Looking to Jesus, Part 40
Greater Wealth!
Hebrews 11:23-29


Since 1959 young girls in our culture have received Barbie dolls for their birthdays. Never contented, Barbie then beckons her new owner to acquire more goods; outfits, shoes, cars, dream-houses, furniture and even Barbie R.V.’s to add to her ever-increasing wealth. The luckiest Barbies were also given a very good-looking, fully passive and compliant Ken doll for company. As the old joke goes, “I want to be Barbie. that (young woman) has everything!”

Satan’s most deadly strategy for destroying a believer’s joy and effectiveness is to take something God created good (namely everything) and subtly bend it into something evil. Sex, work, homes, hobbies, and even family can all be twisted when we love them above our first-love for Jesus. Satan’s strategies are never new, but are usually effective. His schemes are clear in Scripture and easily identifiable; unless you’ve fallen prey to them.

In his classic work, Confessions, Augustine reveals that all sin is simply a matter of “disordered loves.” When we displace our first love for Jesus Christ with the pursuit and enjoyment of lesser things, this is sin. The problem develops when we love something we should love, but begin to love it supremely.

Moses had it all. He was a beautiful child, loved by parents who even loved him enough to give him up. Adopted into the royal family, he grew up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; a Prince of Egypt. The riches and treasures of Egypt were his!

Moses decided that His love for God and His people was the greatest treasure of all - of more value than all the gold of Egypt. On this earth, God was Moses’ first love. There was no confusion in Moses’ mind - to know and serve God was the greatest treasure on earth. God even spoke “to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” (Ex. 33:11) This faith was counted to him as righteousness, and he has now received his “great reward!”

And now Jesus encourages us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)

See you this Sunday!
Pastor Steve