The references to money which appear in the sermon on the mount as
reported by Matthew offer inside information on the subject.
Jesus came to fulfil the law, not to destroy it, not to lower religion.
Our religion must have expression in our life for only life at its best
can satisfy us. Prof. Stalker tells us that “The task of religious
teachers is to get people to see things as they are,” and we may add, as
they ought to be.
Jesus requires more than external compliance with the law or formal
righteousness and hence his followers must be better than Pharisees.
They must act from right motives when they pray and give alms and be
confidential with the Father who seeth in secret. The Pharisee’s reward,
to be seen of men, seems utterly insignificant as compared with that of
the Christian, “Thy Father who seeth in secret shall reward thee.” “Thy
Father” and not “our Father,” as elsewhere: for here the transaction is
confidential and personal; “Reward thee” as an individual who merits his
consideration.
The approval of our Father in heaven is worth while as well as good
standing in our community. Both are possible and Dr. Deems emphasizes
the value of both when he says: “One good man given to a town is better
than the gift of a park or a library and is worth more to a town than a
hundred of the most learned men who are not good.”
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,” says Jesus to His
disciples and his precept is illustrated by His example. Your life must
not be limited by money. Earthly treasures may be stolen or destroyed.
Money-making may hinder laying up treasures in heaven, “For where thy
treasure is, there will thy heart be also.”
Christians are essentially heavenly in character and life and so Paul
says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.” They are industrious, economical,
thrifty and enterprising but their life centers in the spiritual and the
wealth they possess is owned and used, not for themselves alone, but for
their families and neighbors, their friends and even their enemies, the
Church and nation.
Jesus declares that men must have the light of God and singleness of eye
in order to see. Men must learn to see as God sees. No man can serve two
masters, God and Mammon, only two being mentioned for there are no more.
God sees men as they are and is never in doubt while men get things
mixed up and try to do opposites. They think of food and raiment when
they ought to think of God’s kingdom and His righteousness. They ought
to put first things first in order to get other things in their proper
place.
Of course there are people who dislike those who see as God sees and do
as Christ directs but good people are not on this account to give away
holy things and cast aside the pearls they possess. Good people have a
right to be good even if “the dogs” and “the swine” have no appreciation
of the higher things of life. The continued possession of “pearls” and
“that which is holy” has the approval of Jesus.
He even commands his followers to ask of God who knows what is best for
them and who is described as “your Father” when it comes to giving to
them. He wishes to be asked for what they want and gives “good things”
in answer to their requests. This is information every child of God
should have because it comes from the lips of Jesus and is inside
information as regards God’s will as set forth in his word and also with
reference to our own personal experience.