"Transformed Living in Tough Times"

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-21

First of all, I have to give thanks to Rev. John Ed Mathison for his book "Transformed Living in Tough Times," on which our recent sermon series was based. If you learned only one thing during our previous sermon series, let it be that it is not the job of the church to sit back and hope and pray that the tough times we are living in will somehow be transformed. Our job, our calling, is to live transformed lives in the midst of these tough times, and in so doing, become agents of transformation. That is what we have been talking about for the last few weeks. In all of the stories that were shared with you, in all of the sermons, everything we have done has been a call to be God's agents of transformation in a world desperately in need. One of the ways that we do this is to take seriously Jesus' words. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustconsume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." If it is helpful, think of it this way. You have two safety deposit boxes. One is marked "this world" and the other is marked "kingdom of God." Which box do you fill first. We are not just talking about money, we are talking about our prayers, presence, gifts and service. God knows that you must fill both boxes in order to live. But, which box do you fill first? Are both boxes a priority or does the "kingdom of God" box get leftovers, whatever is available or convenient. That is not what God wants. God wants our hearts because where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.