LAYING UP OUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN

LAYING UP OUR EARTHLY TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Matthew 6:19-34

This teaching about possession is part of the great Sermon on the Mount. Wealth is very addictive and very possessive. In general, the more wealth you have the more possessive of wealth you become and, the more you are possessed by wealth. Just as some people can be demon possessed, some can also be wealth possessed, and both need deliverance! As a matter of fact it is easier to deliver a person possessed of demons than it is to deliver a person possessed of wealth. Why? Because the person possessed of demons cries out for deliverance, but the person possessed of wealth clings to his wealth and refuses to be delivered (Mark 10:19-24)! In this teaching Jesus shows us how to handle possession.

THE PURSUIT OF POSSESSIONS

Mat.6:19-20

In the world today there is a craze for wealth. The five richest men in the world together possess over 300 Billion dollars. At the same time there are people who die of poverty, who are made homeless because of poverty. There was news a few weeks ago that 1% of the world will soon own 90% of all world wealth! People are pursuing wealth. Even Christians seek after wealth. But should wealth seeking be the priority of Christians? Let us hear from the Master.

Lay Not Up Treasures on Earth (Mat.6:19) – Rabbi Hillel was one of Israel’s greatest teachers before Jesus came. His grandson was said to be Rabbi Gamaliel – the teacher of Paul the Apostle. In his teachings he acknowledged the corruptibility of earthly treasure. Thieves would dig through walls and carry of the strong box of wealth. So wealthy people would store their wealth in the Temple or invest it with money changers, or burying it underground, where Moth can eat expensive fabrics; money would Rust and become useless. Also you cannot take your treasure with you when you die!

Lay Up Treasures In heaven (Mat.6:20) – Jewish texts speak of people laying up treasure with God. Those destroying perils – thieves, moth and rust and death are not in Heaven. Since you cannot physically store money in heaven, there are standard ways of laying up treasure in heaven – (i) by giving your treasure for the service of the House of God, (ii) by supporting those Christians in need, or other causes that have to do with God’s kingdom, (iii) by using your skills and gifts to promote God’s glory rather than to seek your own glory or the praise of men (Mat.6:16; 1Cor.12:4-7).

THE PULL OF POSSESSIONS

(Matthew 6:21)

Wealth has a pulling force on the heart. Since the heart cannot be divided, it is either attached to possessions or it is attached to God. If your treasure is in heaven you will show much earnestness and eagerness for the things of God and of heaven. But if your treasure is on earth, then you will not have appetite for the things of God, or those things of God will become secondary to you (Mat.19:16-30). In this state of heart, if you give to God, you will be stingy and miserly with your giving. If you give to God in this way, you get no reward (2Cor.9:7). See how God challenged Israelites regarding their offering to Him (Mal.1:6-8, 14).

 

THE PERCEPTION OF POSSESSIONS

Matthew 6:22-23

Here the Master is pursuing the fact of singleness of heart. How do you see possessions How do you perceive wealth. If your eye is sanctified, good, pure, true and righteous then you will use possession in the right way to serve God. But if your eye is sinful or evil, that is if your valuation of treasure or wealth is distorted and worldly. So many folks today have a distorted view of possession. All they value is earthly and temporal things. Temporal things may be useful here and now but they become valueless compared to heavenly treasures.

(Prov.13:7) – tells us that you can accumulate possessions and still be poor, and you can make yourself poor by using wealth in the service of God, and will be rich before God.

(Luke 12:15-21) – Abundance of possessions does not make a man. The man in this reference worked hard, and through his hard work wealth came. Why did God call him a fool? Because he was not rich towards God (verse 21)! He did not lay up his treasures in Heaven.

THE PREFERENCE IN POSSESSIONS

Matthew 6:24

From what Jesus is teaching, Mammon is a master. It demands to be served so much that if you serve God, you can’t serve mammon. If you serve mammon, you can’t serve God. This similar to (Mat.6:21). It is with the heart you serve God. If the pursuit of wealth occupies your heart, then you cannot serve God. So question: Is it possible for those who are rich to serve God (Mat.19:23-29)? You cannot be worldly and spiritual at the same time.

THE PRESENTIMENT ABOUT POSSESSIONS

(Matthew 6:25-34)

Presentiment is apprehension, anxiety, worry about possession or the lack of it.

The Rich do not worry about possessions. They worry about preserving what wealth they have. While the poor worry about everyday needs and how to provide them. Jesus teaches his disciples not to worry. Poor people worry about what to eat, what to wear and about tomorrow – the future.

The master tells us not to worry about these things. That you are alive and well is more important than the things you worry about (Mat.6:25).

Consider other God’s creation:

(i)                The birds of the air (Mat.6:26; 10:29). Our heavenly Father feeds and protects them. Are we not more valuable to God than they? Can feed us? Can God provide for us? If you resort to worrying, it can only increase the problem. You get hypertension, you get heart disease. But if you set yourself at ease, then God takes care of you as He does the birds of the air.

(ii)              The lilies of the field (Mat.6:28-30) – so temporary that they grow today, and tomorrow they are cut down. In spite of that short life span, God specially takes care of them and beautifies them. Jesus compares their beauty with that of King Solomon and His glory. Surely you have more worth before God than the flowers of the field.

In closing this teaching the Lord gives us such clear solution to worry and anxiety. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mat.6:33), then food and drink, clothing, your future, will be abundantly taken care of!

To recap, (i) do not lay up treasure on earth. (ii) Lay them up in heaven where they will be preserved. (iii) Serve the Lord (not wealth or riches) with singleness of heart because you cannot serve two masters. Serve the Lord abundantly. (iv) Cast aside worry and anxiety.

(v) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, then He will add all the things you need both for yourself and for His service.