God’s Love vs. God’s Righteousness — Seen Through the Cross

God’s Love vs. God’s Righteousness — Seen Through the Cross

John 3:16—God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
Romans 5:8—Christ died for us while we were sinners, proving God’s love.
Romans 3:25–26—Christ as the propitiation demonstrates God’s righteousness: He is righteous and also justifies those who believe in Jesus. 

Aspect	God’s Love	God’s Righteousness
Meaning	Love is God’s nature and inward motivation to save, care, and draw near to man.	Righteousness is God’s procedure, way, and divine law—His moral requirement for dealing with sin.
Reason	God loves mankind and desires none to perish; love moved Him to bear man’s punishment.	God is righteous and therefore cannot tolerate sin; He must judge sin to maintain His holiness and dignity.
Difference	Love forgives, covers, bears, and substitutes for man.	Righteousness demands penalty, judgment, and legal satisfaction.
Explanation	Love led God to transfer the punishment to Himself in Christ on the cross.	God must judge sin. The cross preserved God’s righteousness by satisfying all legal demands.
Purpose	To save sinners, draw them into God’s life, and manifest His compassion.	To make salvation legal and proper; to justify sinners and constitute them God’s righteousness.
Interrelationship	The cross fully manifested God’s love—God willingly bore man’s penalty.	The cross fully manifested God’s righteousness—God judged sin uncompromisingly. Love and righteousness meet harmoniously on the cross.
Example  (the Cross)	Christ became sin for us and bore the judgment because of divine love.	God judged Christ as the Substitute because righteousness requires judgment.
Application for Believers	Live in God’s love: forgive, cover, intercede, care, and express Christ’s gentleness.	Live out God’s righteousness: walk properly, justly, and “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.”
Burden	To help believers see that the cross is the outpouring of divine love.	To see that salvation is not emotional or random, but strictly according to God’s righteous procedure.
Prophesying Pointers	Emphasize that God personally bore what we could not bear—this is love.	Emphasize that God judged sin in Christ so we could become God’s righteousness.
Conclusion	God’s love willingly saves and substitutes for sinners.	God’s righteousness demands judgment and proper procedure. The cross is the perfect meeting place of love and righteousness.
Related Scriptures	John 3:16—God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Romans 5:8—Christ died for us while we were sinners, proving God’s love. 1 John 4:9–10—God sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins; this is love.	Matthew 6:33—Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21—He who knew no sin was made sin that we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Integrated Key Points:

1. God’s Love

• Love moved God to substitute Himself for man.
• Love bore what man could never bear.
• Love paid the supreme cost—giving His Son.

2. God’s Righteousness

• God must judge sin; otherwise He is not righteous.
• Salvation must follow God’s divine procedure.
• Righteousness required the judgment to fall upon Christ.

3. The Cross

• The cross displays God hates sin (righteousness) and God loves sinners (love).
• Both attributes are fully expressed without compromise.
• The cross is the perfect harmony of love and righteousness.

4. Result

• We become the righteousness of God in Christ—a living expression of God’s righteousness on earth.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Serving God VS Serving Mammon (Money)

 

Serving God VS Serving Mammon (Money)

Matt. 6:19–21 – Do not store treasure on earth; treasure in heaven draws the heart.

Matt. 6:22–23 – A single eye brings light; an evil/distracted eye brings darkness.

Matt. 6:24 – No one can serve two masters; cannot serve God and Mammon. 

Aspect	Serving God	Serving Mammon (Money)
Meaning	To love, follow, and devote oneself wholly to God as the unique Lord.	To let money, wealth, and material gain become the master and controller of one’s heart and living.
Reason	God is the Creator, Provider, and the only One worthy of absolute service.	Money competes for man’s heart, drawing it to earthly security and self-dependence.
Difference	Requires a single heart, a pure eye, and heavenly treasure.	Produces a divided heart, blurred sight, and attachment to earthly treasure.
Explanation	Storing treasure in heaven by giving to the poor, caring for needy saints, and supplying God’s servants (Matt. 19:21; Acts 2:45; 4:34–35; Rom. 15:26; Phil. 4:16–17).	Storing treasure on earth darkens the inner sight; serving money makes one unable to serve God (Matt. 6:21–24).
Mutual Relationship	The more one treasures heaven, the more the heart turns to God; a single eye brings full light.	The more one treasures earthly wealth, the more one’s heart is captured; an evil/distracted eye brings deep darkness.
Examples	Disciples giving to the needy; early church sharing possessions; believers supporting apostles.	The rich young ruler who could not give up possessions (Matt. 19).
Application	Give to the poor, care for lacking saints, serve God’s interests, and live free from anxiety regarding food, drink, and clothing (Matt. 6:25–34).	Beware of divided service; avoid accumulating wealth merely for self-security.
Burden	To lead God’s people into a single heart toward God, releasing resources for the kingdom.	To expose the danger of money becoming an idol that steals service due to God.
Prophetic Instruction	Set the heart on heavenly things; keep the eye single; trust God’s care; reject anxious living.	Reject Mammon as a master; refuse double service; flee the darkness of divided attention.
Related Scriptures	Matt. 6:19–21 – Do not store treasure on earth; treasure in heaven draws the heart. Matt. 6:22–23 – A single eye brings light; an evil/distracted eye brings darkness. Matt. 6:24 – No one can serve two masters; cannot serve God and Mammon. Matt. 6:25–34 – Do not worry about life, food, drink, clothing; your heavenly Father knows and cares. Matt. 19:21 – Give to the poor, treasure in heaven. Acts 2:45; 4:34–35; 11:29 – Saints sharing and supplying needs. Rom. 15:26 – Contribution for needy saints. Phil. 4:16–17 – Giving to God’s servants is accumulating fruit to one’s account.

 

Conclusion: 

l   One must choose: only one Master can be served. Serving God brings light, freedom, peace, and heavenly treasure.

l   Serving Mammon brings darkness, anxiety, divided heart, and loss of the kingdom reality.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Life is more important than food VS. Body is more important than clothes

 

Life is more important than food VS. Body is more important than clothes

Matthew 6:25-26: "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 than food, or the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; since they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?"

Category	Life Is More Than Food	The Body Is More Than Clothing
Meaning	The Lord reveals that life (the soul-life) is more important than food; God who gives life will provide.	The body is more important than clothing; God who created the body will care for its needs.
Reason	Food sustains life, but life itself comes from God and surpasses food in value.	Clothing protects the body, but the body itself is God’s creation, far more precious.
Distinction	Life → Inner being; desires for eating and drinking.	Body → Outer being; the need for protection and covering.
Explanation	“Is not the life more than food?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not worry about food.	“Is not the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25) — Kingdom people should not worry about clothing.
Relationship	If God gave life (the greater), He will certainly provide food (the lesser).	If God gave the body (the greater), He will surely supply clothing (the lesser).
Examples	Jesus teaches not to worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:25–34). Elijah and the widow—flour and oil did not fail (1 Kings 17:14–16).	Israel’s clothing did not wear out for forty years (Deut. 8:4).
Application	Do not focus life on food; seek first the kingdom (Matt. 6:33). Trust God in shortages.	Do not worry about outward appearance; live simply without comparison.
Burden	To turn believers away from anxiety about material needs and toward the Lord of life.	To free believers from the pursuit of outward appearance and rely on God’s provision.
Prophetic Direction	Life is greater than food; trust the One who gave life. Do not worry—believe.	The body is greater than clothing; God cares for the whole person.
Related Scriptures	Matt. 6:25 — Do not worry about what to eat or drink. Isa. 29:8 — Soul-life desires. Matt. 6:27–28, 31, 34 — Worry cannot add to life.	Matt. 6:25, 28 — Do not worry about what to wear. Deut. 8:4 — Israel’s clothing did not wear out. Matt. 6:30 — God clothes the grass.

 

Conclusion: 

God, the source of life, will supply the needs of life; kingdom people need not worry about food.

God, the Creator of the body, will provide outward needs; kingdom people need not worry about clothing.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Our Treasures vs Our Anxieties

 

Our Treasures vs Our Anxieties

(Matthew 6:19) Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

(Matthew 6:20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

(Matthew 6:21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.

(Matthew 6:31) Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat? Or shall we drink? Or shall we wear?”

(Matthew 6:33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

(Matthew 6:34) Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will worry about itself.

 

Aspect	Our Treasures	Our Anxieties
Meaning	1. Treasures refer to what we value, invest in, and pursue, including money, possessions, and the focus of our heart. 2. Storing treasures in heaven refers to giving to the poor, supplying needy saints, and supporting the Lord’s servants.	1. Anxiety refers to the soul-life’s concerns over food, drink, clothing, and future needs (Matt. 6:25). 2. It means relying on self-preservation rather than God’s care.
Cause	1. The heart follows treasure (Matt. 6:21). 2. Earthly treasures are corruptible, unstable, and produce more attachment and fear. 3. A divided vision and serving mammon lead to darkness.	1. Anxiety grows from little faith (Matt. 6:30). 2. Making the needs of the soul-life absolute. 3. Seeing the environment rather than God’s provision.
Distinction	• Treasures = what we pursue and store up. • Treasures direct our heart’s orientation. • They determine whether we can see God with a single eye.	• Anxiety = what we fear or feel insecure about. • Anxiety scatters the mind. • It makes us unable to trust or enjoy God.
Explanation	Storing treasure in heaven = single eye → full of light → serving God. Storing treasure on earth = blurry eye → darkness → serving mammon. Treasures reveal where the heart truly resides.	“Do not be anxious” occurs seven times in Matt. 6:25–34. Anxiety is a life issue, not merely a material issue. Anxiety darkens our inner being and disrupts trust in God.
Mutual Relationship	Where your treasure is → your heart goes → your anxieties follow. If treasure is on earth → anxiety increases. If treasure is in heaven → peace increases.	Anxiety exposes where our treasure actually is. The more we worry, the more our treasure is earthly—not heavenly. Anxiety is the result of the heart following earthly treasure.
Examples	• Rich young ruler—went away sorrowful because of many possessions (Matt. 19:21–22). • Early believers shared all things and stored treasure in heaven (Acts 2:45; 4:34–35). • Macedonians gave abundantly out of deep poverty (2 Cor. 8:1–2).	• Martha was anxious and troubled about many things (Luke 10:40–41). • Disciples worried about food, drink, and tomorrow (Matt. 6). • The Gentiles anxiously seek all these things (Matt. 6:32).
Application	• Practice giving, supplying saints, and supporting workers. • Transfer treasure from earth to heaven. • Keep a “single eye”—not God + mammon, but God alone.	• Cast all anxieties on God (1 Pet. 5:7). • Seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33). • Rest in God’s care; do not worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34).
Burden	• The Lord desires our heart to be in heaven, not tied to earthly wealth. • Heavenly treasure is incorruptible and eternal. • A call for “financial transfer” and “value transfer” into the kingdom.	• Anxiety is a major enemy to kingdom living. • The Lord touches our worries more than our outward conduct. • He wants us free from the soul-life’s occupation and living in trust.
Prophetic Speaking Points	• Our treasure must go up first, then our heart will follow. • A single eye brings light; earthly treasure brings darkness. • Serving God and serving mammon are absolutely incompatible.	• Anxiety adds nothing to life (Matt. 6:27). • The Father knows all our needs. • Seek His kingdom—then all things will be added.
Expanded Scriptures	Matt. 6:19–21; Matt. 6:22–23; Matt. 6:24; Matt. 19:21; Acts 2:45; Acts 4:34–35; Acts 11:29; Phil. 4:16–17	Matt. 6:25–34; Matt. 6:25; Matt. 6:27; Matt. 6:30; Matt. 6:33; Matt. 6:34

 

Conclusion: 

l   Treasure determines the direction of the heart, the heart determines the singularity of vision, and vision determines the ability to serve God.

Treasure → directs the heart → directs the vision → determines whom we serve.

Earthly treasure = darkness, bondage, distraction.

Heavenly treasure = light, freedom, serving God.

 

l   Anxiety is the darkness of life, the result of misjudging the Lord and His provision.

Anxiety → reveals misplaced trust → is solved by turning to the Father.

Not worrying allows us to live the kingdom life and trust God fully.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Week 8: Seeking First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.