Impact Now, Reward in Heaven - 6/23/2024 Sunday Sermon

The Tabernacle Today

Impact Now, Reward in Heaven

“I defy the Pope and all his laws! If God spare my life for many years, I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scriptures than he does!” -William Tyndale

Humphrey Monmouth met William Tyndale at a church Tyndale was speaking at in 1523. Monmouth was a brave and far-sighted Christian cloth merchant and trader who also wanted the Bible translated into English so the nation could hear the word of God and be saved.

Matthew 6:19-24

Make sure you’ve got your heart and treasure placed right V. 19-21

Treasure here has in view all that the Lord blesses us with as His stewards to “manage” for His glory – our money, possessions, time, talent, etc.

God does expect you to use your God-given resources to meet you and your family’s basic needs (1 Tim. 5:8), enjoy life within biblical parameters

(Ecclesiastes 2:24-26), prepare for earthly retirement (Prov. 6:6-8), and leave an inheritance (Prov. 13:22). But when our wants cause us to live excessively in this life with no thought to eternity, we are foolish

At the end of this life you can’t take any of what you have stored up with you. If all you live for is this life, you will be disappointed. It also betrays your heart – you don’t realty believe there is anything after this life, so you “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you die.”

“You can’t take it with you, but you can send it ahead.” -Randy Alcorn

“Only one life, will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!” -C.T. Studd

“I hope to grow rich in Heaven by taking care of orphans on earth.” -George Whitefield

In verse 21 ‘your’ is in the singular, because each of us has to make this choice. We spend so much energy thinking of getting retired; Jesus wants us to be “rewired” to always be investing in eternity.

Make sure you’ve got your eyes focused right V. 22-23

Jesus was actually referring to a Jewish proverb here. Having a good healthy eye meant being generous and looking at people positively; having a bad eye meant being stingy and having a negative outlook.

“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed. And it is not necessary to have great things to do. I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God.” -Brother Lawrence (17th century French monk)

Make sure you’ve got the right Boss V. 24

Mammon here represents more than money; it represents the love of money and the never-ending drive for more that makes even professing Christians live with discontentment and bear little fruit for the Lord.

One of the saddest things I see as a Pastor is so many church members preoccupied with the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of stuff, and they think they possess the stuff, but in reality it possesses them.

One of the greatest joys I have is seeing Christians caught up in that thorny 3rd category finally let go of the trap, and move into the 4th and secure category and become faithful and fruitful followers of Jesus Christ!

Levels of Motivation to serve God:

Higher: Love “Want to” Father, Friend

Hope Rewarder

Faith Teacher

Hinge: Gratitude Redeemer, Savior

Lower: Guilt “Have to” Lord

Obligation Lawgiver

Fear Creator