Matthew 6:19-21 - Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be Also.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) Do not store up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves
do not break in and steal. For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.
INTRODUCTION
Treasures In Heaven. Anything done in this
life that has eternal value. The phrase is the
equivalent of being "rich toward God" (Lk 12:21). [NIV
SB]
Treasures In Heaven: This was a common image
for Jews of Jesus day; doing Gods commands
became virtually equivalent to accumulating
treasures with God. The context (6:19; Luke 12:33)
suggests that Jesus primarily had acts of charity in
mind. [NLT SB 2008]
They are to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus
storing up treasure for themselves as a good
foundation for the future, so that they may take hold
of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:18-19
(ESV)
Character is the great harvest of life. And
every word or deed that through the grace of
Christ shall kindle in one soul an impulse that
reaches heavenward, every effort that tends to the
formation of a Christlike character, is laying up
treasure in heaven. {MB 88-90}
The way you store up treasure in Heaven is
by investing in getting people there. Rick
Warren
COMMENTARY PEARL
An old man, a great man of God, lay on
his deathbed. He summoned his grandson to come
to his side. Calling the boy's name, he said,
"I don't know what type of work I will be doing
in heaven, but if it's allowed, I'm going to
ask the Lord Jesus to let me help build your
mansion. You be sure you send up plenty of the right
materials."
Living a life of purity and love, leading
others to Christ as we share our faith, doing good
works in Christ's name - all of these things are
materials that may be sent on ahead. These can never
be touched by the fluctuations in the earthly
economy, by natural disaster, or by thievery.
What kind of materials are you sending up
to Heaven? [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham]
COMMENTARY
Its amazing to me that people dont
think twice about giving a 10 percent tip to a
restaurant server (which they should at the very
minimum), yet theyll balk at giving any percentage
of their income to the Lord.
To me thats an indication theres
something wrong spiritually. You can tell a lot about
someones so-called spirituality by their giving"or
lack thereof. It reveals their real value system
because Jesus said, For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21
NKJV).
Some Christians say that tithing is an
Old Testament principle, that were under the
New Covenant and therefore dont have to
tithe. But we should give a minimum of 10 percent
to the Lord. Your tithes, by the way, should go
to your church. Then above that are offerings.
Heres the good news: everything you
give means that youre investing in Gods
work. Youre giving to God, which will result in
fruit to your account.
And what does God promise? Malachi 3:10
says, Bring all the tithes into the
storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.
If you do, says the Lord of Heavens
Armies, I will open the windows of heaven for
you. I will pour out a blessing so great you
wont have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put
me to the test! (NLT).
That sounds to me like God promises to
provide for us when we are faithful with what He
gives us. However, it doesnt mean that we give
to get. Rather, we give because we have
received. And as were faithful in this, God
promises to bless us.
Ive applied this principle in my life
for as long as Ive been a Christian and have
found it to be true. And if youll apply it in
your life, youll find that its true as
well. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries;
https://www.harvestdaily.com]
CLOSING THOUGHT
The famous missionary and martyr, Jim
Elliot, was called a fool by many for going to
Ecuador. Theyll kill you there! some told
him. Youll lose your life! Well, Jim
Elliot did lose his life when he was killed by
members of the very tribe he was trying to reach.
His wife, Elisabeth, kept his journal in which
he once wrote, He is no fool who gives what
he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot
lose.
Elisabeth Elliot returned to that same
tribe where she spent years doing her mission
work. All the while, she held to that same truth
that when we give up our worldly possessions for
the sake of the Gospel to gain eternal treasure
in Christ, it makes perfect sense!
In our part of the world, people are
obsessed with accumulating stuff. Next time youre
out driving, just count the number of storage
places you see"all existing for the sole purpose
of keeping things no one is using.
Im not telling you to sell everything
you have and move to Timbuktu. But how might
your attitude change if you saw your worldly
possessions as secondary to your heavenly treasures?
Stuff cant make you happy, but heavenly
treasures will give you everlasting joy.
Experience Everlasting Joy By Keeping
Your Heavenly Treasures "
Your Work For Christ " As Your Most
Important Priority!
[PowerPoint Today by Jack Graham;
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/powerpoint/]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 6:19-21 - Store Your Treasures In
Heaven And Not On This Earth.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051226-1033.html
Matthew 6:19-21: Where Your Treasure Is,
There Your Heart Will Be Also.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200123-0930.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200123-0930.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
