““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:19-24 NIV
As we continue to study through the greatest sermon ever preached, The Sermon on the Mount, we find some investment advice by the Creator of the universe Himself, Jesus Christ.
If You are jumping into this series here, I have included links to the rest of the posts at the end of this writing. Let’s get into it!
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
When we become Christians, we should realize that we are not at home in this world. We are progressing towards the Promised Land for us, and that is to citizens of the New Heaven and New Earth. Shortly before Jesus was crucified, He said to his disciples:
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”” John 14:1-4 NIV
As we wait for His preparation, we should be letting go of the attachments of this world. In the end, Jesus asks us to let go of our attachments to the things of this world. For most, this is a foreign thought. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers that say, “He who dies with the most toys, wins.” What a sad thought that is.
“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” Matthew 16:26 NIV
Two resources that God provides for us to steward our time and money. Where we spend our time and money is generally where our hearts are.
Being a Christian assumes that we will give. This is not one of those things we must consider; it is assumed even through Jesus’s words.
‘ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ‘ Matthew 23:23
The religious leaders in the days of Jesus made it more essential to tithe than to care for people in need. Jesus expects both from us.
When we give our time and money to advance the Kingdom of God, we are laying up treasures in heaven.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
I find this portion of scripture interesting for a couple of reasons. It is what we lay our eyes on that starts to create the desires of our hearts. We are called to look heavenward as we move through this world.
This world’s systems are set up to get our attention, time, and money. Advertising is done with such precision that we can hardly resist. Computers watch and keep track of where we go online, and they keep track of our purchase activity and what websites we look at so that they can direct the proper advertisements to us.
I don’t say this out of a conspiratorial mindset; I say it because it is a fact. And we need to be aware of this as we go.
The key with this scripture portion is we must pay cautious attention to what we allow into our minds.
‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ‘ Proverbs 4:23
What we allow through our senses, especially what we look at and listen to, will eventually take root in our hearts. So, it is critical that what we allow through our eyes and ears glorify God.
This includes TV shows, the music we listen to, and the news and opinions we hear. It is a political show; I feel angry when I listen to them. I limit what I listen to because of that.
As Christians, we should have no desire that takes us away from being a servant to the Lord.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
What we focus our minds on is vital for the Christian.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
We are given a “co” mission when God provides us with the faith to accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives. We are called to make disciples in the name of the Lord. This is the mission of our lives. This is how we live our lives to glorify Him.
This requires singleness of purpose.
When we allow our desire for this world to trump our desire to fulfill our part in kingdom-building, we are serving the wrong master.
This is why our focus needs to be on the mission.
‘“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. ‘ 1 Corinthians 6:12
As a Christian, Jesus is the Lord and Master of our lives. And how we live our lives should be more and more Christ-like with every passing day as we die to ourselves daily.
Heavenly Father, Please give me the strength, courage, and humility to honestly look at the motivations of my thoughts and actions. And your grace as I work out my salvation You.
I pray for Your guidance, and please help me to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and give me the courage to act on that prompting.
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ, for His example and His sacrifice. I pray that You help me to love as Jesus does.
In the precious name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!!
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