Hashtags | #RadicalDude
These days most everyone is familiar with social media hashtags. These are the pound signs followed by a phrase that allows easy identification of a theme or message. If Jesus used hashtags, how would he label his messages concerning our resource management?
Jesus taught about true wisdom in handling our resources, and what he said seemed so radical it shocked his disciples. What if instead of being radical, it is actually the most reasonable way to live?
Message Notes
#RADICALDUDE
Jesus taught about true wisdom in handling our resources, and what he said seemed so radical it shocked his disciples. What if instead of being radical, it is actually the most reasonable way to live?
Matthew 6:21-34
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What’s your overall goal for your resources?
To set the right goal, you have to understand how God views your resources.
Your money, your stuff, your time.
I Chronicles 29:10-14
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name! But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!
Everything belongs to God.
Everything comes from God.
Everything is distributed by God…unequally.
My main objective: To honor God with my resources, to prioritize his Kingdom.
How? This calls for surrender. It’s not an add-on. It’s essential.
God invites me to test him in this:
Malachi 3:9-12
“You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from the devourer. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
