Pastor Rod Shimabukuro
August 3, 2014 - W1431

Today, we are going to be talking about prioritizing the treasures in your life.

How are we going to live out our lives? Will it be for ourselves, will it be for others, or will it be for God? One of my Biblical mentors, Dr. Michael Wilkins said, “One of the greatest demonstrations, to a skeptical world, about the reality of the gospel is a transformed life.”

 When Jesus entered into our lives, there was birthed a desire in us to live past this world. Jesus became king and lord over our lives. I believe that conversion means transformation – being made right with God every day. The book of John says, “That I may decrease, so that He may increase.”

 A transformed life must be a prioritized life made up of constant heart checks. This is like having spiritual MRI’s.

 At the top of your notes, would you draw a smiley face and write your birthdate under it. On the right side of our birthdate are blank boxes with dashes separating them. This signifies your gift of life.

 Most of us have experienced death in some form – whether it be from attending a funeral or experiencing something more tragic. I want us to live backwards, so that we may live forwards.

The Bible says, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.”Acts 20:24

 “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 heartwill be also.” Matt. 6:19-21 ESV

 In this particular context, Jesus is talking about money. Treasure involves manna. You cannot serve God and money. I believe that treasure includes earthly pursuits, or maybe the motives in our hearts. Where your treasure is, your heart will be.

 Ask yourself, where do you spend the following?

 Time

Talent

Treasure

 This past Thursday, my wife Becky and I were having a discussion about our finances, our kids, our relationship, our future and our stewardship. We discussed how blessed we are. We have far more than what we need. However, we have this inner yearning for more amenities, such as taking more vacations. This is a struggle that we have with our flesh.

 Time: We all have 168 hours per week to do everything that we want to do and need to do.  

We sleep eight hours a day or 56 hours per week. We work ten hours a day, six days a week. This is a total of 116 hours a week. We commute one to two hours a day. This adds up to six to twelve hours per week. Now …do we have time to do our devotions?

 When it comes to our time, we need to prioritize what we do in life in order to live a transformed life. We need to better steward the time that God has given us. This is because where you treasure is, your heart will be.

 Talent: How can we use our gifts and our passions to best serve God?

Maybe you do not have the time to serve at New Hope because you are serving the Lord in other places. Maybe the generosity of the Lord is working in you and through you as you share your time with people by ministering to them while taking them out to lunch. However, if you prioritized your time, you would be able to share some of your gifts, your talents, and your passions. Do not skimp on giving to God or into the storehouse of your church.

 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if our eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, not about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Mathew 6:22-35 ESV

 In this context, the analogy of the eye represents greed. Jesus is addressing His disciples and others during His sermon when He says not store up treasures for yourselves on earth. He goes on to warn them to watch their greed.

 Speaking of greedy. There were three guys who were crabbing at the Ala Wai. Their names were Chan some, Chince Em, and Han Sum.   However, Chan some was scoring all of the Samoan crabs and getting greedy. After a while, Chan some pulled up his net and a bottle was stuck in it----poof! Out popped a genie who said, “I am going to give each of you guys one wish; however, whatever you wish for will be doubled for the others.”

 Han Sum asks for a hundred- million dollars and poof! Chan Some sum and Chince Em get two-hundred million. Chince-Em says “Ooh… it’s my turn!” and asks for two mansions and ten Ferraris…poof! His friends get double this. When Han sum’s turn rolled around, He said, “Genie, just scare me half to death”.

 One of my main points is:

1. SEEK GOD FIRST.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mathew 6:33 ESV

 Jesus provides for us and blesses us; therefore He says not to store up treasures for ourselves on earth. Prioritize your treasures. Start today by seeking God first, because where your treasure is, your heart will also be.

 A.SEEK TO SHARE.

I believe that we will be a people that seek to share, when we seek God first in our lives.

 “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.” 1 Tim. 6:17-19 NLT

 Jesus wants us to live an abundant life; however, this may not include an abundance of money or possessions.

 B.SEEK ETERNAL TREASURES.

 “By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews: 11:24-26 ESV

 When I was living in Kansas City, I was collecting guitars. As I was at a guitar shop, the Lord spoke to me and said to buy one for myself, and a better one for Dave. So I invested in Dave by buying him a guitar that he would use for the Lord. This is because I was trying to build him up in the Lord.

 What does eternal treasures mean to you?

God makes me feel uncomfortable when I am having worldly thoughts and indulging in worldly pleasures. When your treasure becomes your treasure, you are owned by it. Therefore, seek God first.

 A while ago, I was at the beach snorkeling. As I came out of the water, I noticed this thirtyish something lady walking along the shore break; however, the waves were knocking her over. As she turned her back, another wave knocked her over and she stood up and screamed, “I lost my ring!” Upset, her husband stood up and started yelling at her to find it. As time passed by, her husband started yelling epithets and all sorts of crazy things at her. So I got my mask and joined this other guy in looking for her ring. After half an hour of no luck, I approached the man and said “Excuse me, but I am a pastor, and I believe that it wasn’t her fault.” Then I said “God Bless you.” And walked away.

 The next day, I went back to this same spot, but the couple was not there. Whatever you lost may not be a huge rock, but did it cause you to be frantic when you lost it?

 Let us seek God in our hearts first – everyday, because where your treasure is, your heart will also be.

 Questions

• Why is it important to prioritize our life?

• How do we use our time, talent, and treasure? Are we using them wisely?

• One of Pastor Rod’s main points was to Seek God First, then seek to share and seek eternal treasures. How does this apply to our lives?