Why is it that we who are sons of the Father so often want to lay by treasure and store on earth for the future? Do we confide in the Father’s care over His children? It is not for me to say that any believer should spend or give away all that he has or earns. Each must needs be exercised about that before God, and then act according to the measure of faith and of grace that God gives. Neither reasoning about it, nor the calculations of human prudence, will teach us to obey the Word, Light comes from God alone who is Light; if the eye of the heart be set upon Christ—and remember that He is in heaven—we shall be enlightened. “The light (lit. lamp) of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” Light will enter by the eye as through a lamp, and our whole being will have the true Light shining into every part or member of it. Then by contrast we may learn how deep the darkness is if the Light teases to shine in. It is so naturally, if you suddenly extinguish the lamp in a room, the darkness is bewildering in its intensity.
What is mammon? “Mammon is riches, every one knows that,” someone replies, and perhaps he will add, “As I am poor, mammon does not concern me, it concern” my rich neighbor. “Truly, mammon is riches, but it is any and every kind of riches, whether the quantity be great or small. It comprises the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the house we dwell in; things necessary, comforts, and luxuries are all mammon. Just as we are told to use the world and not abuse it (1 Cor. 7:3131And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. (1 Corinthians 7:31))—note that the apostle adds, “But I would have you without carefulness”—so though we all use, we should not serve mammon. “No man can serve two masters,” whether at home or at business, whether on land or at sea. We have each and all our various duties in life to fulfill, we are taught to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:1717Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Romans 12:17)), but whom do we serve in doing this, God or mammon?
The Lord would have us heart-free to serve God; therefore He said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And again, “Take no thought for your life; take no thought for the morrow.” He reminds us that our heavenly Father feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the field. Ah! someone will say, “Are Christians not to work, not to be employed in temporal matters?” The Lord does not say that at all. His teaching deals with the heart, the spring of all our actions. He tells us to “seek first” (not our own advantage, nor our own interests, but) “the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” And again, “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” Could anything be more certain, more comforting to the sons of the Father, “your heavenly Father knoweth.” The heart thus taught can confide in the Father’s care.
“What is this kingdom of God?” do you say. “The kingdom of God is not meat and drink”—though, as we see, God gives these to His sons—“but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:1717For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)). Obedience to God and zeal for His glory characterize His kingdom now. Obedience to God comprises the fulfillment of every duty in life that God has put on us, with help from Him indeed, and these duties vary with each believer.
In what men call the “struggle for life,” much reliance is placed on human energy, to the extent, even among Christians, of forgetting the Father’s care. “Your heavenly Father knoweth,” is a word which encourages the heart. “Ask, and it shall be given you,” warrants us to make our needs known to God. He will give, not indeed always what we wish for or think necessary, but as Christ says, “... how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matt. 7:7-117Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:7‑11)). So again we read in Romans 8:3232He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32), “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”
Whenever we are discouraged and tempted to look down, or within, or around us, let us call to mind these and similar scriptures, and we shall learn to trust our Father, and behave as His children are taught to behave.