Perspective

No man 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.
Last week, we talked about perspective. Jesus said, “if your eye is healthy” – viz. if you have the right perspective, if you are seeing the world through heaven’s eyes, if you see what Jesus sees, then your body will be full of light. In other words, walking in the light is not dependent on your circumstances, it is dependent on your perspective. We’ve known people who’ve been dealt tremendous blows in life, and yet because they keep the faith, because they keep their testimony, their lives don’t look like dark lives – they look like difficult lives where light is shining very brightly!

Jesus places this statement right smack dab in the middle of two statements about money. Why? He knows that so much of our perspective deficiency is in the area of finances. We need the wisdom to see that heaven treasure lasts longer than earth treasure. We need the wisdom to see that Master Jesus is infinitely more valuable than master money, and we can’t follow both so we should follow Him. Even when the earth is shaking…we can trust Him.

Treasures in Heaven

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 destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Spend spiritually.
Notice, these verses do not address spending (though other texts do) – but rather hoarding, “laying up.” There is a way to spend your money and still be investing in eternity. What about a family vacation? Do you take advantage of the change of scenery to get your children’s attention for devotions? What about a meal out? Sometimes our homes seem more like battlefields and we need to be together in a new context, even just for an hour. Even a date night – as it strengthens your marriage – should get you to the point that you see your marriage as a picture of the gospel and becomes an investment in eternity.


Give Liberally.God loves a cheerful giver. The New Testament criterion for faithfulness in giving is that it be both sacrificial and cheerful.

We should give liberally and sacrificially, but when we do spend, doing so with the goal of investing that money and time for eternity.