Wednesday, January 14- Matthew 6:16-24

16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
-Continues the theme of doing things in secret. Another area where men were prideful was in fasting. Again, we should try to please God only in this matter. These instructions seem so repetitive, but sometimes being stupid clear is better than being slightly vague.

17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
-Really try hard to make it so it doesn't seem like you are fasting at all. Don't give pride an opportunity.

18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
-What a strange way to live, but humble. We do so much in life for the human eye. We really need to evaluate everything we do and who we do it for. Otherwise we might get caught in this trap.

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
-This is very sensible advice considering how we should be heaven minded. We place way to much value and emphasis on things of this world. There are things necessary for the trip, but remember we're leaving this place.

20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
-Best investment in life is to invest in the after life. Nothing can touch this investment.

21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
-The treasure tells the whole story. The treasure makes it so obvious what's at the core of who you are. It's a very simple equation. Treasure=heart. There's not much more too it than that.

22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
-This is how we can protect ourselves. This is how we can guard our hearts from loving the wrong treasure.
-Keep your eyes on good, don't love the things of this world. The eyes will steer you wrong if they're constantly on the wrong things. Don't be fooled, this is truth.

23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
-This is the result of keeping your eyes on bad things. Again simple equation of life. eyes=heart.
-How great is the darkness? Scary question to answer.But we must answer it so that we can allow God's light to enter and chase away what the world has corrupted.

24"No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.
-It all comes down to an issue of mastery. It's scary to think we're so easily enslaved.
-Key word is cannot. We should say that word 10x just to understand and get it through our heads. We cannot serve two masters. It's impossible. With that in mind we have some decisions to make in life.