Matthew 5-6

Angie's Thoughts

In Matthew Chapter 5-6, Jesus gives us some principles to live by so that we may live a Christ-like life.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not divorce.

Love your enemies.

Do not swear.

etc.. and elaborations of those principles. These are mostly common sense.

But He also touches upon subjects that really spoke to me.

Matthew 6:19-21 "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 moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, your heart will
be also."

Wow. For where your treasure is, your heart will be also. It goes on to talk about how you cannot serve both God and money.

This should be on billboards. I mean, that is GREAT STUFF. If people applied that just slightly to their lives, that would make the world a better place. If we invest all our time and energy on making our life in THIS world better.. we're not going to have time do invest in our eternal home! When we do anything out of love and selflessness.. we invest in our heavenly home. Not ONE cup of a water that you give to somebody will be overlooked by God because He is all seeing. So, if we don't take our time to serve others, as we are called to do, because we are too busy with our job and making money to buy a car and a house and clothes and all of those other material things.. where does that leave anything for heaven?

I mean, isn't it common sense to be selfless then?

So, if you have a choice between giving your tithe and buying a new television. Think about how far each is going to get you in life. NOT just this life, but the afterlife. I think you'll find that the TV does poor justice.

And Jesus isn't calling us to not enjoy our money and our life and not spend anything on ourselves. He just wants our eyes on the prize. I think He wants our hearts in heaven with Him. where they belong.

But heres my FAVORITE part of chapter 5-6. It says Do Not Worry.

Matthew 6:25-27 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds
of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you
by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Out of everything this is what I can apply most to my life. And I think the average person can say the same. We spend so much time worrying and stressing out and wasting energy on things that will be okay no matter what. That's what I tell myself when I start worrying or when I get scared. "No matter what.. everything is gonna be alright." Because even in death, we have eternal life. And we have purpose. Even in complete darkness, we have light. So, don't waste your energy worrying about what God will take care of.

I think that this is almost about efficiency in our life. God wants us to be efficient. He does not want us to squander time and energy where it is not needed.

And on THAT note, fellow readers and bloggers (and Nikke :P ), I'll add.. that our lives are like hourglasses glued to the table, and we musn't waste one grain of sand, because each breath is a gift of God. And I hope that one day I can look back on my life.. and know that it didn't go to waste. See you tomorrow, everyone!

Nikke's thoughts

What a great teacher Jesus is! I just love the way He taught and well still teaches.
I love the way He breaks it all down and makes it so simple.
For myself it isn't always that simple. I think it can be. Can it?
When I was reading Jesus' teaching the Sermon on the Mount, being the salt and the light, the law, anger, lust, divorce, vows (oaths), retaliation, loving your enemies, giving to the needy, prayer, fasting, money and worry.

To myself I was thinking doesn't this come naturally to us? Somehow this has been lost to us. To the world.
I think the world has normalized so much of the things around like divorce, pornography, stress, needing to be wealthy etc. etc.
I think it is so sad that divorce is so common and that the vows a man and woman make to each other are not taken seriously or that a man or wife will allow their spouse to commit adultery by watching others on television and videos doing sexual acts. The mindset now is well he or she is not literally having sex. Jesus says "but I tell you anyone who has looked at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery within his heart."

Angie made some really good points about money, worry and self image. I just want to add that it is ok for someone to want to dress and look nice and want to have money. What matters is if you put the Lord first. Do these things come before God? If you say no, then you are good to go my friend.
God looks at the heart of what you do and who you are. However, He is very blunt about His expectations and we need to be obedient.

As I was reading these chapters I was thinking to myself the bible is the ultimate "book" if you will.
It has love, anger, revenge, battles, politics, vividness, family and redemption. All things that make up a wonderful novel that a lot of us might buy at the local book store.
Except the bible has the ultimate author and creator behind it! Man, I wish more would read it and feel the Spirit of God.