Eyes of the Flesh and Eyes of the Heart – The Power of Material Things
VBC Albuquerque · Sep 16, 2023
The sermon analyzes two perspectives on life: the eyes of the flesh focus on the visible material world, while the eyes of the heart perceive the invisible yet real spiritual realm. Material wealth and money have powerful influence over people, but they cannot purchase lasting happiness, inner peace, or eternal salvation.
The opening section presents the sermon's main theme: human beings live with two different types of sight. The eyes of the flesh perceive the material world through five senses (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste), but the eyes of the heart are able to perceive the invisible yet real spiritual realm. Scripture affirms that a person may live, speak, and walk while remaining spiritually blind if the eyes of the heart are closed. The eyes of the heart are opened only by the Holy Spirit for those who believe and receive Jesus Christ as Savior.
The second section develops the power of material things through four Chinese characters (four "T"s): love and affection (tình), talent and wisdom (tài), physical beauty (tiên), and money (tiền). The sermon illustrates how beauty has been valued since ancient times, citing biblical examples of beautiful women. The author references research by two British physicians on the Quasimodo complex, demonstrating that those considered physically unattractive are often treated worse than those considered beautiful. However, according to the law of nature, beauty will fade with time, whether we use Botox or care for ourselves carefully. Money has its own power because it purchases material goods, status, and power, but it is the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Scripture does not teach that wealth is sinful, but rather teaches moderation and contentment.
The third section applies the message through three things that material wealth cannot purchase. First, material things cannot purchase lasting joy and happiness. Solomon, the richest man ever, wrote that those who love money are never satisfied, and money only purchases temporary happiness dependent on circumstances. The sermon tells the story of Bờm and the wealthy man (phú ông) to illustrate that despite possessing great wealth, the rich man remains discontent, while a poor boy playing with a simple fan and eating sticky rice is joyful. Money buys houses but not family happiness, buys medicine but not health. The author recounts the story of Pastor Billy Graham and a billionaire who declared himself the most miserable person on earth, while a local pastor with only two pounds was the happiest on the island.
The fourth section explains that material things do not guarantee peace. Solomon observes the tragedy when a person hoards wealth only to face disaster, or leaves nothing for their children but empty hands. Insurance is evidence that unexpected accidents can happen at any time. The wealthy even encounter unique disasters from their abundance, such as theft or the moral corruption of their children. Money cannot purchase inner peace or a life free from calamity.
The final section emphasizes that material wealth cannot purchase salvation. Eternal life comes only from two things: God's grace and human faith. Scripture teaches that when a person dies, nothing—not even a single coin—can be taken along. This is why Jesus taught that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23-24), because wealth causes people to focus only on earthly life while forgetting the eternal life in heaven.