SECRET #30 OF FOLLOWING JESUS

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We're making our way through 75 secrets or teachings of Jesus. The interesting thing about the secrets of Jesus is that they are intensely relevant and applicable no matter the society or generation. One of Jesus' primary themes is the struggle over money and wealth when desiring to live the spiritual life most consistently.
Jesus says: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) SECRET #30: The follower of Jesus has a single-mindedness toward heavenly treasures.

Remember, you were created to be dependent upon God. This is at the core of what that means. Jesus speaks more about money and how to handle it than most any other subject. That's not because He is taking up an offering or running a pledge drive. He has plenty without yours! It's because money and material things-earthly treasures-are the easiest to become dependent upon, the earthly treasures that most easily distract us away from God. So, here Jesus contrasts only two options. You can invest your life storing up heavenly treasures or you can invest your life storing up earthly treasures.

NOTE that earthly treasures are full of insecurity and the heavenly treasures will be secure! Earthly treasures produce emptiness, loss and even can be destructive. In my experience earthly treasures create four empty and destructive toxins-guilt, anger, fear and shame. Earthly treasures over promise and under deliver. The promises are always about peace, love, joy and hope. What's interesting is it's within a relationship with Jesus that peace, love, joy and hope can be consistently embraced and experienced. That's why Jesus is the Good News; Jesus is the essence of your heavenly treasures!

And NOTE that your heart will always reveal what your true treasure really is. In fact, your treasure leads the way for your heart! Jesus says: "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!" (Matthew 6:22-23)

The focus of your eye determines the health of your inner-side. If your eye is clear (has a clear focus upon heavenly treasures), then your entire inners will be full of light, wholeness and health. If your eye is bad (unclear-having a focus on earthly treasures), then your inners will be full of darkness, stressfulness and emptiness. I see this as your spiritual focus that will directly affect your psychological (and later physical) well-being, all due to your focus!

Jesus says: "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Matthew 6:24) Now, Jesus gives the ultimatum of it all! You cannot serve two masters! We tend to think that we can get away with it, but we can't. We tend to make Jesus the Lord of the general, but make ourselves the Lord of the specifics. I have a masters degree in doing this. I call it "doing things my way for Jesus." Believers tend to talk about standing on the Rock of Ages, but their actions look like they are clinging to a piece of driftwood!

Jesus introduces a most dynamic principle. It's the PRINCIPLE OF PRIMARY FOCUS or SINGLEMINDEDNESS! AN UNEXAMINED LIFE IS NOT WORTH LIVING. Walking with Jesus always moves you toward evaluating every dimension of your life. Try on a couple of simple steps in applying this paragraph.

#1-RELEASE YOUR TIGHT GRIP ON EARTHLY TREASURES! You must remember that you came into this world naked and will go out in the same way. After you die, there will be a large garage sale. You have been entrusted with what you are and what you have to be the manager of it all while you're on planet earth. There will be an accounting review later!

#2-REFOCUS ON YOUR HEAVENLY TREASURES! What are you doing that will last forever? Think about it! THE PRINCIPLE OF PRIMARY FOCUS MEANS A SINGLE-MINDEDNESS TOWARD GOD-your heavenly treasures in Jesus! SECRET #30: The follower of Jesus has a single-mindedness toward heavenly treasures. When you're walking with Jesus, keeping His principles, you're trafficking in heavenly treasures.