If we lack ambition to know Christ and carry out his mission, but we work hard to advance our career and build our retirement fund, we’ll finally receive our treasure as our time on earth expires. If Christ cannot keep our attention, but we hunt and shop for hours on Amazon, our treasure should arrive in two business days or less. If we have little appetite for Christ, and a voracious craving for sports, our treasure is free of charge at ESPN. If we’re not content to have him, we’ll fall in love with whatever else we can have (or buy). If our eyes are sick, we’ll inevitably have heart trouble.Īnd money, as Jesus teaches, carves as many images as anything today. But more than that, they play a role in what we treasure. Our eyes will always be drawn to what we treasure. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). And then two verses later, he says, “No one can serve two masters. Three verses earlier, he says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19). ![]() How do our eyes lead our hearts away from God? When Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body,” he’s in the middle of a word about treasure. The wonder of wonders is that we often end up worshiping the wonder and not the Creator. No, he knew the people would be tempted to worship even the good in creation - animals, birds, and fish sun, moon, and stars - the wonders God had placed all around them. Moses didn’t mention sexually explicit images. The eye is the lamp of the body, he said to God’s people, and if you allow yours to lust after the things you have made, or even after the wonders God has made - your eyes will lead your heart astray and eventually destroy you. And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them.” (Deuteronomy 4:15–19) Beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. When Moses warned Israel about idolatry, he stared directly into their eyes: That’s what darkened eyes are: eyes so full of something other than Christ that they can no longer see him and enjoy him. Just because something isn’t inherently bad, doesn’t mean it can’t fill our eyes so full as to crowd out the one who matters most. For still others, it’s Amazon or Target, YouTube or Netflix. For others, it’s something less salacious, like sports scores or news headlines. How many of us leave our eyes on too long a leash?įor some, tragically, it is pornography. But where the eyes wander, the heart quickly follows - and falls. If we feed them what is true, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable, our eyes can grow our faith, heighten our love, and intensify our happiness. They influence and even drive our hearts. Yes, our eyes will be drawn to what our hearts desire, but they also often hold sway. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23 Luke 11:34). So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. And I’m not just talking about pornography. ( H) 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? ( I) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.What we feed our eyes will eventually rule our hearts. ![]() ![]() He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ( C) Love for EnemiesĤ3 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor ( D) and hate your enemy.’ ( E) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ( F) 45 that you may be children ( G) of your Father in heaven. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ( B) 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ( A) 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |