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Sermon Notes of Rev Dr Ivor J.W.Oakley (15-10-2000
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional Reading Mark 10 v 17-30
In this section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is
dealing with treasures – not just money and possessions, but anything we set
our hearts on, think of continually, live for. Treasures on earth include
possessions, ambition, promotion, status, but these things do not last and do
not satisfy. They have their place, but we must not over-value them. We are all
going to die, and what use will they be then?
Treasure in heaven is most
important of all. Concerning things about God and our relationship with him –
our salvation, forgiveness, living in his will, blessing. These things last
beyond time to eternity, they increase in value with the years. They last and
endure and are therefore most important.
Our priority must be to get
right perspective on life, and all will then fall into place. This life is only
a stage on the journey to our goal. Man of the world is narrow-minded, because
this life is just here and now, only for the present. The Christian has a new
centre; his outlook is changed for there is an eternal dimension to his life. He
values all things in the light of his relationship with God and eternity.
Now the Lord has not finished
with this theme. He knows the weaknesses of human nature and our temptations.
Jesus emphasises need for God to hold supreme place in life. His warnings are as
important for us as believers as for non-Christians. God takes supreme place at
conversion, but that position has to be maintained as the years go by. The act
must become the attitude. This is something which we cannot take for granted.
Too many have begun well but fail to keep the Lord in supreme place, allegiance
becomes divided, end up scarcely recognisable as Christians.
The Lord’s warnings are repeated in the rest of the New Testament. Not go far in Christian circles without meeting people who are not where they used to be. Perhaps we have known better days spiritually.
“Where is the blessedness I knew
When
first I saw the Lord”
Many causes – one is materialism, overprizing things
of this life and taking eyes off the Lord. Worldliness, the desire to indulge,
possess and impress, is eating the heart out of many a church. There are church
members who still have the Lord in their lives, who pray, give, attend, serve,
but do not have the Lord in supreme place. They are “involved, but not
committed”. So hear the Lord’s warnings about this.
But first he lays down a general principle. We need to have a clear vision, good spiritual eyesight and single-mindedness. Then he shows that if our spiritual sight gets blurred, material things will overtake our lives, and allegiance to the Lord will falter.
The eye is the lamp of the
body (Matthew 6:22). If the eyes are good, i.e. clear unblurred eyesight,
then the whole body is full of light. But if our vision is defective, blurred,
not crystal clear, the whole body will be full of darkness and how great it will
be. Everything our body does depends on our ability to see – we need to see to
run, jump, drive a car, cross the road, cook, paint, garden. That small
intricate and precious organ, the eye, is the secret of our being able to live,
work, travel. Eyesight has to be good if we are to function properly (Hence the
need for glasses to correct defects and enable us to live and work properly).
So if to live Christian life
properly, the first thing we need is clear eyesight. If that is defective,
things will soon go wrong. It all depends on our spiritual eyesight – another
way of speaking about the heart, our inner life. In the Bible, to “fix your
eye” and “set your heart”, are the same thing. Spiritual eye is sound when
the heart is in the right place. The Bible repeatedly emphasises the heart, and
the central place which the Lord must have in the heart. Above all else,
guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23). Seek
him with all [your] heart (Psalm 119:2). Doing the will of God from your
heart (Ephesians 6:6).
In other words, the Bible is
saying the eyesight has to be good. Clear vision. Christ to fill whole picture.
Must be Lord in the heart. This is the crucial issue – who fills our spiritual
sight? Who rules the heart? What is my dominant ambition? Who is on the throne?
The answer to these questions will determine and control whole life just as
physical sight controls movements and activity of the body. The secret of
spiritual prosperity begins when the Lord, his will, his glory, his plans and
purposes dominate and rule. There has got to be complete singleness of purpose.
Not I running my life and praying the Lord will help me do it and help me get
what I want. Instead, Christ must be enthroned in the heart. Then life has clear
direction and is filled with purpose and drive. It is precisely here that we
have the reason for mistakes and failures in the Christian life. People can
blame this person and that situation for lack of spiritual life and progress,
but the real reason is their vision is obscured and there are too many rivals
claiming the throne of the heart.
J.C.Ryle, speaking on these
verses, said “There are thousands in our churches who are uncomfortable, ill
at ease, dissatisfied with themselves, but they hardly know why. The reason is
found in this verse. They are trying to keep in with both sides. Endeavouring to
please God and man, serve Christ and the world at the same time. Do not make
this mistake. Let us be decided, thoroughgoing, uncompromising followers of
Christ. Let us have Paul’s motto One thing I do (Philippians 3:13).
Then we shall be happy Christians. Heart, head and conscience will be full of
light. This is the secret of happiness in spiritual things. Be decided for
Christ and your whole body will be full of light.”
So the Lord lays down general
principle. Have clear spiritual vision. Make sure the heart is right with God.
Make sure Christ is central in the picture, and that he fills our vision and is
enthroned in our hearts.
Then the Lord goes on to deal with one thing which can obscure vision, rival the Lord’s place, challenge his supremacy. And points out spiritual disaster this leads to. It is only one of many things, but a very common one and doing enormous damage in the Christian church today. The problem is concentration on earthly treasure, Mammon, i.e. materialism.
You cannot serve God and
Mammon – or money, or material possessions (Matthew 6:24). Here is one of
the great rivals for supremacy in the Christian’s heart – and one of the
things which can quickly blur the spiritual vision. Some disagree with Jesus.
They think it is not right to have to face such a stark and outright choice.
They claim it is possible to serve two masters at the same time. They serve God
on Sundays, and Mammon – pursuit of wealth – on weekdays. Some serve God
with their lips, and Mammon with their hearts. Or serve God with half their
being, and Mammon with the other half of their being.
Jesus says this is an impossible
compromise. The Greek word used for “serve” is douleuein
and means “be enslaved to”. Can only be enslaved to one master at a time.
Can work for two employers at different times of the day, but cannot be the
property of two owners. Slavery means no rights. The slave belongs to the master
24 hours a day, and is entirely at his disposal. God requires total entire and
exclusive devotion. And if some of our devotion is given to Mammon, we have
abandoned exclusive devotion to God. Hudson Taylor said “If Christ is not Lord
of all, he is not Lord at all”. The Christian owes total, exclusive loyalty to
the Lord.
Yet materialism and money and
possessions also seek to bring us under its spell, and we are never free from
the temptation, especially in these days of affluence, the rat race, and amidst
the culture and outlook of people all around us. Yet these things have always
been a threat to the Christian. The worries of this life, the deceitfulness
of wealth and the desires for other things (Mark 4:19) pictures in the
parable of the sower. Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me (2
Timothy 4:10).
How sad it is that with some
Christians, when money gets tight, giving to the Lord is the first thing they
cut back on. Sad to observe the subtle change in some Christian’s lives when
they prosper. Sad, also, to hear of Christian parents who discourage their
children from going into ministry and mission field because there’s no money
in it, it is a waste of their education, why not get a “good job” and still
serve God in the local church?
Recent series of articles in the
Evangelical Times, well known figures interviewed about their background,
conversion, favourite hymn, book they found most helpful, comparing churches of
youth with churches of present day. The conclusion of many of those interviewed
was that though we are better taught nowadays (because of Christian books and
expository teaching), there is less self sacrifice nowadays, less emphasis on
separation from the world, less concern to witness and evangelize. Could this
have anything to do with our affluence, concern for status and position? Heads
are filled with more information and intellectual understanding, but not the
commitment and consecration. More compromises. Not so decided in our
discipleship. Not know what it is to be enslaved and totally given up to God.
Trying to have best of both worlds. Not as detached from the world as our
forefathers. Forgotten that we are pilgrims and strangers.
So, many things seek to bring us
into subjection, to dominate our minds and win our hearts. Jesus warns us that
if materialism is transcendent, it will affect our whole lives – our prayer
life, our commitment, lose vision, dampen zeal, distort outlook, reduce
enthusiasm, direction of life, and value to church. Material things are a poor
second best. They will never satisfy. They pall and lose their attraction. Can
get grip on us without our realizing. Bound to suffer loss at judgement seat and
reward will be less than otherwise. What regrets, even for a Christian,
especially a worldly one.
Jesus reminding us yet again of
God’s claims. Total undivided allegiance. Undisputed authority. He has
entrusted us with money, good salary, nice house, and possessions. Thank him –
but do not lose head, do not live for them, boast of them, put trust in them, do
not let them come between you and God, and spoil your testimony, steal your
heart, enslave you, so that you are no longer his slave. Happened to many
believers before, and still happening now. One of great causes of spiritual
weakness in the church at present. Sit lightly to material possessions; regard
selves as stewards, not owners, totally at his disposal. Caretakers and
custodians, and nothing more. Be careful of thinking you can handle many
possessions and wealth. Many have thought that, but slowly and imperceptibly
materialism has taken over their life. If you think you are standing firm, be
careful that you don’t fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
Story of three men in a railway carriage compartment. Joined by a Christian man. Asked him to join in their card game and gamble for money. Christian replied, “I cannot, I have no hands.” “What are those hanging at the end of your arms?” “They are not mine – they are Christ’s”.
Lord’s plea for clear spiritual sight. Fix eye and set heart on the Lord, his will, his glory, his plans. They are to be our only concern. Beware of things which would seduce us from him. In this context he speaks of just one of them – materialism. The Christian must have clear spiritual sight because Jesus is Lord of his life. He is the Lord’s bond-slave, and belongs entirely and unreservedly to him. It is an extreme step, to put oneself out entirely for the Lord. But consider the Lord’s extreme step – how he put himself out for us. Florence Nightingale said “I am thirty years of age. Lord, let me think only of your will”. At the end of her life, she was able to say “I kept back nothing from God”. You will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2).
