Reading Plan:
Matthew 6:19-24

Our Thoughts:
How much money would you have to make to have "the American dream?" In 1992, a survey asked people that question, and those who earn $25,000 or less a year thought they would need around $54,000. Those in the $100,000 annual income bracket said that they would need an average of $192,000 a year. Do you see a trend? Whether people had little or a lot, they thought they would have to double their income to live the American dream. It makes me wonder if the dream is attainable, and if so, at what cost?
Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Jesus doesn't teach his followers that they can't have nice houses or material things. He's teaching his disciples to put Jesus first and to leverage what God's given them for His glory and eternal treasure. By putting Jesus first in our lives and hearts and investing our material resources, time, influence, and talents in the Kingdom of God, we can make an eternal impact with an eternal reward. We serve a generous God who gave His only Son so that we could put our hope in the promises of eternal life. He wants us to live in a way that honors this.
In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money."
We can serve ourselves, our righteousness, our wealth, earthly (temporary) things; or we can live for God, His kingdom, His glory, eternal (permanent) things. We will love Jesus above all else or we will love the things of this world. We will be devoted to the Kingdom of God, or we will despise it. There is no in-between. To be loyal to one is to despise the other.
Where is your treasure? What do you spend your days working toward and your evenings dreaming about? Are you chasing the American dream or are you seeking the Kingdom of God? Two very different pursuits with different destinations and different rewards.

More Questions:
How can you use what God has given you to make an eternal impact?
What do you need to "put to death" in your life? Pray for God to help you give this to Him.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Word and your Spirit that teaches us how to live a life that honors you. Lord, show me what I treasure and where my heart is. I want to love and treasure You above all else. Thank you for continuing to guide me even when I mess up.

Author: Amy Fontenot