Storing up treasure in heaven

Matthew 6:16-34(NIV)

Fasting

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. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 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.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²²"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 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!

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.

Do Not Worry

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life^[b]?

²⁸"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

6:16 「你們禁食的時候，不可像偽善的人；他們裝出一副苦相，故 意蓬頭垢面，好讓別人看出他們正在禁食。我告訴你們，他們這樣做已經得了所能得到的報償。 6:17 你禁食的時候，要梳頭洗臉，6:18 不要讓別人看出你是在禁食，只讓那位在隱密中的天父知道；看得見你在隱密中做事的天父一定會獎 賞你。」6:19 「不可為自己積聚財寶在地上，因為有蟲蛀，也會生銹，又有盜賊破門進來偷竊。6:20 要為自己積聚財寶在天上；那裏沒有蟲蛀，不會生銹，也沒有盜賊進來偷竊。6:21 你的財寶在哪裏，你的心也在那裏。」6:22 「眼睛好比身體的燈。如果你的眼睛好，全身就光明；6:23 如果你的眼睛壞，全身就黑暗。同樣，如果你裏頭的光變成黑暗，那黑暗該是多麼可怕呀！」
6:24 「沒有人能夠伺候兩個主人。他要不是厭惡這個，喜愛那個，就是看重這個，輕看那個。你們不可能同時作上帝的僕人，又作錢財 的奴隸。6:25 「所以我告訴你們，不要為了生活上所需的飲食，或者身上所穿的衣服操心。難道生命不比飲食重要，身體不比衣服重要嗎？6:26 你們看天空的飛鳥：牠們不種不收，也不存糧在倉裏，你們的天父尚且飼養牠們！你們豈不比鳥兒更貴重嗎？6:27 你們當中又有誰能夠藉著憂慮多活幾天呢？6:28 「為甚麼要為衣服操心呢？看看野地的百合花怎樣生長吧！它們既不工作又不縫衣；6:29 可是我告訴你們，甚至像所羅門王那樣的榮華顯赫，他的衣飾也比不上一朵野花那樣的美麗。6:30 野地的花草今朝出現，明天枯萎，給扔在火爐裏焚燒，上帝還這樣打扮它們，他豈不更要賜衣服給你們嗎？你們的信心太小了！6:31 所以，不要為我們吃甚麼、喝甚麼，或穿甚麼操心；6:32 這些事是不信的人所追逐的。你們的天父知道你們需要這一切東西。6:33 你們要先追求上帝主權的實現，遵行他的旨意，他就會把這一切都供給你們。6:34 因此，你們不要為明天憂慮，明天自有明天的憂慮；一天的難處一天擔當就夠了。」

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>談論禁食的態度與方式。（v16-18）The means and attitudes of fasting (v16-18)
2>當聚財寶在天上。（v19-21）Storing up treasure in heaven (v19-21)
3>論眼睛好比身體的光。（v22-23）The eye is the lamp of the body. (v22-23)
4>不要為世上的財物憂慮。（v24-34）Do not worry about worldly wealth (v24-34)

主題：
1>當聚財寶在天。Storing up treasure in heaven
2>勿為世上財物憂慮。Do not worry for the worldly stuff
3>先求祂的國和義。Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>在隱密中鑒察的上帝。（v18）God sees what we have done in secret. (v18)
2>祝福、獎賞我們的上帝。（v18）God blesses and rewards us. (v18)
3>掌管大地花草的上帝。（v30）God takes care of flowers and grass on the earth. (v30)
4>深知我們所需的上帝。（v32）God knows our needs. (v32)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>有關禁食的教導 Teaching about fasting
禁食就是為了專心禱告的緣故，而暫時放棄正常的進食。摩西律法明文規定，每年的贖罪日，以色列百姓都應禁食一次，以表示為罪憂傷、痛 悔。日後猶太人又增添了多次為了紀念國難的禁食。

Fasting is to temporarily stop eating to devote one’s heart to prayer. According to the Mosaic Law, people should fast on the day of Redemption to show their sorrow and contrite for their sins. Other than the Mosaic Law, many occasions of fasting have been added to commemorate national crises.
在主耶穌的時代，法利賽人為了型塑敬虔的形象，除了一般的禁食之外，每星期又加上兩次的禁食。尤其當他們禁食的時候，還刻意在站人多 的地方，故意披頭散髮，並露出倦容疲態，使人一看便知到他們是在禁食，並對他們產生稱羨、尊敬的心。

In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees fasted twice a week in addition to the regular fasting. When they fasted, they deliberately appeared in public to show their disfigured faces and fatigued spirit. They wanted everyone to see it and to respect them.
針 對這種刻意藉著外表裝扮，偽裝出來的敬虔，主耶穌予以譴責，同時教導正確的態度。因此，對門徒說：你們禁食的時候，不可像偽善的 人；他們裝出一副苦相，故 意蓬頭垢面，好讓人看出他們正在禁食。我告訴你們，他們這樣做，已經得了所能得到的報償。接著，又教導說：你禁食的時候，要梳頭洗 臉，不要讓別人看出你是 在禁食，只讓那位在隱密中的天父知道；看得見你在隱密中做事的天父，一定會獎賞你。根據以上教導我們可以得知：事實上，主耶穌並不反 對禁食，祂只是不贊成 如同法利賽人一般：表面、虛偽，為博得美名，那種偽君子的態度。

Jesus reprimanded such pretentious fasting. He taught the disciples the right kind of attitude they should have while fasting. Please refer to verses 16-18. As a matter of fact, Jesus did not hold anything against fasting. He was against the Pharisees’ way of fasting, because it was pretentious, superficial, a fame-oriented and hypocritical attitude.
反省：在我的生涯當中，是否曾經有過禁食操練？當禁食時，我的心態如何？為了刻苦己身？為了懺悔認罪？為了國家有難？為了靈性成長？ 或為了高舉自己、博得美名？
Reflection: Have I ever practiced fasting in my life? When I fast, what is my attitude? Is it for disciplining myself? Is it for confessing? Is it for national crises? Is it for personal spiritual growth? Is it for self-promotion and reputation?
2>當積財寶在天上 Storing up treasure in heaven
主耶穌藉著比喻來警戒門徒，吩咐他們不能以財利作為人生追求的目標。因此，教導他們說：不可為自己積聚財寶在地上，因為有蟲蛀，也會 生銹，又有盜賊破門進來偷竊。
要為自己積聚財寶在天上；那裏沒有蟲蛀，不會生銹，也沒有盜賊進來偷竊。
包 括：蟲咬、銹壞和賊偷---等，都在表明財物積蓄在地的不安全、不可靠、不長久。其實，不只財物本身會遭蟲咬，會銹壞，會被賊偷 而已，包括暫時管理錢財的 人，也無法長久於世。因此，基督徒正確的財物觀，就是將錢財積蓄在天上，也就是行上帝所喜悅的事，這樣就能夠為自己積存天上的賞賜。

Jesus taught the disciples through a parable and commanded them not to make pursuing wealth the sole goal in their life. Thus He said in verses 19 and 20, ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Moth, rust and thieves indicate the fact that the treasure is being stored in an unsecure and unsafe place. In fact, not only will moth, rust and thieves destroy the treasure, but the person who is temporarily in charge of it is not immortal either. To store up treasure in heaven is to do what pleases God and it will store up the rewards in heaven for us. For Christians, this is the appropriate viewpoint concerning wealth.
另外，財物與我們的心，這兩者往往分不開。因為我們若過 於看重屬世的財富，我們的心思意念，自然漸漸傾向屬世的財富，同時逐漸以屬世的觀點去衡量每一件事，這樣的話，我們就很容易一步一步 的淪為物質與虛榮的奴隸。

Our heart clings to wealth, they are inseparable. The more we value worldly wealth, the more we are inclined to think of it; eventually we will view things from a worldly perspective. Step by step, we will fall into the trap of becoming a slave to materialism.
今天有多少基督徒，不能真心愛主，無法專心跟隨主，問題就出在裏。因此，我們應該遵行主的教訓，多多仰望天上的事，多多將財寶積蓄在 天。

Because of the above reason, many Christians cannot devote themselves to following and loving Jesus. We ought to follow Jesus’ teaching and think more about the things of heaven so that we can store up treasure in heaven.
反省：算算看，我在地上已經累積了多少財富？有幾筆土地？有幾棟房子？有多少存款？有多少股票？我覺得自己富有還是貧窮？另外，積蓄 在天上的財寶有多少？與地上帝積蓄成比例嗎？在往後的生命當中，我應該作哪些調整？
Reflection: How much worldly wealth have I hoarded? How many pieces of land and houses do I possess? How much money is there in my bank account? How many stocks do I own? Do I consider myself rich or poor? How much treasure do I store up in heaven? Is it in good proportion when compared to the earthly one? What are the adjustments that I should make in my life?
3>眼睛明暗的差別 The difference between a good eye and a bad one
主耶穌在這裏以人的眼睛與身體的關係，來比喻心靈的眼睛對人性的重要性。祂說：眼睛好比身體的燈。如果你的眼睛好，全身就光明；如果 你的眼睛壞，全身就黑暗。同樣，如果你裏頭的光變成黑暗，那黑暗該是多麼可怕呀！

Jesus referred to the relationship between the eyes and the body to illustrate the importance of spiritual eyes to human’s nature. He said, ^{22 “}The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 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!” (v22-23)

所謂壞（昏花）的眼睛，是指：被錢財迷惑，貪婪妒忌的心。所謂好（明亮）的眼睛是指：清心寡欲、有屬靈辨別力的心靈。

Bad (blurry) eye means a heart that is lured by money, greed and jealousy. Good eye (bright eye) means a heart that desires nothing and has spiritual discernment.
肉眼是否健全明亮，影響人的視野是光、是暗；同樣，人與上帝的關係，也就是靈裏是否的敏感，影響到他的生命是否豐富、有意義。

Good or bad eyes affect a person’s vision. A man’s spiritual sensitivity affects the meaning of his life. If a person has good relationship with God, he will have a meaningful and abundant life.
反省：根據我的心思意念，以及我的言行舉止，顯示我是一個什麼樣的人呢？是屬靈眼睛明亮的呢？或屬靈眼睛昏暗的？我明白生命的意義 嗎？我的生命豐盛嗎？
Reflection: What do my thoughts and deeds tell about me? Are my spiritual eyes bright or blurry? Do I understand the meaning of life? Do I live an abundant life?
4>不能侍候二主人 A man cannot serve two masters
瑪門是亞蘭語的一個名詞，指的是：物質上的利益。這個利益，非常容易取代「在人的生命中以上帝為首」的地位。

Money is an Aramaic term. It means materialistic profits and it subtly replaces God as the priority of our life.
因為上帝是獨一的真神，也是不容許祂的子女，同時事奉他神的上帝。正如：十誡的第一誡，開宗明義就說：除了我以外，你們不可有別的上 帝。

God is the only true God. He does not allow His children to worship other gods. As we read in the first of the Ten Commandments: You shall not have other gods before Me.
顯然，上帝要我們完全獻給祂、專一跟隨、全心事奉祂。祂不喜歡我們以模稜兩可的態度，來選擇事奉的對象（神）。

Apparently, God requires us to offer our whole being to Him, to devotedly follow Him and to serve Him wholeheartedly. He is not pleased with our vague attitude in our choice of whom we will serve.
因此，主耶穌就對門徒說：沒有人能夠伺候兩個主人。他要不是厭惡這個，喜愛那個，就是看重這個，輕看那個。你們不可能同時作上帝的僕 人，又作錢財的奴隸。

Therefore, Jesus said to His disciples, ^{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.” (v24)
反省：我是否專心跟隨、事奉主？或是又要事奉上帝？又要事奉瑪門？
Reflection: Do I devotedly follow and serve the Lord? Or do I serve both God and money?
5>勿為生活而憂慮 Do not worry about life
主耶穌接著勸勉門徒，不要為生活上「吃什麼、穿什麼」而憂慮。因為人一旦為生活而憂慮之後，就非常容易為「貪財的誘惑」留地步。但是 要怎麼作，才能夠真正擺脫憂慮呢？答案非常簡單，就是全然信靠上帝，仰望祂的慈愛與眷顧。

Jesus encouraged the disciple not to worry about what to eat or wear. Once a man worries about life, soon he will give in to the temptation of greed. What should we do to completely get rid of worry? The answer is simple; it is to fully rely on God and to look up to His love and care.
在這段經文當中，特別提到信徒不該憂慮的四個原因：

This passage gives us four reasons not to worry:
a.上帝既然賜人生命與身體給我們，必然照顧衣食等小事。（v25）
b.連小鳥上帝都餵養了，連花草上帝都裝飾了，何況我們是祂的兒女。（v26、v28-29）
c.單單憂慮並不能解決問題。（v27）
d.憂慮就表示對上帝的小信。（v36）

1. It is God who gives us life and a body; certainly, He will take care of us. (v25)
2. God cares for the birds and adorns the flowers, not to mention that we are His children. (v26; 28-29)
3. Worry cannot solve problems. (v27)
4. Worry exposes our lack of faith. (v36)

反省：我的工作如何？我的收入如何？我的生活過得如何？我 的心中有喜樂嗎？我對未來有何盼望嗎？目前最令我憂慮的是什麼呢？
Reflection: How is my job and revenue? How is my life? Is there joy in my heart? What is the hope I hold for the future? What worries me the most at this moment?
6>先求祂的國和義 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness
主耶穌說：你們要先追求上帝主權的實現，遵行祂的旨意，祂就會把這一切都供給你們。因此，你們不要為明天憂慮，明天自有明天的憂慮； 一天的難處一天擔當就夠了。

Jesus said, ^{33 “}But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (v33-34)

在這段經文當中，主耶穌勸勉門徒，要看重上帝的事，過於看重自己的事。這是一個務必持守，不能錯亂的次序。因為當我們將更多的心思， 用在尋求上帝所喜悅的事上時，上帝也絕對不會忽略我們的需要。祂必會充充足足的供應我們。

Jesus encouraged the disciples to put more value on the things of God than they do their own. It is a rule that we should follow and we should not misplace the order. When we put more of our heart into the things of God and seek to please Him, He will not ignore our needs but will provide for us.

另外，我們只要盡今天當盡的本份就夠了，明天自有明天的憂慮。意 思就是說：應該將明天的難處交託給上帝。也就是學習仰望、交託、順服的功課。

We need to fulfill today’s share of obligation. Tomorrow will worry about itself. We should place whatever will come tomorrow in God’s hands. To rely on, to trust in and to summit to God is a lesson for us to learn.
反省：我是否懂得生命中的優先次序。是否善於安排生活上的優先次序？上帝的國度、上帝的旨意都排在第幾順位？是否先求祂的國和祂的 義？
Reflection: Do I know the priority in life? Am I good at placing the order of priority in life? Where do God’s kingdom and will stand in my life? Do I seek first His kingdom and His righteousness?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用