
5. The important thing is that you give joyfully what you believe the Lord would
have you give. Because God loves a joyful giver.
6. Take some time this week with the Lord and ask Him what He wants you to
do, then by faith do it with joy and watch what God does in your heart and
life!
7. A couple of resources have been given to you today to help you in that
process and at Welcome Center is brochure to help think through why, how
much to give and how you can give.
D. Let me speak to the 20% that stats say carry the bulk of the giving at a church
1. Someone said at the meeting – this is our budget, we are the church so each
one of us must make a decision to increase our giving.
2. I did that this week on line as I give digitally
3. I ask you to prayerfully and joyfully do the same this week regarding a
decision of faith and joy to increase your giving so MVC can make a greater
impact as a disciple making church!
4. Those resources may be help to you as well!
E. Pray