I. Laying Up Treasures Vs. 19-21
A. What We Are To Be Doing Vs. 20, 21
1. We are not to be laying up treasures on earth
2. We are to be laying up treasures in heaven
3. Lit.- “Don’t /do be treasuring up your treasures”. Both verbs are imperative.
4. Jesus is commanding “definitely don’t”…but “definitely do.” Active choice.
B. The Nature Of Our Treasures
1. Earthly treasures are subject to decay and theft.
a. Our treasures may be things, people, or even ourselves. All will decay.
b. They are subject to theft, and require effort to keep them in our possession
c. Ultimately, we will lose all of our earthly treasures as we know them
d. “There are no U-Haul trailers hitched to hearses”. We take nothing w/us.
2. Heavenly treasures are not subject to decay or theft.
a. 1 Peter 1:3-5 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
b. Not only are the Christian’s “treasures” eternally kept for him, but the Christian is eternally preserved for them. ( 1 Peter 1:5)
C. What Defines Something As A Treasure? V. 21
1. A treasure is where your “heart” will be.
2. “Heart”- the soul or mind, …the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors. (Strong’s)
3. Your treasures are the things you yearn for, live for, think about, have passion for, and find satisfaction in, are upset over when they are damaged
4. NOTE- Jesus is not prohibiting the enjoyment of earthly things.
a. Earthly treasures aren’t intrinsically bad, except that they steal our affection
b. He is warning against making earthly things your treasures.
c. He is warning against putting forth great effort to accumulate things that
i. Will decay or be stolen. Your heart will ultimately be broken.
ii. Will “steal” your affection away from God & His kingdom.
D. If It This Is So Obvious, Why The Command?
1. Eternal rewards require faith in Christ, confession of sin, a surrendered life.
2. Many Christians have a carnal view of life, & prefer immediate gratification.
3. Many have not yet discovered the emptiness of “things”.
4. That realization will come, and there will be great disappointment.
II. Self-Examination; What Are We Treasuring? Vs. 22-24
A. Spiritual Principles
1. Lamp- light (KJV), lamp, candle (Strong’s),
2. Eye- physical eye, the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing
3. Good- single (KJV), simple, single, whole, generous, sound
4. Bad- evil (KJV), full of labors, annoyances, hardships; pressed and harassed by labors; bad nature or condition, evil or wicked
Matthew 6:22, 23 CEV 22Your eyes are like a window for your body. When they are good, you have all the light you need. 23But when your eyes are bad, everything is dark. If the light inside you is dark, you surely are in the dark.
Matthew 6:22, 23 NASB 22″ The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23″But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
B. Spiritual Application
1. If we have clear vision re. life, God, treasures, then we will walk in God’s light 2. If we think we have clear vision, but don’t, we’re deceived, living in darkness
3. Deceived if we think we can love/serve God & earthly treasures (Mammon)
1 John 2:15-17 15Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
4. We are deceived if we value earthly treasures more than heavenly treasures
5. Jesus is giving us the spiritual standard whereby we may check ourselves
III. Godly Perspective Regarding Life & Provision Vs. 25-34
A. Wrong Perspective
1. Don’t worry about food, drink, clothing; either as provision or treasure.
Life is more than that. (Jesus is not teaching against responsibility)
2. Jesus teaches us to be concerned about the things of heaven, not earth
Col. 3:1, 2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3. Is not life more than food… life- psuche {psoo-khay’}
The seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
4. Birds don’t worry, yet God cares for them. Birds do work, but they don’t worry.
5. Does worry secure provision? Aren’t we more valuable than birds?
6. Can worry add to our physical stature?
God beautifully clothes nature more beautifully than any man could ever do for himself. Then God allows nature to fade away, or be thrown in the fire.
B. Godly Perspective
1. The Christian is not to live as if God didn’t care, or couldn’t provide for them.
2. The Christian is not to live like an unbeliever, who doesn’t know God’s concern.
3. Christians are to live knowing that their Father in heaven knows what they need
4. Christians are to not live or think as unbelievers do regarding food, clothing, etc.
5. Christians are to seek first God’s kingdom, and His righteousness
a. seek- imperative tense; a command to be obeyed, which will be blessed
b. In faith, we are to know that God will provide for us if we put Him first
c. A worrying Christian is a contradiction.
6. The Christian is not to worry about tomorrow; today has enough trouble.