~ Good Morning!

Our Bible passage, today, is found in …

• Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21 •

““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, (20)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21)For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (ESV‬‬)

• THE BOTTOM LINE •

✝️ Verse 19: “treasures on earth”

•–> Jesus didn’t want His people to hoard up, or be greedy with, the good things of the earth, because all they were going to do was decay and lose value.

📍 “treasure on earth” = great wealth; exotic, extravagant, expensive, unnecessary things. Etc.

📍 Note: It’s alright to be wealthy, if your vocation affords that, but don’t make wealth the most important thing in your life. And if you are wealthy, don’t hoard it, use it for ministry opportunities.

✝️ Verse 20: “treasures in heaven”

•–> Jesus instructed us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven that would not decay, nor lose value (Ref. Luke 12:33-34).

📍 “treasure in heaven” = Being saved & forgiven from your sins; having eternal life; doing good deeds for others, on earth, that grants you rewards in heaven. Etc.

✝️ Verse 21: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

•–> Jews of the time typically perceived the heart as the seat of intelligence and will. Jesus’ teaching reflects this view: People’s choices and actions are shaped by the things they cherish most.

•–> Jesus is saying here, “For where your treasure is — that which you value most — there will your heart be also.”

•–> Martin Luther said, “What a man loves, that is his God. For he carries it in his heart, he goes about with it night and day, he sleeps and wakes with it. Be it what it may — wealth or self, pleasure or fame.”

• CONCLUSION •

We must be very careful what we choose to value greatly. And again, it’s alright to be wealthy, and it’s alright to like, and value, nice things; however, these nice things cannot come between you and the Lord Jesus.

‼️ If at a moment’s notice, Jesus asked you to sell all, and give it to the poor, our answer must immediately be, “Yes Lord!” ‼️

May the Lord Jesus richly bless you as you lay up treasures in heaven.

Sincerely,

— Pastor Gene