Aligning Our Hearts: Treasures, Fasting, and True Worship

Summary

In today's exploration of Matthew 6:16-24, we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus on fasting, treasures, and the desires of our hearts. Jesus emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our religious activities, urging us to fast not for the approval of others but for the eyes of our Father who sees in secret. Fasting, as Jesus describes, is not about public display but about a private devotion that aligns our hearts with God. This act of abstaining from food or other pleasures is meant to deepen our focus on God, not to manipulate Him or gain human admiration.

Jesus also addresses the concept of treasures, urging us to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable to decay and theft, while heavenly treasures are eternal and secure. Our actions, whether in giving, praying, or fasting, should reflect a heart that desires God above all else. The rewards we seek should be those promised by God, not the fleeting praise of men.

The passage further explores the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body, illustrating how our focus determines the light or darkness within us. A healthy eye, focused on God and His kingdom, fills our lives with light and purpose. Conversely, an eye fixated on worldly gains leads to spiritual darkness. Jesus concludes with a stark reminder that we cannot serve two masters; our allegiance must be to God, not money or material wealth.

This teaching challenges us to examine where our true treasures lie and to align our desires with the eternal values of God's kingdom. It calls us to live with an eternal perspective, seeking God's approval and rewards above all else.

Key Takeaways:

- Sincerity in Worship: Jesus calls us to engage in religious activities like fasting with sincerity, focusing on God rather than seeking human approval. Our acts of worship should be private devotions that align our hearts with God, not public displays for admiration. [09:04]

- Eternal Treasures: Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable, while heavenly treasures are eternal and secure. Our actions should reflect a heart that desires God above all else, seeking His eternal rewards rather than the fleeting praise of men. [32:23]

- Focus Determines Light: The metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body illustrates how our focus determines the light or darkness within us. A healthy eye, focused on God, fills our lives with light and purpose, while a worldly focus leads to spiritual darkness. [38:22]

- Serving One Master: We cannot serve two masters; our allegiance must be to God, not money or material wealth. Our actions demonstrate our heart's desires, and we must choose to live for God's kingdom and His eternal values. [40:07]

- Living for Eternity: Jesus challenges us to examine where our true treasures lie and to align our desires with the eternal values of God's kingdom. This teaching calls us to live with an eternal perspective, seeking God's approval and rewards above all else. [43:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:04] - Prayer for Conviction and Comfort
- [02:12] - Reading Matthew 6:16-24
- [03:21] - Introduction to Religious Activities
- [04:37] - Understanding True Worship
- [06:36] - Rewards in Religious Activities
- [07:49] - Treasures and Heart's Desires
- [09:04] - Jesus on Fasting
- [10:20] - Fasting in the New Testament
- [12:13] - Old Testament Fasting Practices
- [13:41] - Hypocrisy in Fasting
- [15:06] - Cultural Context of Fasting
- [16:32] - Right and Wrong Motivations
- [18:51] - Fasting and Prayer
- [21:50] - Misconceptions About Fasting
- [24:01] - Rewards from God
- [25:51] - Isaiah 58 and True Fasting
- [28:21] - God's Desired Fast
- [30:14] - Fasting Beyond Food
- [31:38] - Treasures in Heaven
- [32:23] - Spiritual and Material Wealth
- [33:37] - Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures
- [35:04] - Motivation for Rewards
- [37:26] - The Eye as the Lamp
- [38:22] - Focus and Spiritual Light
- [40:07] - Serving God or Money
- [42:47] - The Ark and Dagon Analogy
- [43:36] - Heart's Desire and Actions
- [44:58] - Living for Eternity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 6:16-24

Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions does Jesus give about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18? How does He contrast the behavior of the hypocrites with the behavior He desires? [09:04]
2. According to Matthew 6:19-21, what are the differences between earthly and heavenly treasures? How does Jesus describe the vulnerability of earthly treasures? [31:38]
3. In Matthew 6:22-23, Jesus uses the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body. What does He mean by a "healthy" eye, and how does it affect the whole body? [38:22]
4. What does Jesus mean when He says, "No one can serve two masters" in Matthew 6:24? How does this relate to the choice between God and money? [40:07]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' teaching on fasting challenge the motivations behind religious practices? What does this reveal about the nature of true worship? [09:04]
2. What might be some modern examples of "laying up treasures on earth," and how can believers shift their focus to storing treasures in heaven? [32:23]
3. How does the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body relate to a person's spiritual focus and priorities? What are the implications of having a "bad" eye? [38:22]
4. In what ways might the pursuit of material wealth conflict with serving God, according to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:24? How can believers navigate this tension? [40:07]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own religious practices, such as fasting or prayer. Are there areas where you might be seeking human approval rather than focusing on God? How can you realign your motivations? [09:04]
2. Consider your current priorities and possessions. Are there any "earthly treasures" that might be distracting you from seeking heavenly treasures? What steps can you take to refocus on eternal values? [32:23]
3. Think about what you focus on daily. Is your "eye" healthy, bringing light and purpose into your life, or is it distracted by worldly concerns? How can you adjust your focus to align more with God's kingdom? [38:22]
4. Evaluate your relationship with money and material wealth. Are there ways in which this relationship might be hindering your service to God? What practical changes can you make to ensure your allegiance is to God alone? [40:07]
5. Jesus calls us to live with an eternal perspective. What specific actions can you take this week to prioritize God's approval and rewards over the fleeting praise of others? [43:36]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of fasting or other forms of abstinence into your spiritual life to deepen your focus on God? What might you need to abstain from to achieve this? [21:50]
7. Reflect on the statement, "Our actions demonstrate our heart's desire." What recent actions of yours reveal about your heart's true desires, and how might you need to adjust them to align with God's will? [07:49]

Devotional

Day 1: Sincerity in Worship
In Matthew 6:16-24, Jesus emphasizes the importance of sincerity in our religious practices, particularly fasting. He warns against performing these acts for the approval of others, highlighting that true worship is a private devotion meant to align our hearts with God. Fasting should not be a public display but a personal commitment to deepen our focus on God. This act of abstaining from food or other pleasures is not to manipulate God or gain human admiration but to cultivate a sincere relationship with Him. Jesus calls us to engage in religious activities with authenticity, focusing on God rather than seeking human approval. Our acts of worship should be private devotions that align our hearts with God, not public displays for admiration. [09:04]

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a religious practice you engage in regularly. How can you ensure that your motivation is to honor God rather than seeking recognition from others?

Day 2: Eternal Treasures
Jesus teaches us to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth, as earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable to decay and theft. Heavenly treasures, on the other hand, are eternal and secure. Our actions, whether in giving, praying, or fasting, should reflect a heart that desires God above all else. The rewards we seek should be those promised by God, not the fleeting praise of men. This teaching challenges us to examine where our true treasures lie and to align our desires with the eternal values of God's kingdom. By focusing on heavenly treasures, we prioritize what is truly valuable and lasting. [32:23]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one earthly treasure you hold dear. How can you shift your focus to prioritize heavenly treasures in your daily life?

Day 3: Focus Determines Light
The metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body illustrates how our focus determines the light or darkness within us. A healthy eye, focused on God and His kingdom, fills our lives with light and purpose. Conversely, an eye fixated on worldly gains leads to spiritual darkness. Jesus calls us to examine our focus and ensure it aligns with God's kingdom. By maintaining a healthy focus on God, we invite His light into our lives, guiding us with purpose and clarity. This teaching encourages us to be mindful of where we direct our attention and to seek God's light in all aspects of our lives. [38:22]

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light." (Matthew 6:22, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on what occupies your thoughts and attention most. How can you adjust your focus to invite more of God's light into your life?

Day 4: Serving One Master
Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters; our allegiance must be to God, not money or material wealth. Our actions demonstrate our heart's desires, and we must choose to live for God's kingdom and His eternal values. This teaching challenges us to examine our priorities and ensure that our loyalty lies with God. By serving one master, we align our lives with God's purposes and experience the fulfillment that comes from living according to His will. Jesus calls us to make a conscious choice to serve God wholeheartedly, rejecting the allure of materialism and worldly pursuits. [40:07]

"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." (Matthew 6:24, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel torn between serving God and pursuing material wealth. What steps can you take to prioritize your allegiance to God?

Day 5: Living for Eternity
Jesus challenges us to examine where our true treasures lie and to align our desires with the eternal values of God's kingdom. This teaching calls us to live with an eternal perspective, seeking God's approval and rewards above all else. By focusing on eternity, we gain a clearer understanding of what truly matters and are motivated to live in a way that honors God. This perspective shifts our priorities and influences our decisions, leading us to invest in what is lasting and meaningful. Jesus invites us to live with a mindset that transcends the temporary and embraces the eternal. [43:36]

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current goals and aspirations. How can you align them with an eternal perspective, focusing on what truly matters in God's kingdom?

Quotes

"You tell us that your word will not return void, but it will accomplish the purpose that it was set out for. Lord, your word brings truth. Your word tells us about you. Your word tells us what you have called us to be as followers of Christ. Your word tells us what we need to know. And so, Lord, we pray today that we would be changed by it." [00:00:14] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Now, we call them religious activities, and rightly so. Because the word religious has gotten a bad rap. Now, have you heard people say, you know, it's about, it's not about religion. It's about a relationship. They don't understand the word religion, if that's what they're, they're, they're supporting and saying. The word religion means worship. That's what it is. It's simple." [00:04:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Sometimes we downplay the rewards that God says we will receive in eternity. Well, we don't want to do it for the rewards, we don't want to do it for that kind of stuff, but it's one of the motivations that God does give in these religious activities. He says, listen, you do this the way I tell you to, you do this with the right heart motivation, and you will receive rewards." [00:06:20] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"So our big idea this morning, our actions demonstrate our heart's desire. Our actions demonstrate our heart's desire. When you were a kid, did you ever hear the phrase, maybe even as an adult, actions speak louder than words. Why? Because actions are what comes from our desires. What we want, what's really in our heart." [00:08:15] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Fasting in the Old Testament often times is attributed to what's connected with mourning and with prayer and when you would be in mourning you wouldn't clean yourself as you normally would you wouldn't anoint yourself with oil a sign of your mourning was sackcloth and ashes in certain circumstances and so Jesus says get up, clean yourself, anoint yourself with oil go about your day as you normally would don't stink brush your hair, wash your face put on your normal clothes act like a normal person." [00:19:17] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Because remember, fasting, fasting is associated with prayer, as we find it all through the Old Testament. Fasting is associated with prayer. Many of the references through the New Testament of fasting, it is associated with prayer. Implying that whatever is being fasted from, we are praying in that time instead." [00:31:23] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. J .C. Ryle said, it seems so innocent to pay close attention to our business. It seems so harmless to seek our happiness in this world so long as we keep clear of open sins. Yet here is a rock on which many make shipwreck to all eternity." [00:33:15] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"The issue that Jesus is addressing today as he talks about our treasures and our rewards is not so much man's attention to the stuff that he desires, but whether we are truly disciples of Christ. Where our heart lies is what is most important. Do I desire man's attention? Do I desire God's attention? Do I desire man's rewards? Do I desire God's rewards?" [00:43:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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