Jesus has just addressed giving, prayer, and fasting. Now, He turns to something that often competes for our hearts more than anything else—money.
In this powerful passage from Matthew 6:19–24, Jesus challenges us to think differently about value, vision, and loyalty. This isn’t just a warning—it’s a wake-up call.
Let’s break it down and discover how we can live for what truly lasts in 2025.
Who Is Jesus Speaking To?
Jesus continues speaking to His followers—people of all backgrounds, including some living in poverty and others with means. But He’s not just speaking about economics. He’s confronting the attachment of the heart to earthly wealth.
What Jesus Said: Matthew 6:19–24 (NASB)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 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. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Earthly Treasure Is Temporary
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…”
Earthly wealth is always vulnerable:
- Moths eat fabric.
- Rust corrodes tools.
- Thieves steal possessions.
Jesus isn’t saying it’s wrong to have resources—He’s saying it’s foolish to make them your treasure.
Action Step: Inventory your “treasures.” Are you investing more in things that will fade—or things that will last?
Heavenly Treasure Is Eternal
“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
Jesus invites us to invest in:
- Acts of love
- Generosity
- Faithfulness
- Kingdom work
These investments can’t be stolen, corroded, or canceled.
They echo in eternity.
Action Step: Look at your budget, time, and attention. Shift one area this week toward eternal return.
“Where Your Treasure Is…”
“There your heart will be also.”
This is profound:
Your treasure doesn’t follow your heart. Your heart follows your treasure.
Whatever you prioritize, your heart will chase.
Want a deeper love for God? Start investing in His Kingdom.
Action Step: Make a sacrificial gift this week—not out of guilt, but to realign your heart with Heaven.
Focus Determines Clarity
“The eye is the lamp of the body…”
Jesus uses the eye as a metaphor for spiritual focus.
A “clear eye” means your vision is heavenly and generous.
A “bad eye” means your vision is greedy, distracted, or darkened.
If your spiritual lens is cloudy, your whole inner life is affected.
Action Step: Ask: “What’s clouding my spiritual focus?” Fast from distractions. Refocus on the eternal.
God or Money? You Can’t Serve Both
“No one can serve two masters…”
Jesus doesn’t say, “It’s hard to serve both.”
He says, “You can’t.”
You will love one and hate the other. There’s no neutral.
In 2025, where materialism is marketed 24/7, Jesus’ words still demand a choice:
God… or money?
Action Step: Make a declaration this week: “God is my Master—not money.” Then make one decision that proves it.
Mood of the Scene
Challenging but deeply liberating.
Jesus isn’t condemning wealth—He’s calling us to freedom from enslavement to it. He’s inviting us to a focused life, led by light and love.
Response from the People
For many, these words pierced the heart.
Some realized their hearts were too attached to things that wouldn’t last.
But others leaned in—because Jesus wasn’t just tearing down. He was offering a better treasure and a better Master.
What This Means for Us in 2025
In a world chasing:
- More money,
- More possessions,
- More status…
Jesus still offers something more fulfilling:
A life of focus, freedom, and eternal fruitfulness.
Real-World Applications:
- Tithe or give to something eternal this week.
- Reduce one unnecessary expense and redirect it to God’s work.
- Clean out physical clutter and donate with intention.
- Declutter your heart—renounce comparison and discontentment.
- Set financial goals based on Kingdom impact, not just personal gain.
Final Prayer
Father, I want my treasure to be in Heaven—not in things that rust and fade. Help me release my grip on temporary comforts and refocus my eyes on what truly matters. You are my Master. Let my heart, habits, and finances reflect that truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
