Two Masters…

The view from our front porch this morning...

Matthew 6:19-24

Are we nervous about possessions? Honestly, are there things in our lives that we cannot bare to part with? If we can answer yes to either of these questions (and we all can) we need to search our hearts to see if we are serving two masters.

Jesus cautioned us about storing up for ourselves treasures on earth. He did not caution about storing up ‘things’, for so long as we think of ‘our’ possessions as things we are not in danger. When we start thinking of these things as treasure - treasuring them in our hearts – we are in trouble already. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

Christ requires and demands that our hearts belong wholly to Him (Matthew 22:36 & 37). God knows that treasuring the things of this earth will lead us to heartbreak when they are destroyed, decayed or removed. He wants so to save us from that heartache. He also knows that we are creatures who find it much easier to grip tightly those things which are tangible while we turn our back on those things which we must understand by faith. If we allow our hearts to love some earthly object we have made a choice – consciously or otherwise – to turn away from God. By our nature we cannot serve two masters. As Jesus stated it, not mincing words, if we love the one we will hate the other!

Lastly God knows that all earthly things will be taken from us one day. Whether we die and leave it all behind or He returns and destroys all of it (2 Peter 3:10) it will be taken from us. Since our heart is where our treasure is, when we have to leave our treasure behind what is left of us? Paul writes of those who build their lives around the things of this world, “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (Read 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Lord – let us be those that store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, not on this earth. Help us today to set our minds on the things above. Let us consider carefully what we allow to capture our hearts, and keep us from choosing those things which you have slated for destruction. Let us build upon our faith carefully with only those materials which will survive into eternity with us, and lay all else aside. Amen.