“What Are We Really Trusting In?”
Matthew 6:19-24
Sermon Series: “Financial Atheist”
Introduction: The Bible repeatedly teaches us, including in this passage, that money is a test and a revealer of our hearts. What does our real attitude towards finances say about our hearts and our faith? Does it show that we are trusting God or does it reveal us to be practical atheists? Let’s examine our hearts by examining our attitudes towards money. I want us to do that by asking and answering three questions based on Jesus’ words in these verses.
1. How do you define your net worth (v. 19-21)? Do you define it by the amount of your financial portfolio or by the treasures you are laying up in heaven (see also 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Ed Young Jr. has stated it this way, “Want to know your net worth? Simply add up everything money can’t buy and death can’t take away.” Napoleon Bonaparte said, “I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world and yet they lay their hands on everything they can get.”
2. Are you generous or are you greedy (v. 22-23)? The words “good” and “bad” in these verses could probably be more clearly translated as something like “generous” and “stingy.” That seems to fit the context and the analogy. The answer to this question is defined by our giving or lacking of giving (see 1 Timothy 6). It is easy to talk about trusting God, but our giving truly reveals the presence or absence of faith.
3. Do you put God first or do you put money first (v. 24)? It is impossible to have two masters. Something is ruling our lives. Something is our top priority, and whatever comes first is our functional god. Money is a great servant but a terrible god. Jesus is not really our Lord unless He is Lord of our pocketbooks and wallets (see Luke 18:18-23). A lot of American Christians try, but we can’t have it both ways.
