Clean the Windows! Open the Blinds!

If you are angry @ the world you’ll be critical; if you harbor resentment you’ll lash out; if you nurse hard feelings you will say things you shouldn’t; if you are unwilling to forgive you will become bitter; if you think all people are dishonest you’ll become suspicious; if you always see the glass ½ full you’ll be optimistic; if you believe God is sovereign you will accept what He brings into your life; if you realize that everything you have comes from God you will be thankful. And if you are a true UCLA fan then any team that plays USC is your 2nd favorite team!

Call it what you will: your worldview, the grid through which you see everything, how you filter what comes your way; how you process info; how you respond to life is a direct result of how you understand it. [My worldview BTW – which I don’t always live but want to is this: God is sovereign – He is in control; Jesus is all-sufficient – He is Lord of all – all people need Him and are lost without Him; the Bible is completely true – it is sure and reliable; the Gospel is for all of life and is to be lived out and shared with all.] In the context of money, wealth & possessions – both gathering it and worrying about it, the simple truth is, the way we view & use money is an indicator of our spiritual health.

It is an issue of vision. It’s like when the windshield wipers on your car are worn out; and you haven’t washed your car in awhile; and it rains, and you turn the wipers on and it just makes a big mess, can’t see a thing! If our vision becomes clouded by materialism, we lose our sense of values, we can’t see where we are going. What the eye receives leads to action – what we let in our life affects our actions. If our hearts are weighed down with material concerns they become blind to God. Like a window that is dirty and won’t let light in. The way we look at money shows if we are spiritually healthy. Following Jesus, discipleship, includes economics.

Many today have had their perspective changed due to the changing economy; shifting fortunes have a way of rearranging priorities. Others have had their perspective strengthened because they never trusted in their riches to begin with. Others have lost what hope they had. Jesus’ words are so applicable. If eye stands for your spiritual understanding, your body is your whole life. Your spiritual understanding drives your entire life. Dallas Willard says "life organizes itself around our heart" & that "Jesus compares our ‘heartsight’ to our eyesight. The person who treasures what lies within the kingdom sees everything in its true worth and relationship. The person, who treasures what is “on earth” by contrast, sees everything from a perspective that distorts it and systematically misleads in practice. The relative importance of things is, in particular, misperceived."

Our perspective on life matters. If your focus (eye) is not clear on the matter of money and property your whole life will be out of whack. So clan the windows! Open the blinds! Let the light flood in.