Heaven's Treasure or Today's Freedom -- Are They in Conflict?

Heaven’s Treasure or Today’s Freedom--Is There a Conflict?  

Laying Up Treasure in Heaven

 

February 11, 2023

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

“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. -- Matt. 6:19-21

Does becoming a Christian mean the end of our freedom? Is a relationship with Jesus a radical challenge to our freedom? The answer is yes and no. But ultimately, no.

 

But let’s ask ourselves, “What is freedom?”  One description of freedom is made by The Satanic Temple in New Mexico which is providing “free religious medication abortion” in its new facility. The Temple wants to expand its abortion facilities under the guise of Freedom of Religion all over America!  The Religious Abortion Ritual is intended to “de-stigmatize this medical procedure.”   This organization emphasizes self-help, and self-empowerment while asserting that “One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone,” and “beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world,” rather than distorting scientific facts to fit personal beliefs.” (https://www.abqjournal.com/2570996/satanic-temple-samuel-alito-mom-abortion-clinic-to-offer-abortion-services-in-new-mexico.html)

 

As we’ve emphasized before, stewardship is about more than money.  It is about how we value life itself and our response to our Creator.

 

Implied in the words of Jesus, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” is the choice not to lay up our treasures any place else.  If this is an expectation of Jesus, are there restrictions on our freedom, and if so, is it really freedom? The answer is yes and no but mostly no!  Freedom is the choice for the more liberating constraints and sometimes that means delayed gratification before the ultimate freedom can be experienced.  Take for instance someone who has a heart condition or who is diabetic.  To say that limiting his or her diet to certain food is necessary but it is a constraint.  However, on the other hand, by doing so they experience what they really desire which is a longer and more productive life and that’s good stewardship.

 

  Freedom, then, is making the more liberating decision with the future in mind.  Jesus understood this when he said, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”  To do otherwise is only to see your investment destroyed by moths, vermin, and those who wish to take advantage of you.  Freedom comes in both negative and positive forms. It can be understood as either having the ability to act or change without constraint OR freedom is fulfilling one’s purpose  by possessing the power and the resources.  Both involve choices and both have constraints built in.   

 

 Today we will review the decisions made by Noah, Abram, Jacob, and Moses.  If stewardship is comprised of our relationship with the values surrounding our use of “time, talent, and financial resources,” then understanding freedom is important. 

 

Jesus addressed these issues indirectly when He said, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32) but is freedom something “to be freed from” or “to be freed for” or is it both?  What is sometimes called negative freedom refers to being freed from constraints -- it’s my life, my body, my dollar -- so don’t tell me what I can’t do. Positive freedom then gives focus to one’s purpose in life using available power and resources.   Is it an either-or kind of freedom? When we speak of “religious liberty” do we talk only about removing the constraining factors that limit our religious expressions or is there a message bigger than our constraints?    After Jesus says, “The truth will set you free” he then describes the true enemy of freedom in John 8:33,34

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Just being a descendant of Abraham did not make anyone free. The decisions they make determine the kind of freedom they will have.  Jesus defines the kind of freedom that leads to a kind of personal slavery.  Our focus this quarter is on stewardship and stewardship is all about total life management which is about the choices we make.

 

We will find some helpful insights in the examples of Noah, Abram, Jacob, and Moses.

 

Noah

Genesis 3:5 describes how life was being lived in Noah’s day and why it was not pleasing to God.

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.

Of Noah, it was said,

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Gen. 6:9)

Would you say, Noah was a free man--he was blameless and walked faithfully with God?  Does freedom mean freedom from responsibility and accountability?

So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood.  (Gen. 6:13,14)

Were the instructions limiting Noah’s freedom? Was Noah’s freedom part of a bigger picture?  Could Noah feel that he had purpose?

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark —you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. (Gen. 6:18)

Did Noah’s anticipation of the coming flood constrain his lifestyle. Was his freedom threatened? How did a coming crisis affect the stewardship of his time, abilities, and available resources? What did “finding grace or favor with God” (Gen. 6:8) say about his stewardship and freedom?  

Abram

When Jesus was speaking about “truth” in John 8 he explained the criterion for having both the truth and freedom,

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31,32)

Jesus then explained that they were descendants of Abraham. (v.37). What was there about Abraham that represented both truth and freedom?  At the same time those who did not “hear” the words of Jesus were told,

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. (John 8:39-40)

The source of truth and “freedom” one has determines not only how one thinks but also one’s actions.

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. (John 8:43-44)

Which “father” responded to the words of Jesus? How did the “freedom” they chose seek to end the freedom of Jesus?

Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:58,59)

How was Abraham like Noah?

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Jacob

 

How did Jacob’s “freedom” to deceive his father Isaac affect his freedom?

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” (Gen 27:41)

Why do you think God allowed Jacob to wrestle so long with Him when it could have ended immediately? What was God’s purpose?  Did He have a purpose for Jacob that would result from night-long wrestling?

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.(Gen. 32:24-25)

Can God’s patience change hearts?

Through humiliation, repentance, and self-surrender, this sinful, erring mortal prevailed with the Majesty of heaven. He had fastened his trembling grasp upon the promises of God, and the heart of Infinite Love could not turn away the sinner's plea. PP 197.1

The error that had led to Jacob's sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud was now clearly set before him. He had not trusted God's promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which God would have accomplished in His own time and way. As an evidence that he had been forgiven, his name was changed from one that was a reminder of his sin, to one that commemorated his victory. “Thy name,” said the Angel, “shall be called no more Jacob [the supplanter], but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” PP 197.2

What does the following say about both freedom and stewardship?

He had not trusted God's promises, but had sought by his own efforts to bring about that which God would have accomplished in His own time and way.( PP 197)

Moses

 

When Moses fled the “constraints” of Pharaoh, what was the first constraint He faced when He encountered God at the burning bush?  How did this encounter establish the foundation for freeing the Israelites who were groaning because of the Egyptian slavery?

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look [at the burning bush], God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” (Genesis 3:4-6)

Why did God mention Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

In fulfillment of the covenant promise made to Abram (Gen. 3:15), God would ‘come down’ to deliver Israel and bring them to a ‘good and large land’ *v.8)

 

In retrospect and in light of the sacrifices and hardships of Moses, do you think Moses would think it was worth it?  

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. (Hebrews 11:24-28)

Investments

We began our study with the words of Jesus, 

“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. . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:19,20)

 

·      What investment principle is seen in Noah, Abram, Jacob, and Moses? 

 

·      How could you describe their treasure?  Did they always make the right decisions?  

 

·      What does God’s dealing with them tell us about the freedom we have?

 

Concluding Thoughts

 

In a community online newsletter that I receive, I read that someone in the darkness of the night, shattered the glass of a BMW.  The owner reported with great disgust that they stole the Owner’s Manual. Why would some be upset about the manual being stolen? 

 

The Owner’s Manual was written with the knowledge of how the car was created and what it would take to keep it running for a long time. 

 

Scripture reminds us that we have been created in the image of our Maker. “He knows how we are formed (Ps 103:14) and though we have all made some bad decisions along the way, 

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:10-12)

It’s no wonder that Jesus encouraged us to use our freedom to  “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”