Matthew 6:16-24
16“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
I have been thinking about this lately, and while I don’t think that Jesus was commanding us to fast, I think I might do it. I have never fasted before, but I think it is an opportunity to really talk to God. Anyway, I think what Jesus is getting at is to not do things for God and hope people will see you. We need to do things for God, not man because we serve one Master.
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. (Matthew 6:19-24)
I think storing up earthly treasures is something mankind has been doing since being cast out of the Garden. However, I find our present day to be pushing it to the extremes. The gluttony of today is mind boggling. I am constantly thinking about the next “thing” I will buy. Oh and don’t get me started on the cellphone commercials talking about the parents working 2 jobs to pay for their child’s cellphone bill: “forget the rod, parent the child.”
Verses 22 and 23 seemed strange to me, but I have found that the “evil eye” in the time of Jesus had to do with envy of money. Knowing this makes it fit nicely. If you don’t envy money your body will be good. You will do good things. But, if you do envy money, your life will be consumed by it.
The last verses some it all up. You can’t serve yourself and God. You can’t serve money/possessions and server God. If you try you will love one more. (Love and hate in the language of the time meant love and less love).
Prayer:
“LORD, please help me to not seek earthly things, but to use that desire to serve you. When I see others that have things, help me to not be envious. These things do not last forever, but your love is eternal. Amen”