Highly Invested: Planning For The Future

Highly Invested: An Undivided Heart

July 9th, 2023: Casey Middle School

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” - Psalms 86:11 NIV

Conversations surrounding money and generosity often come with two very opposing responses. The first is joy and excitement. These are the people that have been radically changed by the principles of generosity and live with open hands. They’ve personally experienced the faithfulness of God time and time again, and they welcome conversations surrounding money with expectation.

The second is fear and criticism. These are the people that are either jaded by generosity because they’ve given with the wrong motive or they’ve had someone take advantage of them in the past. It could also be that they have yet to experience a life of generosity and instead live from a place of fear, holding tightly to everything they possess thinking it will result in safety one day.

And if you’re somewhere in the middle, then that’s ok too. No matter who you are, the reality is that we all are thinking about money a lot in some way. If you’ve eaten out recently and received the bill at the end of your meal, then you know, you’re thinking about money. If you’ve bought groceries in the last week, then you may not have lived on a budget in the past, but you do now!

Here’s some stats on the current state of money in the US:

1. Many Americans spend more than they make
2. The average American carries three or four credit cards
3. Many Americans don’t have a budget
4. Households that carry credit card debt have owed around $15,000 on average
5. More than a third of Americans couldn’t cover a $400 expense without selling or borrowing
6. 30% of adults have zero in savings
7. Over half of Americans live paycheck to paycheck

8. Money is one of the leading causes of conflict and divorce

   1. “It is no longer till death do us part, but till debt do us part.” - Ps Josh Howerton

We talk about money here at Pinewood because we believe it is an important conversation as it relates to discipleship and being obedient to God. We talk about money, because the bible has a lot to say about money. We talk a lot about money, because Jesus has a lot to say about it.

Jesus spoke about money and possessions often; many of his parables touch on them.

By Howard Dayton’s count (Crown Financial), roughly 2,350 verses speak to money and possessions.

Money can fill your life, but it’s never meant to fulfill your life. Jesus talks so much about money not because He’s after it, but because He cares deeply about your heart. And He alone can fulfill your deepest longings.

Whether you have a little, or a lot, whether you have more than enough, or just scraping by, I want to tell you that the passage we are going to look at today will offer you hope and freedom. More than financial freedom, I believe you need heart freedom. No longer enslaved to possessions, but free to run in your heavenly purpose.

Passage: Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Pray:

Background:

The text today comes from a much larger message that Jesus preached early in His ministry called “The Sermon On The Mount”. Jesus traveled all around Galilee preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing the sick. The news spread and a great crowd began to follow Him. When He saw the crowds He went up a mountain, sat down, and began to teach. This is the longest of all the teachings of Jesus and it includes the Beatitudes, The Lord's Prayer, and the foundational tenets of Christian discipleship. We’re picking up in the middle of His teaching as He leans in to money and our possessions.

BIG IDEA: We quickly become interested in that which we invest in.

Title: An Undivided Heart

Main Points:

1. Two Treasures

   1. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
   2. Your heart and money share the same home address

   3. If I were to ask you, “Where is your hand?”, you’d say “Right here!” Then if I asked, “Where are your fingers?”, I’d guess you’d also say “Right here also!” At least I hope that’s what you’d say. You wouldn’t say “They’re at home sitting on my nightstand.” That’d be very odd.

      1. The same is true of your treasure. Where your treasure is, there is your heart! They share the same address. They are not separate from one another, but they are joined together.

      2. The same is true of all your possessions. It’s not “my money” and “God's money”, it’s all God’s money. It’s not “my house” and “God’s house”, it’s all God’s house.

         4. Where your heart goes, money flows.

      3. I used to believe that it was possible to have your heart in something and not invest your money in it, but the Bible clearly teaches something much different.

         5. Illust: Married, but not investing - you have a divided heart

      4. I’ve talked to many married men that simply do not date their spouse. They give somewhat “valid” excuses that it’s just a busy season, or that they don’t have the resources now, but if we aren’t investing in our spouse, is our heart really in it?

      5. I’m not talking about a weekly steak dinner with a dozen fresh roses and a horse drawn carriage through the city. I’m talking about generosity towards your significant other. Your lifelong friend. Your lover. :) C’mon… let’s get to investing!
      6. Other Illust: Kids, Business, Orphan Care, Non-Profits… when you care, when your heart is invested, then the rest of your life and resources are also invested.
      7. Reflection Question: Can you think of something you are most passionate about that you have invested ZERO dollars in?

      8. “Your heart isn’t in it, until your treasure is attached to it.” - Rich Wilkerson Jr.

         6. Question: Where is your treasure today?

      9. When you take care of all of your responsibilities and possessions before you give back to God then what you are really saying is that you trust your ability more than God’s provision.

         1. I pay my rent or mortgage first because my family is my highest priority. Then I take care of our essentials, then I give to God. So you’re saying that you trust more in your ability to provide than God’s ability? You’re saying that your family is a higher priority than God?
         2. Give to God first, and trust God to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory! 2. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

2. Two Eyes

   1. 22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
   2. The “good eye” and “bad eye” are expressions for singular or undivided focus. Greek word haplous = “single, undivided, which there is nothing complicated or confused”. Emphasizing the singleness of purpose.

   3. In Jewish writings a good eye represented a generous attitude and a bad eye a stingy attitude. The bad eye produces moral blindness and it diminishes the ability to see and pursue purpose and meaning.

      1. “He then told them, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.” - Luke 12:15
         4. Focus Test: Which occupies your thoughts, time, and efforts more? Money or God?
         5. I have yet to meet someone Spiritually mature that doesn’t generously give.
         6. You may be growing in maturity, but if you have a divided heart your growth will be hindered and your purpose will be blurry.
      2. Ilust: Driving without my glasses

      3. Question: Where do you seek wisdom? You may not always know, but I do not encourage you to seek wisdom or mentorship from someone who has a “bad eye”. Their allegiance will not always be in the best interest of the Kingdom of God, but of the kingdom of you.

         7. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

      4. I’m actually doing something good here! I’m planning for my future, I’m saving for a house, I’m paying down debt! Can’t you see that I’m not being greedy or selfish?!

      5. What happens to our purpose when we actually believe that which is helping us and bringing us life and a better future is actually the things driving us deeper into confusion and darkness?
      6. Greed and Generosity can actually take on similar forms, the difference is the source that we are trying to advance and glorify.

3. Two Masters

   1. 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

      1. The problem isn’t making money, but being mastered by it.
      2. The word “Serve” here means “to be enslaved to”.
      3. Question: Are you enslaved to your money?
      4. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10
      5. Materialism can enslave the heart (6:19-21), the mind (6:22-23), and the will (6:24).

      6. He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” - Matthew 22:37

         2. Impulse Buy vs. Impulse Give
         3. Instructions to the rich

      7. Money is not evil. God is not against money and people having great wealth.

      8. “It’s not a matter of whether or not you have money, but whether or not that money has you.”
      9. “It’s not wrong to have possessions, but it’s wrong when those possessions have you!”
      10. “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share,19 storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19
      11. Illust: Open hands, closed fist
          4. “We may not worship money, but we do worship with our money.” - Darrin Patrick

Closing:

JESUS’ WORD TO THE ANXIOUS:

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Song: Seek Ye First The Kingdom Of God

Gospel Presentation

Walking Points:

1. Make a commitment…

   1. Give God your full trust!

   2. Make some adjustments…

   3. Give God your first and your best!

   4. Make an investment…

   5. Give God your whole life!

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” - Psalms 86:11 NIV