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
Earthly Treasure:
Materialism can take the place of God in our
lives. Jesus says we can have only one master. We
live in a materialistic society where many people
serve money. They spend all their lives collecting
and storing it, only to die and leave it behind.
Their desire for money and what it can buy far
outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual
matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much
of your time and energy thinking about. Dont
fall into the materialistic trap, because the
love of money is the first step toward all kinds
of sin (1 Timothy 6:10). Can you honestly
say that God, and not money, is your master? One
test is to ask which one occupies more of your
thoughts, time, and efforts. [Life Application SB]
Heavenly Treasure:
This is the treasure for which Christ bids
us labor. 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 89.4}
How precious will heaven be to those who
have been faithful in the work of SAVING SOULS!
{MB 90.2}
COMMENTARY PEARL
Years ago, I had a sound engineer
boyfriend who toured with big-name stars. I was
fortunate enough to join him on the road and saw a
very famous singer in concert some twenty times
all over the world. It sounded glamorous, I
know, but it soon became evident that her success
wasn't all it seemed to be.
I met the superstar once and saw her as
fragile and self-conscious, even at the height of
her fame. On stage, though, she was unfailingly
dazzling, her famous voice flawless, night after
night. Her entourage swarmed around her, following
closely. We'd often dodge paparazzi waiting at the
venue or hotel. At those times, her smile beamed -
she was always dressed for the cameras.
A decade later, she was dead.
Surrounded by people and adoring fans,
this performer was nonetheless very alone.
Despite having fame and fortune, she was deeply
unhappy. Celebrities sometimes epitomize the reality
that things of this world, no matter how shiny,
don't offer deep or lasting satisfaction. The
empty promise of earthly success can be a
distraction that not only diverts people from this truth
but also can actually destroy them.
For true peace, I must anchor my hope in
something more enduring and true. Jesus is that
something. He is the only superstar I care to follow
now. Isabella Campolattaro
Faith Step: Take a few moments to reflect
on what is disappointing you today. Where are
you hanging your hope - on worldly things or
Jesus? [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Heavenly Jewels
Moth larvae will eat any fabric made with
animal fiber. One adult moth can lay up to fifty
pinhead-sized eggs. These hatch into larvae that eat the
keratin in the fiber, thus destroying the clothes.
Depending on the conditions, it can take two years for
larvae to become adults that don't eat fabric.
Moths, rust, fire, floods, and thieves
can destroy the hard-earned fruits of our labor
on Earth. In an instant, everything could be
gone. All those years of trying to attain the
world's standards was for nothing. It kept our minds
focused on earthly things and not the heavenly. This
is why Jesus admonishes us to "not lay up for
[ourselves] treasures on earth." We are to lay up our
treasures in heaven, where they are in Jesus' safe
keeping. He looks at His followers as His jewels
(Zechariah 9:16), and as His jewels, we are to bring
more treasures home to Him. These treasures laid
up in heaven are eternal riches that will never
be destroyed.
God has promised a rich reward for those
who love Him. Yes, the beauties of heaven will
be a wonderful sight, but how much more
valuable it will be to have a character like Christ's
and to see the rich number of souls won for the
kingdom. Why hoard heaven's pavement, gold, here on
Earth when you could be bringing souls to His
storehouse? Store up for yourself treasures in heaven
because "where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also."
Heavenly Father, help me to lay up my
treasures in heaven by sharing Your love with others.
Keep today's promise in my heart, and thank You
for seeing me as a precious jewel. [The Most
Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts]
CLOSING THOUGHT
I watched the price of my latest novel
plummet at a major online bookstore. A $25 hardcover
book that had taken years of work and a major
investment from my publisher was priced at less than $4
only months after its release. I felt the
stabbing sensation of society telling me I had no
value. Ego deflated, I resigned myself to knowing
what I had to offer had been shoved to the back
of the store's sale rack like outdated
merchandise. Last season's styles or damaged goods. All
my effort and hard work was bargain basement,
at best.
Yet in His mercy that same week, a writer
messaged me to say that one of the scenes on the page
made her cry grateful tears. Someone else
confided the impact of the book's faith theme on his
walk with God. Another thanked me for writing a
morally clean story she could share with younger
relatives.
In His quietly profound way, Jesus let me
know sales numbers or book prices were not what
He valued. Jesus whispered to my heart that He
measured treasures in a different way than popular
culture.
Have you ever felt like you fall short by
the world's standards? Take heart! The kingdom
that Jesus invites us into values the weak, the
broken, the insignificant. He blesses others out of
simple, humble offerings, even when they are
bargain-basement priced. Sharon Hinck
Faith Step: Reach out to someone who
needs encouragement, even if your effort seems
small by human standards. Rejoice that Jesus uses
a different measuring stick to determine
what's important. [Mornings With Jesus 2023
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Matthew 6:19-21: Where Your Treasure Is,
There Your Heart Will Be Also.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220603-1120.html
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200324-0853.html
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200123-0930.html
Matthew 6:19-21 - Store Your Treasures In
Heaven And Not On This Earth.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20051226-1033.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
