Our reading today from God's Word is from the book of Matthew, chapter 6. Chapter 6 of Matthew. We'll be starting at verse 19, going through verse 21. then verse 24, going through to verse 26, and then verse 31 to 33. So let's listen to the words of our great God, whose mercy endureth forever. 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 destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Verse 24. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Verse 31. Therefore, do not worry, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. You may be seated. Amen. Let's bow in prayer together, shall we? Our Heavenly Father, as we bow before you just now, as we prepare for the exposition of your Holy Scriptures, we are mindful of Your word that you gave to the Apostle Paul when Paul charged Timothy in the name of Jesus Christ. That your word may be preached in season and out of season. And by your spirit, Father, may it convince and exhort with all longsuffering and teach. Rebuking any inclination to turn aside to unsound doctrines. of those having merely itching ears. But instead, Father, feed us with heavenly manna, satisfy our souls with eternal treasures, and strengthen our faith in your constant care, and ignite our zeal for your kingdom and your righteousness. For as we come to you this day, Father, we know your Word is not docile or dead. But it's living and active. And it does our work in our hearts and in our minds by your Holy Spirit. Therefore, Father, may you watch over your word to perform it and cause it to bear fruit in our lives. that we, Father, might be further conformed to the image of Christ, that we, Lord, might be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we, Father, might be kept from conforming to this world. These things we pray you in the name of our holy Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Well, the title of this sermon is treasuring God's presence and provision. This morning I asked Paul if he would read out of Matthew chapter 6 for us, not that that's our text. Our text is taken right from where we've been dealing with things, and that's in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 5 and 6, but since it was just two verses. I thought it wise for us to read Jesus Christ's commentary, if you will, on those two verses. And therefore, he was kind enough to read it for us. And so as we begin our study and we think here of Hebrews 13, 5, and 6, allow me to read the two verses. Let your conduct be without covetousness, or more accurately translated, the love of money. Be content with such things as you have. For he himself has said, I will never leave you. nor forsake you. So we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper. I will not fear what can man do to me." Hebrews 13, 5 and 6 is our central biblical text, as I said. However, it is enriched and illumined by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 6 in that portion of the Sermon on the Mount. Here in our text in Hebrews, it focuses on love again. Remember, we saw brotherly love. We saw love of strangers and love of those in prisoners. But here it talks about a different kind of love, not one that is a good love, but that is one that's not good. And that is the love of money, the word literally being translated that way. In fact, the word for covetousness is not exactly the same in the original language. In fact, it doesn't even have the same root. However, you can see how the two overlap. And so the love of money, the sin, can plague the wealthy. And you say, that's right. The wealthy, they need to hear this. Oh, wait a minute. It can plague just as much, perhaps even more. those who are not wealthy, those who are needy. If you don't believe me, follow the sales. You can tell by how much it goes up each week. Every time you go to the grocery store and look at how much is the Lotto, how much is the Powerball, how much is, what's that other one, Mega Millions, and see how much they climb every week. You see, that's not the wealthy investing their money. They know better. They know a fool's errand when they see it. But you see, that's those who are seeking to find wealth, by that means, the love of money. Covetousness, though, certainly is forbidden in scripture. It's the 10th commandment, isn't it? And it's a little different from some of the other commandments, a little bit, in that covetousness can really overlap with most of the other commandments of the 10. In fact, it certainly overlaps things like adultery, doesn't it? It can overlap, certainly, with stealing. and other things that we could make connections to in the Ten Commandments. And remember in Ephesians 5 I think it is where it talks about covetousness and it says that covetousness is tantamount to idolatry. So it's not a small thing. We think that's one of those that's allowed. I can covet. I can desire what somebody else has. And covetousness, or the love of money, frequently is talking about things where it's risen to a point where it's an obsession. It's risen to a point where it's constantly on one's mind, or it's something that is number one priority in a person's life, or something of that nature. a desire for wealth, or, you know, grasping at things, or being greedy even, a love of money, being greedy and hoarding and not sharing, you know, not caring about the needs of others. Scrooge. And so when we think of it in those terms, you see, that too applies to what our text is talking about. So really, it's a two-edged sword in a way. The love of money can strike anyone at any strata on the social structure. And so let's see if we can see how this applies to both. And first of all, we see it's a trust issue. Faith, trust. Do we trust in God's faithfulness? Do we trust in him to be faithful? We were looking at the children of Israel in the wilderness. No relationship in English to that Hebrew, but the idea, the wilderness of sin. And there as they came into the wilderness of sin, you see, they were concerned very much about the things that were the necessities of life. And so you can see this can be the love of money can be just because, hey, I've been laid off, or I've lost my job, or I'm just not making enough, or for some reason, you know, we just can't make ends meet. So the love of money can rise to an obsession and even bring us into sin, even in something that starts as something very appropriate and needing to apply the necessities of life. But what it can also lead us into is bitterness. It can also lead us into, by the love of money and not having enough of it, we can be like those who were in that wilderness I was mentioning, and what did they do but they complained? Oh God brought us out here to kill us. You know, I wish I had died by the meat pots in Egypt. That's what they say. You see, we can be What do you want to say? Pushed into a corner to where we get desperate. And we can, out of this love of money, be led into sin to complain, murmur. I like that word better. It's more, it sounds like it, you know, murmur, murmur, murmur, murmur, all the crowd complaining against God. But the complaints against him, these things are a lack of faith or a lack of trust. And so this text that's talking to us here, God speaking here, is he's talking that the Lord is my helper. Actually, the better translation, a way to put it is, I've written it down the way it should be, in verse 6, so then we are bold to say, the Lord will come to my aid. That's the idea. And so why this temptation to love money? Why is it such a big thing? What is wrong with it? Well, let me infer from the things that are used here that are the assurances that are given. The Lord gives us these assurances in verses five and six, doesn't he? And we may infer from looking at the assurances, that's a positive, what's the negative we should avoid? Can't we do that? And so when we look then at first of all here in verse 5, where the Lord is saying not to be a lover of money, but be content with what you have. For God has said, and by the way, this is the way it's out of the original language. This is the way it should be translated. The word order means something. If you put something up front in Greek or English, for example, it's something that emphasizes it, right? And this is the way it should be. Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you. Does that make a big difference? It does to me. That's the way it's worded. So the Lord's being emphatic to us. Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you, abandon you. Oh, that's powerful. And so by looking at these things, we can work backwards and say, okay, be content with what you have. And so in other words, what is saying a love of money is being discontent. I'm not satisfied. I'm not content. I'm not happy. I'm not fulfilled. And what you have provided, that's what it means. And so this is discontent with God's infinite wisdom, I guess. Oh, wait a minute. You're going to get theological. Yes, that's what helps me anyway. I hope it helps you. You know, God is infinitely wise. God is all-powerful. You will agree with me. God is the one who owns a cattle on a thousand hills. God is not short on supply. God is the one who is the great creator of all things and sustainer of all things. And nothing escapes his notice. God works all things according to the counsel of his will. And so when we're talking about these things, we say discontent. The problem's not with him. The problem's with me, with us, when that's the case. And so that's what needs to be considered. Perhaps you say, well, my needs are met, but just barely. We're barely making it. Or maybe my needs are running short. I'm short and shorter and shorter every month. We'll come to that in a minute. But the big thing, we were looking at Israel, and you know, the Lord would lead them to a place in that wilderness of sin, for example, we were mentioning. He led them to that place after they had been in a place of plenty, in an oasis. You know? And there at Elim they had 70 date palms and 12 wells. This is after being in a desolate area. And here they are in this place. God strengthens them, gives them rest, and then leads them into the wilderness. Now what's on the other side of the wilderness? It is the mountain of God. They're going to worship Him. They're going to be in God's presence. They're going to see the glory of God on that mountain. But in between, They fell into terrible, shameful murmuring and complaint and even said, oh, that we were back in Egypt. There's the big temptation. God's not providing. Maybe he's not worth worshiping. You see, faith can get shaky. And so when you have not enough, you see, that can be a challenge and one could be, the faith can get shaky. But I can show you also over in 1 Timothy chapter 6, it says those that have an abundance who are wealthy, it says through this means, it says that the love of money, same word by the way in Greek, the love of money, this is in the 610, I think it is. You check me out. I may have it wrong. But you look there in 1st Timothy, and it says there that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And it says, by this means many have strayed from the faith. In other words, they departed from the faith because of the love of money. Now we're talking about the greedy. Now we're talking about those who their lives are more and more consumed with the desire to acquire more. By the way, have you ever asked why people want to acquire more? Well, I'm glad you asked. Well, you're looking like you want to, so I'm helping you. There are lots of reasons for doing it, aren't there? Because we think we can get everything we want and be happy. So that's the means of happiness. Or that's the means of never having to go through all of that hassle of being short on things again. Understandable. Sometimes it's for power and control. Thinking really big. Power and control. We have that in our world, don't we? And the more I have, the more I have control, the more I have power. And so, you know, the love of stuff is to say, how much is enough? I remember, I forget who was being interviewed, this one billionaire, and he says, how much is enough? And he said, just a little more. You see, it's insatiable. It's like a drug, you must have more and more and more, and never is the high enough. And there's the danger. And you see, that's why you can see covetousness in Ephesians 5 described as tantamount or equal or equivalent to idolatry. And so when we look here at the, it can be shaky. The faith can be shaky, not confident in the Lord. You know, as I mentioned with the Lord, maybe he won't provide. And even as it says here, fear. Not confident that the Lord will have a bold conviction. The Lord will come to my aid, as it says working backward from this. He will come to my aid, doubting. He won't come to my aid. Maybe he doesn't like me. Maybe he's given up on me. Maybe he's overlooked me. Maybe this isn't true, what I've been reading in the Bible. You ever been tempted to doubt like that? It's happened. And so when you look at what it says here, furthermore, forsake, maybe he has turned his back on me. But it goes on to say, I will not fear what man shall do unto me. And so I believe there's something, another component that we could look into these two verses that are at work, and that is the component of persecution. Remember we were looking over back in chapter 10 of Hebrews, If I may turn back into chapter 10, verse 32, it says, Recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became a companion to those who were so treated. For you had compassion on me and my chains, and joyfully accepted, listen, the plundering of your goods. knowing that you had a better, a more enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. And so you see, that very well may have been a missing component that's not mentioned here. You say, well, that's not our case. Well, more and more we're seeing Christianity marginalized. And certain labels are being applied to us now more and more and more. Where Christians can be singled out as those who are the troublemakers. They are the trouble. having names like, you know, Radical. I remember 30 years ago in an administration, the notes were leaked, you know, of the Attorney General at that time, yes, 30 years ago. And they had their, what is the definition of a terrorist? And a terrorist is someone who believes in the second coming of Christ and goes to Bible studies. You terrorist, you. Or maybe it is you believe in this radical thing that life, there's real life in the womb, not just tissue. A person is alive there and to terminate that life within the womb is murder. Well, naturally, you're a radical that's dangerous. Who knows what you'll do? Or other things that could happen where you will not be licensed, or you will not receive, you know, the ability to practice what you've been going through college for, training for, or maybe you've been working over decades doing, and then pulling that away from you, ceasing to ability to earn. Remember when Hebrews was written. Hebrews was written, we went through this long ago, but it was somewhere after the persecution began by Nero in 64. probably quite a while after, a few years. And it was at that time he started a persecution in Rome. And it went beyond the confines of Rome, but it was not, largely speaking, the full empire that was involved. But people were moving because of it, and Jews were fleeing. And so no doubt, these were Jews who were affected, certainly caught up in some of the effects of that. There's also Probably. It had to be before the fall of Jerusalem because of everything with sacrifices. The point be, you're right in the window of time where it's from the persecution of Nero and the confiscation of things leading us to the time where they came to Jerusalem. And then in Jerusalem, they had to flee to Pella to escape destruction there. How much do you think they could carry with them? And so when we're talking here, desperate times. And you say, never will I leave you, he says. Never will I forsake you. Notice the way it's worded. Then we shall be bold to say. The word that's used there is the word for boldness. We shall be bold to say. The Lord will come to my aid. I will not be afraid. What will man do to me? And so as it's speaking in these terms. You see, those who have wandered away from the faith, there was not the faith that was there. Not the trust, not the confidence, not the boldness, surely, of in the true and living God, the Lord, our Deliverer. And so we have, furthermore, those who would look at it in terms of covetousness just in general. the love of money. There's another thing, reason why a lot of people love money. It's a simple word that all of us are familiar with and is not, you know, going to alarm you much, and that's security. Right? You want to be secure, right? So as long as you have enough money, you'll be secure. Right? So what are you banking your security upon? All of us are getting up there, you know, retirement age and stuff like that. Wait a minute now. You're scaring me. No, I'm not. I'm just reminding us all. God calls us to be wise and to put things aside and save and prepare. But is that where our faith is? There's the question. That's what we're pointing out. And the Lord says that we are to trust in Him. And so when we think of security, you see, where is our security? Let me look at Matthew 6 a moment, because a lot of answers can be had looking through that. First of all, in verses 19, Matthew 6, 19 to 21, this is a commentary, as I said, to some degree, on the issues that are being addressed in this passage. Straightforward, real simple stuff, and I won't take long on it. In Matthew 6, 19 to 21, where are your treasures? What if there's a banking crisis? You say, where's your treasures? None of us want a banking crisis. And this sermon, as it goes out, I hope it's not going to cause a run on the banks, but it does cause us to think. And so in verses 19 to 20, the Lord says, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. And he goes through the idea of moth and rust and things and thieves. And what he's getting at here is anything that we can store up here on earth is something that can be taken from us. And he says here, we should set our treasures, our hearts on things of heaven, and set our treasures there, for it's there that it cannot be taken from us, but most importantly, those are treasures that are everlasting. I remember Paul writing in Philippians chapter three, no doubt you know this text. And Paul says, you know, what things were gained to me, these I've counted as loss, that I may gain him. And he talks about all that he had, not just with money, but with position and with prestige. He was climbing the ladder of success in Judaism. I mean, after all, the Sanhedrin had him, the Coatsby, put at his feet when the stoning of Stephan took place. They were sending him with papers to arrest all the Christians. He was a man who was on a meteoric rise to power and prestige. He said, what things were gained to me, I count as Skubala. the word. Sounds like it. Horrible refuse, worthless. He says, I stray, I pursue, forgetting those things behind, I press towards a mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Remember as he was writing his final letter, you read it there in 2nd Timothy, in chapter 4. What does he say? Timothy, I want you to go along this fence line and I have a special rock there where I've hidden all my treasure behind that. And I want you to go get it, son. And I want you to get that money out, that gold, and I want you to have it. You're the one who's to inherit it. No, he doesn't say a thing like that. But he does say, talking about the end of his life, that he has finished his course. that he's kept the faith, and that henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness, which the Lord shall give him on that day, and not him only, but to all of us who love his appearing. And so Christ says here in this, he says, do not set your treasures here on earth, but to set our treasures in heaven. But this is important. We want to know about the love of money. What is the love of the heart? And it says wherever your heart is, There's where is your treasure. What do you love? What do I love? What do we treasure? What do we value the most highly? What is it? What's something we cannot live without? What is the first thing that comes to mind? What is the priority in our minds and in our hearts? There's where your treasure is. That's what he says. And so when we we think of this everlasting treasure of the Lord, where have we invested? Remember reading of, we were going through the study, we are going through the study in Revelation, and we covered the chapters two and four, two and three, two different churches. The second church, Smyrna, was a church that was persecuted. And it says you're poor, you're poor and you have nothing. And he says that you've been imprisoned for your faith and that you're standing true to God and even willing to go to martyrdom like our brother Antipas did, went. And it says all of these things about them, he says, they say you're poor, but I say, now this is Jesus speaking, I say that you're rich. Now which treasure do you want? Compare that to another church by the name of Laodicea. Laodicea was a banking center. Laodicea, the city. Laodicea was a trade center. It was at a convergence of roads. It was something that had great industry and there was a lot of money there. And you know what the people of the church said? They said, we are wealthy and we have need of nothing. Now listen to what they just said. Because I have money, because I have wealth, I don't need anything. What did Christ say? You don't realize. You're poor, miserable, blind, and naked. Buy from me wealth that does not perish, but lasts for all eternity. And so when you're looking at what it says, very simple message that he gives here, but he says, look, the love of money. Do not love the money. It's a tool. It's something we use. It's something that all of us are using on a constant basis. Fine. Treat it as such. Wise in investments? Sure. You know, save? Yes. But how about giving, too? You see, there's another thing that's important, is when you think of this, the love of money would prevent one from giving money to others. In the prayer requests I have there, one of the prayer requests that I wrote down for today was, you know, teach our families, as you have families, you know, that children that are raising, and by the way, not just what you teach them, but they're catching more than they're taught. You know, they're watching, they're listening, they're observing, they're involved with all of this. And as we're doing this, show them that there is always, and even if we have very little, that we always can give and help those in need. You see? And they learned this. This is good and glorifying unto God. And so he says, your treasures. And then he points us in verse 26 and following. What is he pointing to? He says, look at how God takes care of the animal kingdom. Look how he takes care of all of the birds, how he takes care of even the lilies of the field. Look at how God is working in all of these things, sovereignly ordaining all these things for the glory of his name. And you see that God is purposing all of us and doing all of us. And he says, they don't sow. They don't reap the birds of the air. The Lord feeds them every day. Psalm 104 is one of those that's great in this regard. I know the time is fleeting. Psalm 104, I think it's verses 27 and eight. These all wait for you that you may give them their food in due season. What you give them they gather in. You open your hand, they are filled with good. You know, Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10 over there, and we've quoted it many times, and you know it well, in verses 29 through 31 there, and it says, you know that, speaking of the sparrows, it says, are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And he says, yet not a sparrow falls from the sky apart from the will of your Father. He says, you're of much more value than many sparrows. The very hairs of our head are numbered. The whole point being, even in a detail, something as insignificant in the grand scheme of things as sparrows, and I love sparrows. But even something that insignificant, God is the one who's involved in it all. Do you really think God's not involved in providing for us? Of course He is. That's what Jesus is getting across here in Matthew chapter 6. Look, He says, look at them. God provides. So when we get then to verses 31 to 33, therefore, therefore, therefore do not worry, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For after all these things, the Gentiles, the godless, the pagans seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. What does he mean, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness? God's kingdom, God's rule, God's sovereignty, God's providence. Remember what Jesus said, seek and you shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you. Does not your father, earthly fathers know how to give their children good things? He says, if they ask for a fish, will they give him a serpent? He says, your heavenly father knows what you have need of before you ask. Seek him his kingdom. and seek it not for greed's sake, but seek it for His glory's sake and for the provision of necessities and that sort of thing. You know, Paul, I've got it in your sermon notes and don't have time to develop, but Paul is talking about this very thing. I think it's the one I chose for your sermon notes. I could be wrong. Philippians, yes, Philippians 4. He speaks about giving and he says, not in regard to having need, for I have learned in whatever state I'm in therein to be content. I know how to be abased, I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I've learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Do you see what he's saying that I can do all things is related to? That's what he said. Jesus said, do not worry. There is another thing that undermines, undercuts faith. Worry. anxiety in this same chapter of Philippians. Remember what is said there, you know, be anxious or worry for nothing. But in everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passes understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Everything that said there is profound. This anxiety that's eating us up, worried about the necessities, and yes, they're real many times. Concerned over it, he says, be anxious for nothing but in prayer, supplication that's appealing to him with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto him. And it says, the peace of God which surpasses understanding. In other words, that's not what normally comes with unbelievers. It's not something you would normally take peace in. But even counter-intuitively trusting Him, the peace of God guards. You know what that means? It means sets up a bulwark around our heart. Guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Remember 2 Corinthians 8, 9, where he who was wealthy beyond meaning and understanding, he is the one who became impoverished for our sake, that we might become rich, not monetarily, but in eternal ways in him. Jesus identifies with us in all things. And remember, He said, the foxes have holes, the birds have their nests, yet the Son of Man has not a place to lay His head. So in conclusion, not in worry, not in anxiety, not in murmuring and complaining, not in failing in our faith, but always fleeing to Him who, as it says here, never will I leave you. Never will I abandon you. The Lord will come to your aid. Say that boldly, pray that boldly, and believe that boldly, because it's true. In any attempt to love money and covetousness, be reminded, as Job said, surely naked came I into this world, and naked I shall return. Blessed shall be the name of the Lord. And so, beloved, as the Lord leads us to this, it's not to be careless or Certainly, the Bible doesn't say that we should not work. 2 Thessalonians 3.10, that's the one that says, you know, it's not that we're to be lazy and sluggards. That's one of my favorite words with my kids. Proverbs, you know, as a gate turns upon its hinges, so turns a sluggard upon his bed. They all knew that one by heart. A sluggard is someone who's so lazy they won't even get out of bed. That's not what he's making promises to. It says in 2 Thessalonians 3.10, it says, if someone will not work, let him not eat. So see, we're not talking about that. But we are saying if we're coming to this subject, we sanctify and trust. God is able. But more than that, God will come to our aid. Let me give you an illustration of that. Elijah had confronted Ahab and Jezebel, remember? And he said, there will be a famine on the land for three and a half years. Well, that means he too would be one who had run short on water and on food, but also they were after his head. So the Lord had him flee to a brook. It's off to the east side of the Jordan, flows into the Jordan, a little brook, up this little canyon that goes up. The brook Carath is the name of it. And the Lord fed him. Do you know how he fed him? Ravens. He had him fed with unclean birds. In the law, remember, they're unclean. They're scavengers. And yet the Lord had him day by day, feed him, and the water from the brook. And it reminded me of something. There's a lot you could expound on that, and I need to quit, but just remember this. All of you know the Lord's Prayer, right? Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What's the next phrase? Give us this day our daily bread. We Americans don't know much about having to depend upon day by day just where isn't tomorrow's food coming from. But many in the world do. Not to say it can't happen here either. But the whole point is to say in abundance or in nothing. we are to look to Him day by day to provide. Rejoice, be bold, and be reminded. He will never leave us. He will never abandon us. May God be praised. Amen. Let's pray together. O righteous Father, We look to you now and we are reminded of what has been preached, and the psalmist's words, cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. You, O Lord, are opposed to the proud but give grace to the humble. Therefore, we pray to you, O Lord, that we may humble our heart and cast our burden upon you. Not to be anxious, not to be worrisome, but as has been described, what you did, you did with the ravens for Elijah. You say in Matthew that you feed the birds, and there with Elijah you had the birds feed him. O Lord, you are sovereign over all things, so may we take heart, casting all of our anxiety upon you, for you care for us. May it be so, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. Now receive the benediction of the Lord. And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. In the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.