Goodmorning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you something..
How many of you have gone for a walk through the woods, to do a little bird watching? In order to see them more closely, you might have taken a pair of binoculars along with you. Whenever I have used binoculars, I’ve noticed that you really can’t focus on two objects clearly at one time. You can either adjust the lens for things that are far off in the distance, or the things that are up close, but not both.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
Each of us need to adjust the binoculars of our hearts. The temporal things of this world can take our eyes off of what we need more than anything, a close relationship with God. We need to make sure that we fine tune our hearts, keeping Spiritual things… in focus.
Luke 16:13-14 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
Just like binoculars, you really can’t focus completely on two things at once. Mammon is defined as property, riches, and earthly possessions. The first commandment is to love God with all of our heart, but becoming focused on the attainment of these Earthly things, can cause our love for Him to be diminished. We are supposed to be devoted to possessing things of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy…….
We are not supposed to covet after worldly possessions.
Luke 12:13-15 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Covet means that you want to have something very much. When you covet, you are not really happy in your current situation. You are discontented, insomuch that you go and seek after the things of this world to satisfy the rapacious hunger of the carnal nature. To overcome these desires, we must learn how to be content with what we already have.
1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The apostle teaches that godliness with contentment is great gain. Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction because you have everything that you really need. It is being pleased with your current situation, and not hoping for change or improvement: It is happiness which consists in being satisfied with present conditions and possessing a quiet, uncomplaining mind. Whether Paul had money or whether he didn’t, whether he had certain possessions or whether he didn’t, he was content with wherever he was at. When you are content, you really don’t feel like it’s necessary to go seeking after the things of this world. Because of this, we can focus more of our attention on what matters the most, the Spiritual riches of God.
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Seeking after Earthly things becomes an obstacle to a God seeking heart. We must redirect our minds from the attainment of carnal and temporary things of this place, to a closer relationship with God. Obviously, the less concerned we are about worldly things, the more time we have available for Spiritual ones! One day, Martha was so busy serving that she couldn’t focus on what was most needful for her, God’s Word.
Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. .But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Instead of focusing on the Earth, we need to focus on what’s above.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Whatever the mind is placed upon, there the heart will be also.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Moses was a man who who was completely focused on spiritual things, giving up all of his earthly inheritance for Christ.
Hebrews 11:24-27 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
When we truly are content, we understand what is really important in our lives.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
So the next time you look through a set of binoculars, think about what you focus your heart upon. Are you seeking more Earthy things, or are you seeking heavenly ones? If you have your food and your clothes, what else do you really need to get by in this life? The love of money is the root of all evil, and is extremely deceitful, because the thing that you think will bring you happiness, will only bring you misery in the end. The pleasures that it brings are short lived and temporary, unlike the true riches that come through the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His Word.
Our salvation depends on what we are looking at through the binoculars. Each of us need to fine tune our hearts, keeping our life with God,…
…… In Focus.
Let’s think about these things for right now, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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