Life: If It Only Came With Instructions

How to Handle the Rat Race of Life Part 2

Morning Worship Service - 2/5/06

 

I. Introduction

è Folks, how many of you by the end of this past week felt like the lady pictured for you here? (change slide)

Ä In other the words, this week got the best of you - Satan was able to use the busy, hectic pace of life to bring about discouragement or sin in your life.

- If this does describe you this morning, than I am happy to share with you a couple of pieces of good news.

#1 - I want to share with you that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!

è If this picture does not describe you this week, it maybe described you last week, or it may describe you next week.

è Whatever the case, we all have allowed Satan to, at one point in time in our lives, use our busy and hectic pace of life to bring about discouragement or sin in our lives.

è So, take heart this morning you are not alone

(Illustration: I shared with you last week about how Satan achieved victory in my life throughout the week in this area.)

#2 - I want to share with you that Jesus Christ has some great instructions for us in order to help deal with and slow down the hectic pace of life.

è Which is what we began to consider last week in Matthew chapter 6

(change slide to black)

II. The Instructional Manual

A. Review

- Christ understands what it is like to be busy and have lots of different demands on our time and energy, and so to help us get a handle on this area of our lives, He gives us some extremely valuable instructions.

(READ Matthew 6:19-23)

- Folks, last week as we considered this passage, we said that according to Christ’s instructions, if you and I want to slow our lives down so that we are not overwhelmed and defeated by the busyness of life, than IT REQUIRES US TO HAVE A SINGLE AND CORRECT PURPOSE FOR LIFE. (change slide)

- Satan can be so very successful in our lives bringing about discouragement and defeat as a result of busyness, because of the fact that many of us live our lives with more than one purpose.

Ä That is why Christ instructs us that the only way we can have victory over Satan in this area of our lives is by committing ourselves to live according to one, correct purpose.

- And so in these verses of instruction, Christ...

ü identifies the two possible purposes that we can have for life

ü instructs us concerning which of the two possibilities He would have us to adopt for our lives

ü gives us several reasons why having this one correct purpose is the best purpose we can have for our lives.

- Now last week, we took the time to identify the first life purpose possibility, which again, I am going to have you help me to identify in this passage by reading the yellow words on the screen behind me.

(READ Matthew 6:19 - change the slide so the congregation will help read)

- Folks, if you remember, we said that the first life purpose possibility that Christ mentions here, is really the life purpose which most of the world has adopted: and that is LIVE YOUR LIFE IN ORDER TO STORE UP TREASURES ON THIS EARTH.

(change slide)

Ä People schedule their day timers and palm pilots with the purpose of storing up more and more treasures on this earth.

Ä And last week we identified three different areas that we concentrate on when it comes to storing up these treasures: SELF, MONEY, and PLEASURES.

(change slide)

Ä Unfortunately, we really do not have time to spare to go back and consider each of these areas again, but to summarize them all let me just say that they are all about the here and now - in other words our lives, this world, the things in this world, things we can see, touch, and have right now.

Ä And since the here and now potential is limitless when it comes to treasures of the earth in America, there are a lot of extremely busy people trying to fulfill this purpose.

- So, Christ waste very little time giving us his instruction concerning this life purpose possibility.

è Right at the beginning of this verse he instructs us by saying what?

>>> DO NOT!!! (change slide)

- Life purpose possibility #1 is out of the question according to Christ’s teachings, and so we have a choice to make...

? We have heard the instruction, but we can choose to not believe it and not follow it - which let me remind you puts you in danger of God’s warning concerning his wrath.

� Since we have heard his instruction, we can believe it, and begin to identify areas in our lives where we are all about the here and now and storing up for ourselves treasures on this earth. And then as we identify those areas in our lives that are all about life purpose possibility #1, we can begin to slow our lives down by eliminating those activities from our daytimers and calendars.

(change slide to black)

 

B. Life Purpose Possibility #2

- Now, as we begin to identify and eliminate life purpose possibility #1 for our lives, it will begin to create a void that if not replaced with the right life purpose, we will quickly go back to the wrong one.

- That is why, one of the things that I enjoy most about the teachings of Christ is the fact that so many times in His instructions to us, He will instruct to not do one thing, but when He does that, He also instructs us to replace that negative activity with something positive.

- And here in Matthew, Christ instructs us concerning one particular life purpose that He does not want us living our lives by; but then He goes on to give us another life purpose that He would like to see take the place of the other one.

(READ Matthew 6:19-20 - change the slide so the congregation will help read)

 

a.) Life Purpose Possibility #2

- Folks, in response to the first life purpose possibility that a person can choose to live their lives by, Christ gives us another possibility, and this one He whole heartedly endorses and instructs us to live our lives by. And that is LIVE YOUR LIFE IN ORDER TO STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN.

(change slide)

 

b.) Possibility #2 Explained

- Now as with the first life purpose possibility, this life purpose needs some further explanation in order for us to truly understand what are the treasures in heaven that Christ is talking about that we should be pursuing.

Ä This is a wonderful little phrase that we as Christians so often like to use, however I wonder how many of us truly understand what the treasures in heaven are really all about, and beyond that how is it that we can actually go about obtaining those treasures.  (change slide to black)

- So that is what we want to begin to try and answer this morning. And as we begin to unfold the truths of this life purpose, that Christ instructs his followers to live their lives by, I want us to see that this life purpose is also the purpose by which the church should function.

- so, let’s first begin to tackle the question of what are the treasures of heaven that Christ is referring to here, because as we do, it will naturally lead us to an understanding of how it is that we can go about obtaining them.

- You see, as you consider the immediate context of where this phrase, “treasures in heaven” finds itself - especially what is said at the end of verse 20 - the first conclusion that it leads us to come to is that the treasures of heaven that Christ is instructing us to make as our life purpose is referring to  WHATEVER IS OF GOOD AND ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT COME OUT OF WHAT IS DONE ON EARTH. (change slide)

Ä According to Christ’s instructions for our lives, he wants us to be living our lives, with the life purpose of storing up treasures in heaven - which means that we should fill up our calendars and daytimers and palmpilots with things that are good and will have eternal significance.

Ä Believe it or not, there are certain activities that we can involve ourselves in right here on this earth, and in our everyday lives, that can be considered a treasure of heaven, which means that it will have eternal significance, and therefore it will be a treasure that will last forever.

Ä And as we will hopefully see, this life purpose really can help to slow down our lives, because Scripture tells us that there are only a few things that we can do here that we can take with us and will have an eternal effect on our lives. (change slide to black)

- Again folks, these are not my thoughts, ideas or words, they are the instructions of Christ. And according to his instructions, if we truly desire to handle the busyness of life so that Satan can’t use it to bring about defeat in our lives, than he instructs us to make it our life purpose to live our lives here on this earth and participate in activities that will have eternal significance and will produce lasting treasures.

- Now before we look at specific examples of these eternal treasures, let me just first challenge all of us with the fact that, this life purpose endorsed by Christ, will never be true of a person’s life, until they are first convinced that this earth that we presently live in is not our real or eternal home.

Ä The Bible makes it very clear that we are just pilgrims on this earth passing through to one of two eternal homes - those homes being HEAVEN or HELL!!

Ä Therefore, if you realize and understand this fact, than you have a choice to make as to which eternal home you would like. And that choice is ultimately made by choosing what you are going to do with Christ.

Ä You can ensure that your soul will live for all of eternity in the glories of heaven by coming to an understanding of who Christ is and what Christ has done for you; and then choosing to believe in him by making him Lord and Master of your life.

Ä The choice is yours!!

è But are you convinced this morning that you have an eternal home?

è And if you are, have you made sure of which home that is going to be?

Ä Now, I am glad to say that I have made sure of my eternal home being in heaven. However, there are times that I have to be reminded of that fact. And that is why it is always good for me to go to the book of I Peter.

(READ I Peter 1:17-21)

- Folks, Christ desires that you and I be living our lives with the purpose that we are going to be seeking to store up for ourselves treasures, or things done on this earth that will have eternal significance, in heaven.

- But you will never be able to do that if...

? heaven isn’t your eternal home

� you have lost sight of the fact that this earth is just where we are presently sojourneying on our way to our eternal, heavenly home.

 

- Now, if you taken care of those things than you will most certainly be motivated to live your life by this life purpose - you will seek to be involved in those things here on this earth that will have an eternal impact and store up treasures in heaven.

- And it is here that we must start getting specific, because if we just left it right there...

è Do we really know what an eternal, heavenly treasure is?

è I mean, what kinds of activities can we really be involved in here that will produce eternal, heavenly treasures?

- Well, as I search the Scriptures I find a couple of different kinds of treasures that we can store up for ourselves in heaven, by activities done here on this earth.

- Let me introduce you to the first one

c.) Possibility #1 Illustrated

(READ Matthew 25:14-28)

- If you have a Bible with labels in it, than you will probably see this text labeled as a parable - which is basically a story that is used in order to illustrate a particular truth.

- And the particular truth that Jesus is trying to illustrate for us, is the fact that God will one day entrust rewards to believers in heaven

- Therefore, this is a treasure that you and I can focus on obtaining one day in heaven by the things that we do on earth - REWARDS FROM GOD!!

- Now because we have imperfect, fleshly minds, it is hard for us to truly grasp what these God-given, heavenly rewards are going to be.

Ä However, we do know that while heaven is going to be beautiful and an enjoyable place to be, what really makes it beautiful is the fact that we will see the glory of God face to face.

è And what really makes it enjoyable is that we will get to worship and serve God in his very presence.

Ä Heaven is about God, NOT US. Therefore, one thing that we can conlude is that  these rewards are not just about us, but more importantly they are about God.

Ä Which has led some to conclude that these God-given, heavenly rewards are really more opportunities for greater service to God in heaven, which will bring about  more opportunities for rejoicing in his presence.

Ä It’s hard to understand how those with less opportunities won’t be sad and disappointed, and how those with more opportunities won’t feel superior and proud - but again that is where are limited, earthly minds come into play.

è Somehow we will all be content

- But the real point here is that we have a promise in this passage, that we have the potential of storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven in the form of God-given rewards for greater service to God throughout eternity.

- That is clear, and therefore no matter what that may look like and be like, this is something that Christ has instructed me to live my life here on this earth in order to try and obtain - STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN - which are God-given rewards for greater service.

- Now, while the fact that there are rewards is very clear in this passage, the other thing that this text makes perfectly clear is how it is that we can obtain this treasure.

(READ Matthew 25:21a, 23a)

Ä Folks, you can’t help but see from Christ’s response that the way in which you and I can store up for ourselves this treasure in heaven is by being a good and faithful steward.

Ä The term “good” signifies the excellence of a person, and applies specifically to a person’s spiritual and moral magnitude.

è In other words, if we want to obtain this God-given, eternal reward, than we must strive for spiritual and moral excellence here on this earth.

Ä But in addition to that, we must also strive for faithfulness - which is really an interesting term that gives us the picture of something that is so taunt and straight that it can be used as a measuring line or what we might call a straight edge.

è And it describes someone who strives to be as faithful or as straight as possible, to their desire to be spiritually or morally excellent.

Ä So obtain this treasure we must be working at being a Christian who is faithfully, spiritually and morally excellent.

Ä Which basically, describes for us someone who is striving to be a faithful disciple or follower of Christ.

 

III. Conclusion

- Folks, if we truly are going to listen to Christ’s instructions and live our lives according to the life purpose of storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven, than for this first treasure of God-given rewards for greater service throughout eternity, it will mean that we will fill our calendars, daytimers, and palmpilots with activities and other things that will increase or improve our ability to be as faithful as possible at being spiritually and morally excellence - in other words things that will make us better disciples or followers of Christ.

Ä You see, Christ, through his instructions, is helping us to handle the busyness of life and slow our lives down by helping us to narrow our focus and only pursue those things that will improve our ability to be a better disciple of His.

Ä Christ would have us look at our daytimers and calendars and begin to eliminate those things from our lives that are only there for the purpose of storing up for ourselves treasures on this earth. And then He would have us replace all those activities with those that will help us store up treasures on this earth.

è Specifically, the treasure of God-given rewards for greater service to God for all of eternity, by improving our ability of being a faithful disciple of Christ’s here on this earth.

 

- Now folks, as we wrap things up this morning I want to point your attention to the banner hanging on the back of the wall. That banner contains the mission statement of our church.

Ä You see as a church, we have a purpose or a mission, and I hope that it is always our desire to be doing things that will last for all of eternity.

- Today we have learned that one thing we know will last for all of eternity are the God-given rewards for greater service that come about as  you and I become good and faithful stewards.

Ä And so that is why the first part of our mission statement says, that our mission at Breesport Baptist Church is to glorify God by equipping believers to be faithful, loving disciples.

- Now we made that banner up and hung it in the back of our worship center in order that as each of us walks out of here and heads off into the world, it would serve as a reminder to us of the activities that we need to be doing in order to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

ü The first activity that we learned today is being a faithful, loving disciple.

ü The second activity that we are going to learn about next week has to do with the last part of our mission statement and that is leading others to Christ.