Matthew 6:19-24 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Question:
What are the things that you hold dear to your heart? What is most important to you in this life?

Answer:
I hold dear my relationship with God and Jesus. Also, most dear is my family.

Proverbs 23:4-5 tell us "Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Don't value your material possessions too much. Do not seek to gain many riches. Why? The Bible tells us that these things do not last forever.

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Matthew 19:21

I don't know that I would be perfect *smile* So many things that I need to change, so many sins to crucify. Jesus says that what is of worth is to give to the poor. Give to those that ask as we spoke of in the last study, but also if you have the chance, do more. Find a charitable organization to donate to or volunteer your time for a non-profit organization. There are many ways to give back.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
Luke 16:9-12

If you are giving of your time and your money then you are out and about meeting people. You have the opportunity to make friends. The best friends are those that you share a bond with because you've had the chance to give to them and them to you in one way or another. *smile* Vulnerability/humbleness helps us make many friends. That teamed up with gratitude is a sure winner of friends. The reason I say this scripture hits home is because when I'm not disciplined I'm not a good stweard of what God has given me. In the eyes of America I am a lower middle class kind of gal. I don't have a whole lot, but certainly enough. When I'm undisciplined that 'little bit' can seem like nothing because bills begin to pile up. Decisions about what God gives us need to be made wisely.

Worry

Matthew 6:25-33 25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Question:
What do you worry about?

Answer:
I really don't worry all that much. Sometimes I am concerned about my children and their futures. As I have grown in the Lord and been able to rely on Him and trust in His care of me and my family, I have found a peace and rest. It's so much better than worrying about things you cannot control and to let the Father take care of you as He will.

Over and over again God tells us to trust in him.

John 14:1 "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And there are similar passages where God asks us to trust in him. Mostly the passage in Matthew 6 says it all ~ "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Prayer Focus Over the next two weeks evaulate what you are putting your treasure in. Temporary things or eternal things? Pray that God would put in your path more eternal things that you may where you may place your treasure. Pray also that in every area of your life you would trust in God. Even if it's in a small area that you wouldn't even think to trust God in. Pray.