Why my rat-infested Hyundai might be my best evangelism tool

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness. No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:19-24)

Today’s passage shows us three important truths as we follow the way of The Way at work.

#1: Chasing temporary treasure isn’t just wrong—it’s foolish.

As we saw last week, “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” is a command, not a suggestion. But it’s an unbelievably generous command. It’s not guilt-based so much as it is generosity-based. Jesus is saying not only is it wrong to store up temporary treasures, it’s also a bad bet in light of the promise of eternal rewards.

#2: God doesn't need our money. He wants our hearts. And money is part of how he gets it.

Jesus isn’t asking us to be generous because he needs something but because we do. Namely, to be closer to the heart of God. And that’s harder to do when you’re flush with cash. Because when we have far more than our “daily bread,” it’s harder to rely on the Bread Giver.

#3: How we relate to money tells us (and others) who we worship.

Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money.” How you spend reveals who you serve—both to you and your coworkers. Your budget may be your boldest witness. 

This has always been true of followers of The Way. Acts 2:45-47 describes the early Church giving freely “to anyone who had need,” followed immediately by this: “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” That’s not a coincidence. Because stewardship is evangelism both then and now.

I’ve seen this firsthand. I drive a beat up 2013 Hyundai Elantra that once had a family of rats living in it. (Clearly I’m not a “car guy”). My neighbors know that I can afford a much nicer vehicle, which has led multiple of them to ask me why I still drive this beater. That gives me an opportunity to talk about the ministries my family supports with resources that might otherwise go toward a Cybertruck (half kidding).

That makes no sense to my lost friends. And that is exactly the point. As Dr. Randy Alcorn says in his terrific book on this topic, “A materialistic world can never be won to Christ by a materialistic church.”

With that in mind, here’s my challenge to you: Ask God to show you one spending habit or financial decision to change this week so that 1) you store up treasure in heaven, 2) God has your heart, and 3) the lost you work with can more clearly see that you worship the Gift Giver rather than his gifts.

Jordan

P.S. Yes, the rats are long gone—and no, I have not taken a vow of poverty. :)