Jesus and Joe Torre on the Same Team

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus clearly states that God recognizes our need for material things. Let’s get that straw man out of the way up front: when progressive Christians reject the materialism of our culture, we are not suggesting a universal vow of poverty. Most of us aren’t cut out for that.
The social welfare system, for which I once worked, thinks of the central necessities as food, shelter, clothing and medical care. These are the essentials for a life that isn’t a moment-to-moment struggle for survival. Such a struggle is not fertile ground for spiritual growth and Jesus says so. In Matthew 6:31-32, he tells his followers, “Therefore do not worry, saying ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”
With the word “Gentiles” Jesus is separating believers from non-believers, and the operant verb in his sentence is “strive.” As I'll explain in a minute, it's a concept illustrated by Joe Torre's departure from the New York Yankees.
Earlier in the passage Jesus had stated, “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will … be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Jesus concludes his sixth chapter remarks with this advice: “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is not a promise of wealth as some prosperity preachers would have it, but a promise that a life spent seeking God’s spirit will not lead to material destitution.
Of all the many perspectives that divide Christ’s church today none is more important than this question of what motivates us. If the means of salvation was the great issue for the reformation, the path to success in God’s eyes is the great issue today. Much of the American church refuses to separate itself from the secular scoring system that defines “success” as the accumulation of wealth. But Jesus clearly says if you’re playing that game, you’ll never play on his team.
I don’t intend in any way to say that wealth itself is a bad thing; Jesus’ question is what inspires you, for what do you strive? Barry Schwartz, a professor of psychology and author of The Costs of Living: How Market Freedom Erodes the Best Things in Life, employs a sports analogy in a New York Times editorial today which seems to underscore Jesus’ point. Schwartz says that the main reason Joe Torre felt insulted by and rejected the Yankees’ contract offer was the inclusion of financial bonus incentives for doing what he would have endeavored to do anyway.
Schwartz writes that of course people want to get paid for their work, “But people aren’t working only for money. They are also working because they think their work serves a purpose, or they are devoted to excellence, or they love what they do. When you offer people bonuses for doing their jobs, you are telling them that money is not just one of many reasons to work, but the only reason.”
Jesus says that if material success is your main motivation in life, forget about God’s presence in your life. You aren’t meant for the kingdom. Joe Torre would understand.