Do Something
- Jun 30, 2010
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The longer you look at Jesus the more you will want to serve Him in this world (N.T. Wright). I could not agree more. This is why the writer of Hebrews says, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus (12.1-2). We must look intently at the real Jesus. This is one of the reasons we are taking a journey through Matthew’s Gospel. We want to see Jesus for who He truly is, so that we will serve Him more passionately in this world.
I love again words from N.T. Wright when he says, Plenty of people in the church and outside it have made up a “Jesus” for themselves, an invented character who makes few real demands on them. He makes them feel happy from time to time, but he doesn’t challenge them, doesn’t suggest they get up and do something about the plight of the world – something the real Jesus had an uncomfortable habit of doing. So, as we look at the real Jesus we see that He challenges us to do something. He commissions us to go and make an impact on the world and not to just sit in an air conditioned building for one hour and a half each week.
As we look at the real Jesus there is a challenge He makes that I want to encourage you with. Jesus says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 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 (Matthew 6.19-21, 24).
Treasures in heaven are forever exempt from decay and theft. Jesus uses the phrase treasures in heaven to refer to whatever is of good and eternal significance that comes out of our life while we are here on earth. This could be forgiving another, suffering for the sake of Christ, serving children weekly on Sunday morning, or going to south Carrollton this Summer (August 1-4) to serve others and share the gospel. It also includes the willingness to share and be generous with the riches God has supplied us with (1 Timothy 6.17-19). When we by grace through faith give of our resources to the work of God’s kingdom with joy we are storing our treasures in heaven.
Jesus knew though that we would struggle with earthly treasures. That is the reason for His warning to us and for His squashing of trying to serve God and money. You cannot do both. The reality is, God is served with a single-eyed devotion, or He is not served at all. So, may our eyes be fixed on Him and may we have a deep-seated commitment to Him alone, storing up treasures in heaven. The real Jesus wants you to have an open hand and to get up and do something about the spiritual plight of the world around you.
