God or Mammon: You Decide!

Introduction:
We need a stiff warning today concerning the possession of too great of an affection for things. Covetousness is subtle. It is just the kind of spiritual cancer which seems to live easily with a great display of piety. It does not have about it the open ugliness of gross immorality, yet this “respectable worldliness” through its subtlety, becomes even more dangerous. (Paul Earnhart) Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution p. 103 We must accept Christ’s admonition in 6:21. All things on earth decay—we must concentrate on things eternal. To do this means we must wholeheartedly serve God!

I. ____________ ____________ has an awful grip.
    A. It effects our __________________. Must be focused upon biblical/spiritual things!
        1. Involves our feelings; _______________; love & ______________.
    B. It effects our __________. How do you “see” things? “Look at things?”
        1. 6:22-23—Jesus compares our eyes to our life controlling perspective on the heart.
        2. Spiritual visions can be ________ by an unhealthy preoccupation w/things.
    C. Our ____________ can be affected by the world.
        1. What we do is a result of what we think. Can creep in unawares!

II. One cannot _______________ between two masters.
    A. You cannot ________ ______ ____________ between _____ and the ________!
        1. 6:24 – illustration of a man trying to serve two masters.
        2. “serve” = to be a ________ to. “master” = _________.
        3. Together this suggests _________ ownership & control!
    B. God demands total service on our part! No halfway; halfhearted; lazy service!
        1. Mt. 12:30; 19:21; 10:37
        2. Mt. 16:26—for what will it profit a man if he _____ the whole world & forfeits his _______? Or what will a man give in exchange
           for his ______?
    C. Some wind up being like the Assyrians in 2 Kings 17:24-41.
        1. 17:25—Assyrians captured Samaria. God sent lions to kill some of them
        2. 17:26-29—priests brought into land to teach people to ______ the Lord!
        3. 17:33—but also kept on serving their ______ - just as before.
    D. So many today offer ___ _____ to God—while serving other ______ at same time!
        1. Job; career; recreation; family; etc.
        2. Why did Jesus say what He did in 7:21-23?

III. The problem with _________________.
    A. “Mammon” as found here from Aramaic word for _________.
        1. Jesus concerned with the love of ______ as a rival for ______ __________ to God.
        2. There is danger w/any fascination w/the wealth of this world! Why?
        3. No ________ or ______________ - no lasting ______________.
    B. Money will _______________ us; God will _________ us.
        1. Men who have been made for God will know no peace apart from Him!
        2. God has always demanded total loyalty! See Ex. 20:3-4; Deut. 6:4-5. Should this really surprise us?
    C. Mammon will no longer hold itself over us when we realize:
        1. Js. 1:17—every good thing _________ and every perfect _______ is from above….
        2. 1 Tim. 6:17—God….richly ________ us with _____ _________ to enjoy.
        3. We are mere _____________ of His property!

Conclusion:
    A. If we succeed in heaving treasure in heaven—it will be because we have put our whole heart into the matter.
        There is no room for indecision or lukewarmness in our attitude toward God & His kingdom. We must choose heaven and choose it
         unreservedly.
    B. Have you chosen heaven? You have if you are a Christina!
        1. Mt. 6:33—see first the kingdom of God!



God or Mammon: You Decide! Introduction: We need a stiff warning today concerning the possession of too great of an affection for things. Covetousness is subtle. It is just the kind of spiritual cancer which seems to live easily with a great display of piety. It does not have about it the open ugliness of gross immorality, yet this “respectable worldliness” through its subtlety, becomes even more dangerous. (Paul Earnhart) Invitation to a Spiritual Revolution p. 103 We must accept Christ’s admonition in 6:21. All things on earth decay—we must concentrate on things eternal. To do this means we must wholeheartedly serve God! I. ____________ ____________ has an awful grip. A. It effects our __________________. Must be focused upon biblical/spiritual things! 1. Involves our feelings; _______________; love & ______________. B. It effects our __________. How do you “see” things? “Look at things?” 1. 6:22-23—Jesus compares our eyes to our life controlling perspective on the heart. 2. Spiritual visions can be ________ by an unhealthy preoccupation w/things. C. Our ____________ can be affected by the world. 1. What we do is a result of what we think. Can creep in unawares! II. One cannot _______________ between two masters. A. You cannot ________ ______ ____________ between _____ and the ________! 1. 6:24 – illustration of a man trying to serve two masters. 2. “serve” = to be a ________ to. “master” = _________. 3. Together this suggests _________ ownership & control! B. God demands total service on our part! No halfway; halfhearted; lazy service! 1. Mt. 12:30; 19:21; 10:37 2. Mt. 16:26—for what will it profit a man if he _____ the whole world & forfeits his _______? Or what will a man give in exchange for his ______? C. Some wind up being like the Assyrians in 2 Kings 17:24-41. 1. 17:25—Assyrians captured Samaria. God sent lions to kill some of them 2. 17:26-29—priests brought into land to teach people to ______ the Lord! 3. 17:33—but also kept on serving their ______ - just as before. D. So many today offer ___ _____ to God—while serving other ______ at same time! 1. Job; career; recreation; family; etc. 2. Why did Jesus say what He did in 7:21-23? III. The problem with _________________. A. “Mammon” as found here from Aramaic word for _________. 1. Jesus concerned with the love of ______ as a rival for ______ __________ to God. 2. There is danger w/any fascination w/the wealth of this world! Why? 3. No ________ or ______________ - no lasting ______________. B. Money will _______________ us; God will _________ us. 1. Men who have been made for God will know no peace apart from Him! 2. God has always demanded total loyalty! See Ex. 20:3-4; Deut. 6:4-5. Should this really surprise us? C. Mammon will no longer hold itself over us when we realize: 1. Js. 1:17—every good thing _________ and every perfect _______ is from above…. 2. 1 Tim. 6:17—God….richly ________ us with _____ _________ to enjoy. 3. We are mere _____________ of His property! Conclusion: A. If we succeed in heaving treasure in heaven—it will be because we have put our whole heart into the matter. There is no room for indecision or lukewarmness in our attitude toward God & His kingdom. We must choose heaven and choose it unreservedly. B. Have you chosen heaven? You have if you are a Christina! 1. Mt. 6:33—see first the kingdom of God!