The sermon on Sunday night (May 6) is on Jesus' teaching on possessions. The big point I want to make is that we have to view all that we own and have in the light of the kingdom. The coming of the kingdom means that the present order will be changed and so the best investment we can make is in the kingdom, for there our treasure is secure (Matt 6:20). The framework in which I want to put this is a new creation eschatology, which is, I think, true to the Bible. There is a danger that we read Matt 6 as dualists and think that Jesus is saying that the created order, including our possessions, are unimportant or even evil. But Jesus says that our Father knows we need food and clothing and he cares so much for his creation that he feeds the birds and clothes the flowers. So the perspective is not that we should avoid the physical and own as little as possible, but that we should recognise that what we own now is part of an order which will be reordered and our great hope is the kingdom. So our love has to be directed to that, or rather to God, not to our possessions.
When we seek first his kingdom and his rigtheousness we are freed to do three things: we can enjoy what we do have for his sake, but not idolise them for their own sake; we can share what we have with others because we want to serve God by serving our neighbours and we can stop worrying about what we don't have, because we know that our heavenly Father owns it all and cares for us.
Jesus challenges us about where we store our riches (vv19-21); how we look at what we have (v22-23); who we serve (v24); and why we worry (vv25-34).
We live in a society which is obsessed with possessions. I struggle to live out Jesus' words, so it is good for me to preach on them. We need to keep challenging each other in the area. "Asceticism" is the intellectually easy (but wrong) answer, it is far harder to work out how to live faithfully and long for the kingdom while we own things and enjoy them.
Does the difference between aceticism, idolatry and owning without being owned make sense?
What are the biggest struggles and temptations in this area?
What have you found helpful in your own discipleship in the area of possessions?
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6 comments:
I can see how this blogg may be beneficial to me - i can't always make it to night church anymore (baby at home) but i have a husband who can. Skimming the notes will give me a more 'even footing' for discussion with him on Sunday night after church.
As for one of my thoughts on possessions: there's the new adage that says, "strive to have access to things, not possession of them. Possess something and it possesses you."
I hope you'll find it useful.
I wonder if it makes a difference having 'access' to things rather than owning them? I guess in the end a disciple wants to use the things they can 'access' to serve the kingdom.
John,
How do you know if you do/don't know if you have/or don't have control over ... whatever ...? Flowers don't have any control so they don't worry but there are some things we think we have some control over, so we 'worry' or get involved, thinking this will help or improve the outcome.
Your thoughts,
Paul G
Hi John and all,
I've been reflecting on this sermon in the light of some previous ones in the series, especially the line/arrow distinction.
It seems the arrows are to seek first the kingdom, to love God, and not Money. We can't serve two masters. To decide aceticism is the answer would be deciding where the line is... and John's right, though I'm sure it's physically difficult, no doubt it's the easier intellectual option.
Surely following the arrows are harder. Love God, serve Him. Work well, and often hard, in his creation without idolising it or wealth. Be responsible with, but not anxious for, wealth.
Hmmm... my employer isn't paying me to sit around on blogs all day, so I'd better start planning some lessons!
Dan.
Paul,
Last night I said something like that the worry Jesus is talking about is "gnawing anxiety over things we can't control". I guess I meant the outcomes of any of our actions. Proverbs 24:27 advises us to get the fields sorted out before working on the house. I think that is the kind of practical advice the Bible gives. There are something you can (by and large) control, such as getting on with your work in a sensible order. If you want to eat you should work (2Thess 3:10). But once you have done your bit, you can't control the results.
I meant that Jesus is not encouraging irresponsibility. Paul shows us some one who did worry for the churches (2 Cor 11:28). We will naturally have concerns, but we need to bring them under our confidence in the loving care of the Father. Bonhoeffer says "the only way to win assurance is by leaving tomorrow entirely in the hands of God and by recieving from him all we need for today".
Finding an appropriate level of concern from our responsibilities, without giving in to faithless anxiety is tricky isn't it. Do you have any ideas?
John
Dan,
Thanks for that.
I often think about it from the pastor's point of view. That my task it to help Christians grow as disciples in the world, to use and enjoy God's world without serving it. That means helping people find patterns of life which own without being owned. In our society that is SO hard.
Any suggestions?
John
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