Recalibrating Treasures: From Scarcity to Abundance
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the concept of what we treasure and how it shapes our lives. We began with a personal story about a friendship that blossomed through shared interests and faith, illustrating how treasures can be both material and relational. The core of our discussion centered on the idea of "disordered treasures"—the things we value that can lead us astray. We examined how Jesus spoke extensively about money and possessions, not because He needed them, but because they reveal the state of our hearts. Jesus' teachings emphasize that our relationship with money is a deeply spiritual matter, affecting our sense of lordship and trust in God.
We delved into the gravitational pulls of hurry, worry, and consumption that dominate our culture. These pulls distract us from the true treasures that Jesus calls us to seek. Jesus' teachings in Matthew 6 remind us not to store up earthly treasures but to focus on heavenly ones. He challenges us to see generosity not just as an act but as a lifestyle that reflects God's abundant love and provision.
Generosity, as Jesus taught, is a way to resist the gravitational pull of materialism. It’s about seeing life through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity. This mindset shift allows us to live freely, trusting in God's provision and focusing on His kingdom. We are encouraged to practice generosity in various forms—money, time, relationships, and influence—making it a regular part of our lives.
In conclusion, we are invited to recalibrate our hearts from a posture of scarcity to one of abundance, from fear to trust, and from worry to peace. By doing so, we align our lives with the kingdom of God, finding true satisfaction and joy in the process.
### Key Takeaways
1. Disordered Treasures: Our hearts naturally treasure things, but often these treasures are disordered, leading us away from God. Jesus spoke extensively about money and possessions because they reveal the state of our hearts and our true priorities. By focusing on heavenly treasures, we align our hearts with God's kingdom. [02:24]
2. Gravitational Pulls: The cultural pulls of hurry, worry, and consumption distract us from true treasures. Jesus teaches us to resist these pulls by trusting in God's provision and focusing on His kingdom. This shift in focus helps us live more freely and joyfully. [05:41]
3. Generosity as a Lifestyle: Generosity is not just about giving money; it's a lifestyle that reflects God's abundant love. By practicing generosity regularly, we align our hearts with God's nature and experience greater happiness and fulfillment. [10:12]
4. Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset: Jesus teaches us to see the world through an abundance mindset, recognizing God as our provider. This perspective frees us from fear and greed, allowing us to live generously and joyfully. [17:28]
5. Seek First the Kingdom: When we prioritize God's kingdom in our decisions and actions, we align our lives with His mission. This focus brings true satisfaction and helps us see material possessions in their proper place. [26:42]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:52] - Personal Story: Running and Faith
[01:42] - Praying for a Friend's Family
[02:24] - Treasuring Relationships
[03:22] - The Spirituality of Money
[04:42] - Generosity as a Reflex of Love
[05:41] - The Pull of Hurry, Worry, and Consume
[06:22] - Jesus on Worry
[07:17] - Biblical Insights on Anxiety
[08:07] - The Culture of Consumption
[09:40] - The Blessing of Giving
[10:12] - Research on Generosity and Happiness
[11:23] - Different Forms of Generosity
[12:19] - Storing Treasures in Heaven
[13:13] - The Indicator Light of Our Hearts
[14:15] - Understanding Generosity
[15:47] - Historical Generosity of the Church
[17:28] - Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset
[19:03] - Trusting Jesus' Vision of Abundance
[20:01] - Serving God vs. Mammon
[21:33] - Teaching on Generosity
[23:01] - The Generosity of God
[24:04] - Generosity Beyond Money
[25:06] - Practicing Generosity
[26:42] - Seeking First the Kingdom
[28:20] - Recalibrating Our Hearts
[30:03] - God's Desire for Us
[31:16] - The Joy of Generosity
[31:54] - Living as Free People
[32:25] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
3. 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV) - "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? (Matthew 6:21)
2. According to Philippians 4:6-7, what should we do instead of being anxious?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 8:9 describe the generosity of Jesus?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of storing up treasures in heaven rather than on earth? How does this relate to our daily lives? (Matthew 6:19-21)
2. How can the practice of presenting our requests to God with thanksgiving help us combat anxiety, according to Philippians 4:6-7? ([07:17])
3. In what ways does Jesus' act of becoming poor for our sake serve as a model for our own generosity? (2 Corinthians 8:9)
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current "treasures." Are there any that might be considered "disordered" and leading you away from God? How can you realign your priorities to focus on heavenly treasures? ([02:24])
2. The sermon mentioned the cultural pulls of hurry, worry, and consumption. Which of these do you struggle with the most, and what steps can you take to resist these pulls? ([05:41])
3. Generosity was described as a lifestyle that reflects God's abundant love. What are some practical ways you can practice generosity in your daily life, beyond just giving money? ([10:12])
4. How can adopting an abundance mindset, as opposed to a scarcity mindset, change your perspective on life and your relationship with God? ([17:28])
5. Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God. What specific changes can you make in your decisions and actions to prioritize God's kingdom in your life? ([26:42])
6. Think of a recent situation where you felt anxious or worried. How might applying the principles from Philippians 4:6-7 have changed your response to that situation?
7. Identify one person in your life who could benefit from an act of generosity this week. What specific action can you take to show them God's love and provision? ([28:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Disordered Treasures
Our hearts naturally treasure things, but often these treasures are disordered, leading us away from God. Jesus spoke extensively about money and possessions because they reveal the state of our hearts and our true priorities. By focusing on heavenly treasures, we align our hearts with God's kingdom. [02:24]
Jesus' teachings on money and possessions are not just about financial management; they are deeply spiritual. He knew that what we treasure most reveals the true state of our hearts. When our treasures are disordered, we prioritize things that can lead us away from God. These disordered treasures can be anything from material possessions to relationships that take precedence over our relationship with God. Jesus calls us to reorient our hearts towards heavenly treasures, which align us with His kingdom and eternal values.
By focusing on heavenly treasures, we shift our priorities from the temporary to the eternal. This realignment helps us to see our possessions and relationships in their proper place, as gifts from God to be used for His glory. It also frees us from the anxiety and stress that come from trying to hold onto earthly treasures. Instead, we find peace and satisfaction in knowing that our true treasure is in heaven, where it cannot be destroyed or taken away.
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What are the "disordered treasures" in your life that may be leading you away from God? How can you begin to reorient your heart towards heavenly treasures today?
Day 2: Gravitational Pulls
The cultural pulls of hurry, worry, and consumption distract us from true treasures. Jesus teaches us to resist these pulls by trusting in God's provision and focusing on His kingdom. This shift in focus helps us live more freely and joyfully. [05:41]
In our fast-paced culture, we are constantly pulled in different directions by the demands of hurry, worry, and consumption. These forces can easily distract us from what truly matters and lead us away from the treasures that Jesus calls us to seek. Jesus teaches us to resist these cultural pulls by placing our trust in God's provision and focusing on His kingdom. This requires a conscious effort to slow down, let go of our anxieties, and resist the urge to consume more than we need.
By trusting in God's provision, we can break free from the cycle of hurry and worry that dominates our lives. This shift in focus allows us to live more freely and joyfully, knowing that God will take care of our needs. It also helps us to see the true value of the treasures that Jesus offers—peace, joy, and a deeper relationship with Him. When we prioritize God's kingdom, we find that our lives are more fulfilling and less burdened by the pressures of the world.
Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What are the cultural pulls of hurry, worry, and consumption in your life? How can you begin to trust in God's provision and focus on His kingdom today?
Day 3: Generosity as a Lifestyle
Generosity is not just about giving money; it's a lifestyle that reflects God's abundant love. By practicing generosity regularly, we align our hearts with God's nature and experience greater happiness and fulfillment. [10:12]
Generosity is often thought of as simply giving money, but Jesus teaches that it is much more than that. It is a lifestyle that reflects God's abundant love and provision. When we practice generosity regularly, we align our hearts with God's nature and open ourselves up to greater happiness and fulfillment. Generosity can take many forms, including giving our time, sharing our talents, and offering our resources to those in need.
Living a generous lifestyle helps us to see the world through the lens of abundance rather than scarcity. It reminds us that God is our provider and that we have more than enough to share with others. This mindset shift allows us to live more freely and joyfully, knowing that we are participating in God's work of blessing others. As we practice generosity, we also experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from giving, which deepens our relationship with God and others.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice generosity beyond just giving money? How can you make generosity a regular part of your lifestyle today?
Day 4: Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset
Jesus teaches us to see the world through an abundance mindset, recognizing God as our provider. This perspective frees us from fear and greed, allowing us to live generously and joyfully. [17:28]
Jesus' teachings challenge us to see the world through an abundance mindset, recognizing that God is our provider. This perspective is radically different from the scarcity mindset that dominates our culture, which is driven by fear and greed. An abundance mindset frees us from the constant worry about not having enough and allows us to live generously and joyfully. It helps us to trust in God's provision and to see the blessings that He has already given us.
When we adopt an abundance mindset, we begin to see opportunities to bless others and to share what we have. This shift in perspective helps us to live more freely, without the burden of constantly striving for more. It also allows us to experience the joy and fulfillment that comes from trusting in God's provision and participating in His work of blessing others. By living with an abundance mindset, we align our lives with God's kingdom and experience the true satisfaction that comes from knowing Him.
Luke 12:22-24 (ESV): "And he said to his disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!'"
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset? What steps can you take today to trust in God's provision and live more generously?
Day 5: Seek First the Kingdom
When we prioritize God's kingdom in our decisions and actions, we align our lives with His mission. This focus brings true satisfaction and helps us see material possessions in their proper place. [26:42]
Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God in all that we do. This means prioritizing His mission and values in our decisions and actions. When we do this, we align our lives with God's purposes and experience true satisfaction. Seeking first the kingdom helps us to see material possessions in their proper place, as tools to be used for God's glory rather than ends in themselves. It also frees us from the constant pursuit of more and allows us to focus on what truly matters.
By seeking first the kingdom, we find that our lives are more fulfilling and less burdened by the pressures of the world. We experience the peace and joy that come from knowing that we are participating in God's work and living according to His purposes. This focus also helps us to trust in God's provision and to see the blessings that He has already given us. When we prioritize God's kingdom, we find true satisfaction and joy in the process.
Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Reflection: What does it mean for you to seek first the kingdom of God in your daily life? How can you prioritize His mission and values in your decisions and actions today?
Quotes
1. "Our hearts get wrapped around treasures. We cannot help but treasure things. But one of the most basic human problems of our time and maybe ever is what I'm going to call disordered treasures. Today, we're talking about our treasures, our stuff, our money. At the start of each group semester here at The Bridge, we spend four weeks partnering with the ministry called Practicing the Way. And we walk through a particular practice, particularly in the context of community, that we focus on for the next semester. If you want to learn more, you can go to Bridge.com. Bridge.tv slash practices. And our practice for this semester is the practice of generosity. This will include both our time, our talent, and our treasure." [02:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There are over 2,000 passages in the Bible that talk about our treasure. Jesus spends almost a quarter of his earthly ministry talking about our wealth. Our possessions. 16 of his 38 parables deal with money. There is more in the New Testament about money than heaven and hell combined. There are five times more verses that deal with money and possessions than prayer. So Jesus seems to think that money, possessions, and resources actually are a deeply spiritual matter. Jesus talks about money, I believe, not because he needs any, but because it's a lordship issue. We have to remember that at the center of the Christian story, we see Jesus becoming poor, emptying himself so that we might live. At the center of the story is not grasping for more." [03:22] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Generosity is an overflow of a heart of love. Now, Jesus knew that his followers would face major challenges when it came to money. He speaks to kind of this gravitational pull that they felt and we feel today when it comes to our resources. It's a pull to really three things. To hurry, worry, and consume. The first, hurry. The gravitational pull for us isn't just money and acquiring and stuff, but to buy stuff now. Right? You guys feel the urgency? All we have to do is see a convincing commercial or walk into a store, convince ourselves that we need something now." [04:42] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Worry is real. And one of the real problems with worry is that it focuses on the unknowns of tomorrow and can cause us to very much so miss the blessings of today. As Corrie Ten Boom puts it, Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. But maybe the gravitational pull of our culture is best summed up in this third word, and it's, An article in the Atlantic entitled, We Are All Accumulating Mountains of Things, noted how online shopping and cheap prices are turning Americans into hoarders." [08:07] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So yes, the gravitational pull of our culture leads us to hurry, worry, and consume. And what's the common thread that runs through all of these? Sadly, at the center of all of those is me. places me in the center of the universe. For many of us, that leaves us in a place of dissatisfaction, and anxiety, and emptiness. Anyone else feel some of that in this moment? Aren't you glad you came to church today? Hold on. It's not all gonna be doom and gloom. I wanna propose that there actually is a better way. Now, Jesus said a lot of controversial things. Would you all agree? Things like loving your enemies, praying for those who persecute you." [08:58] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Generosity of money, of time, of relationship, of gifting, of influence. And the main thing that you have to be generous with in this season might not actually be money. While generosity is far more than the giving of our money or resources, though, it is not less. And so over the next four weeks, we're going to look at Jesus' central teaching on what we actually do with our stuff, with our resources. Let's turn back to Matthew chapter 6. Jesus says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Jesus is saying, all that stuff that you're accumulating, it's not legacy stuff. It's not going to last. In fact, it's cluttering your soul with anxiety because you're constantly thinking about whether or not it's secure." [11:23] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "If you have an abundance mindset, you look at the world and you see a world of abundance. You see God as your father and provider. Yourself as his child and all of life as a gift. Do you know people who live like that? That just seem to have a sense of like, man, every breath is a gift. Everything this side of hell is a gift that we are not owed. If you live with gratitude toward God and generosity towards your neighbor, you receive and you give with joy. But if you have a scarcity mindset, you look out of the world and you see a world of lack. You're on your own. The world is a dangerous place. Life is a battle over scarce resources. You need to look out for number one because it's a dog-eat-dog world out there." [17:58] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If we come to trust Jesus' vision of abundance and God is our Father and Provider, then his teaching on money starts to make sense. Don't worry. Seek first his kingdom. Give and it will be given to you. And then we're free. We're free to live with the posture of generosity. But if we don't believe, if we read Jesus' teachings, if we don't believe his teachings, if we don't think that he's right, then Jesus sounds unhinged. It's a dangerous world out there. I need to stockpile as much as I possibly can and we're enslaved by fear and greed, which is why Jesus goes on to say in verse 24, no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other or you'll be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." [19:03] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "When we seek first the kingdom of God, we relentlessly pursue what is in the best interest of Jesus and his mission. This is much of what we actually got to celebrate today, by the way, with the shootmans. Is the willingness to sacrifice for the sake of his kingdom. For his gospel. For his reign. Jesus is saying to each of us, I don't just want your Sunday mornings. I want your heart. I want all of you. We can't just have a little Jesus here and a little Jesus there because we will never be satisfied with this life as long as we are obsessed with more, faster, or better. The only way we will find ultimate satisfaction in this life is when we seek the kingdom of God first." [27:19] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So generosity then becomes not something that a pastor somewhere said that you should do. It's a practice by which we calibrate our hearts from scarcity to abundance. From fear of lack to trust in a Father who provides. From worry over our future to peace with whatever comes. From the endless desire for more to the enjoyment of what we already have. From grasping to gratitude. From misery to joy. So here's the challenge for just this week, the next seven days. Again, I encourage you to go to bridge.tv slash practices. And what if all of us, just for the next week, regardless of your context, whatever stage of life or region you find yourself in, what if each day for seven days we just look for one opportunity to be generous?" [28:20] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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