How to Build Your Life on the Rock, part 4 (a Sermon on the Mount series)
How to Build Your Life on the Rock
Introduction: The Competing Masters of the Heart
We continue our exploration of Jesus’ monumental Sermon on the Mount, the ultimate blueprint for building your life on the Rock (Matthew 7:24–27). After establishing the internal character of “True Blessedness” and the external manifestation of “True Righteousness,” Jesus now confronts the deeply ingrained human struggle with priorities and possessions.
Life was never designed for us to navigate alone, driven by our own desires and anxieties. God designed us to serve Him and His divine purposes. Yet, the daily attractions and concerns of the world constantly vie for our allegiance. Jesus, with profound insight into the human heart, addresses these competing allegiances directly:
“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then, if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness… No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life…” (Matthew 6:22-25, NASB 2020)
In this powerful segment of His sermon, Jesus gives us three invaluable lessons to ensure we serve God completely, building a life that remains steadfast amidst life’s storms.
Lesson 1: Cultivate a Healthy Outlook on Life (Matthew 6:22-23)
Jesus begins with an intriguing metaphor: “The eye is the lamp of the body.” He speaks of a “clear” (or “good”) eye versus a “bad” (or “evil”) eye. These are not literal references to vision but ancient idioms with profound meaning:
- “Clear Eye” (Greek: haplous): Signifies generosity, singleness of purpose, or an undivided heart (Romans 12:8). It describes a right, healthy perspective on life.
- “Bad/Evil Eye”: Denotes miserliness, stinginess, or avarice (Proverbs 23:6-7, 28:22). It represents a wrong, grasping perspective that ultimately darkens one’s life.
What Jesus is saying: Our perspective on money and material things determines the spiritual light or darkness in our lives. A “good eye” leads to a life full of light, while an “evil eye” plunges one into profound darkness.
Consider these practical expressions of a “healthy outlook”:
- Give More Than You Receive: Embrace the truth that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
- Invest in Heaven: See your giving not as expenditure, but as “treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys” (Matthew 6:20).
- Serve God Through Giving: As we discussed in the previous article, giving should be a secret act of devotion to God, not a public display for human praise (Matthew 6:3-4).
- Unclench Your Grip on Possessions: Do not let material wealth hinder your commitment to follow Christ. The rich young ruler’s sorrowful departure (Matthew 19:21-24) serves as a stark warning: possessions can be a significant obstacle to wholeheartedly following Jesus.
A healthy outlook frees us from the tyranny of accumulating earthly things and aligns our vision with God’s eternal purposes.
Lesson 2: Devote Yourself to Only One Master (Matthew 6:24)
This verse is a cornerstone of Jesus’ teaching on priorities:
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24)
The Greek word for “serve” here is doulos, meaning a servant who is a slave. A slave is owned by a master, whose will dictates their life, time, and allegiance. A slave cannot be physically present to serve two masters simultaneously, nor can they hold ultimate allegiance to two conflicting authorities. This principle extends beyond physical presence to the heart’s devotion.
What Jesus is saying: You cannot divide your ultimate allegiance between God and “wealth” (mammon—money or possessions seen as an object of worship). A divided heart will inevitably lead to loving one and hating the other, or being devoted to one and despising the other.
This devotion to God as our sole Master means:
- Undivided Loyalty: We actively refuse to be attracted to serve any other master.
- Time and Resources for God: Our time, talents, and resources are primarily purposed for God’s glory, not for the accumulation of personal wealth.
- Fulfilling God’s Will: We diligently carry out our duties for the good and glory of our Master, just as Joshua declared, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15), and Solomon urged, “Your hearts therefore shall be wholly devoted to the Lord our God” (1 Kings 8:61).
Serving God requires an exclusive commitment that leaves no room for rivals in our ultimate devotion.
Lesson 3: Prioritize God’s Kingdom, Not Your Worries (Matthew 6:25-33)
Building on the impossibility of serving two masters, Jesus delivers a powerful command:
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)
The phrase “For this reason” explicitly links this command to the preceding truth: because you cannot serve two masters, you must choose not to worry about material needs. Worry is a form of service; when we worry, we dedicate our thoughts, emotions, and energy to the object of our anxiety, effectively making it our master.
The solution to worry isn’t simply to “stop worrying,” but to re-prioritize. Jesus completes this thought in verse 33:
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
What Jesus is saying: Cease the activity of worrying about your earthly needs (food, drink, clothing) because life itself and your body are far more valuable than these things. Instead, re-direct your focus and energy to the primary pursuit of God’s Kingdom and His righteousness.
- Worry as Slavery: When we prioritize earthly concerns, we become slaves to those concerns (Romans 6:16). Worry holds our hearts captive and prevents us from truly prioritizing God’s reign.
- God’s Provision: In God’s Kingdom, human needs are already provided for, just as they were in the Garden of Eden. Jesus came to reset our priorities, assuring us that when God’s Kingdom is first, “all these things” will be added to us.
- Declaration of Mastership: Prioritizing God’s Kingdom is an open declaration that God is our Master. It’s a refusal to be mastered by earthly anxieties and an intentional devotion of our lives to the things of God. Abraham’s journey exemplifies this; when he prioritized God’s purpose, he found provision, but when he acted out of worry for his needs, he stumbled.
Conclusion: Choose God, Build on the Rock
Elijah once challenged Israel, “How long are you going to struggle with the two choices? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). The truth remains: there is only one true God, and He rules supreme over all creation.
To build your life on the Rock—to construct an unsinkable, indestructible existence—you must choose to serve God. When you:
- Cultivate a healthy, generous outlook on material things.
- Devote yourself exclusively to God as your sole Master.
- Prioritize His Kingdom and righteousness, letting go of worry.
…you align your life with the side of what is right and true. Your house will be established, your life will be strong in times of trial, and you will find the unwavering stability that only comes from building on the Rock.
