How to Store Treasure Matthew 6:19-24

The proliferation of storage units… One man’s junk is another man’s treasure In our consumer oriented society we are inundated with concerns about our treasures

I. We Need to Understand Treasure Correctly “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, NKJV)

A. There are several ways to understand treasure It may refer to something of monetary value Treasure may refer to a special relationship It may refer to something of limited availability It may refer to something of special significance It may be something of unspecified value It may be associated with weighty words

Ways to understand treasure… (cont.) It may refer to great wealth It may refer to a quantity of something Treasure may refer to one’s general possessions Treasure may refer to possessing something “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Romans 2:5, NKJV)

“Treasure” can be viewed from different perspectives… There is God’s view vs. man’s view There are material things vs. words or relationships There are kinds of treasure according to one’s personal priorities Treasure may be a noun or a verb Treasure may be a matter of perceived or intrinsic value

B. There are essentially two places to store treasure We have many earthly storage options We have many reasons for storing earthly treasures We have a heavenly storage option We have essentially one reason to store up treasure in heaven

II. We Need to Perceive Things correctly “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22–23, NKJV)

A. Physical perception comes through the light of the eye The eye provides a window to the outside world The eye provides a window to the soul

B. Spiritual perception comes through the light of the truth We know that spiritual light comes through the Word of God We also see God’s truth by reading or hearing His Word

III. We Need to Distinguish Loyalty Correctly “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV)

A. The objects of our devotion betray our personal loyalty There is always a hierarchy of priorities There is always a need for proper loyalties

B. The objects of our devotion require our personal attention Our actual loyalties demand our time and attention Our actual loyalties are not easy to hide “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”” (Luke 12:15, NKJV)

Colossians 3:1-4 “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (NKJV)