Don McClain 1 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

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 heart will be also Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Don McClain 2 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV) 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?‘ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Don McClain 3 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

Don McClain 4 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV) 16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" 17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." 18 He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,’ Don McClain 5 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

Matthew 19:16-22 (NKJV) 19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " 20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Don McClain 6 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

What he may have said about his values indicated one thing, His actions indicated another. Don McClain 7 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 Can easily become disordered -  When ask – we will probably answer correctly –  Is knowledge and good intentions enough?  Where do your priorities really lie? Don McClain 8 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 Our minds should be set upon spiritual things – Ps 1:2; Col. 3:1,2; Phili. 4:8; Rom 8:5-9  What do we think about when our minds are “in neutral?”- (Our thoughts, like magnets, are drawn to our true priorities) – Don McClain 9 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 The conversations we engage in arise quite naturally out of the things that are on our minds - Mat 15:18; 12:37; Acts 4:20; 17:16,17  To what do your conversations more naturally, and enthusiastically gravitate? Don McClain 10 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 What will the spiritually minded person spend most of his time doing? – Ps. 1:1,2; 119:97; Acts 2:42-46; 5:42; 17:11; Rom 13:11-14; 1 Thes 5:17  The fact is, the way we spend our spare time speaks loudly regarding our values! Don McClain 11 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 Do we find ourselves giving to the Lord’s work FIRST and our wants with what is left? – (Mal. 1:6-8; 3:8-10; 1 Cor. 16:1,2; 2 Cor. 8:1-5)  How much of our money do we spend on things that will help us grow spiritually? Don McClain 12 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 Scheduling conflicts? – (Attendance, [Heb. 10:24,25]; Bible study, [2 Tim. 2:15]; Prayer [1 thes 5:17]; etc.)  When social activities conflict with spiritual activities – which do we choose? Indeed, it's when priorities collide that we learn the most about ourselves, our values, and whether the Lord reigns within us or not. Don McClain 13 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 We do not live in a vacuum - Mat. 5:13-16; Phili 2:15,16  Others may not know us as well as we know ourselves, but they are often more objective about what they do know – (neighbors, friends, children, etc...) Don McClain 14 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 What Do We Think About?  What Do We Talk About Most?  How Do We Spend Our Time?  How Do We Spend Our Money?  What "Gives" When We Face A Conflict Of Priorities?  What Would Others Say Our Priorities Are? Don McClain 15 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

 What I am, in fact, doing with my life - (Rom 6:16,17)  I can't go "all out" for one thing and then truthfully claim that something else is more important - (Matt. 6:24).  Where my priorities are, there will my energy and enthusiasm be also! Don McClain 16 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009

Don McClain 17 W. 65th St. church of Christ / May 24, 2009