Part 15 - Treasures in Heaven

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 6:19 – 24 Treasures in Heaven

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

I. DO NOT

a. Verse 19 is clear “do not”

b. Moth and rust destroy (LIT. cause to vanish)

c. Thieves steal

Jesus tells us what we SHOULD do.

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Where moth and rust cannot make it vanish, and thieves can not steal it.

Jesus tells us WHY we should build our treasures in heaven as well.

Because where your treasure is, there your heart (love and devotion) will be.

Your Treasures = your Love & Devotion

What is treasure?

Matthew 13:44 – The Kingdom of Heaven

In Verse 43 – Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

The treasure Jesus is speaking of is not money, gold or jewels.

He is speaking of love, devotion and faith.

This is another heart matter Jesus is addressing.

Jesus is saying “Do not be concerned with the things of this world. Be concerned with things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Because, where you concern is, that is where your love, devotion and faith are.

Where is your love, devotion and faith today?

Are you concerned with the things of this world?

Where is your heart today?

Because where your concern is, that is where your heart is.

II. YOUR HEART IS GOOD OR BAD NOT BOTH

22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

The literal Greek says, “If the eye of you is sound, then the whole body of you is light.”

If your focus, or goal or direction before your eye is CORRECT, or proper, then you will be filled with light.

That is, the light of God dwelling within you in the form of the Holy Spirit.

So we can be the light of the World Jesus was telling us to be a few verses earlier.

The literal Greek continues, “But if the eye of you is evil, then your whole body is dark. And if your whole body be dark, the darkness will be great!”

If your focus is good (on Heavenly things) = You are filled with the light of God.

If your focus is bad (on Earthly things) = You are filled with a great darkness.

John 18:36

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now, but only in the spirit.

The Spiritual Kingdom will one day (at the second coming of Christ) be replaced by the physical Kingdom.

Until then, we are to serve the Spiritual Kingdom, and only be concerned with it!

We can not concern ourselves with this world.

Where our treasure is, there our heart will be.

Where our heart is, there is our Love, Devotion and Faith.

Do you love the things of this world?

1 John 2:15-16

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Are you committed to Jesus?

Acts 16:31

"Be Committed to the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

Is your faith in the things of the world?

James 2:5

Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

Where is your heart today? Where is your Love, Devotion and Faith?

Are you serving God or something else?

III. NO ONE CAN SERVE GOD AND ANYTHING ELSE

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The Greek says;

No one is able to serve two Lords.

He will either hate one and love the other,

Or he will cling to one, and despise the other.

You are not able to serve both God and wealth.

Matthew 19:16-30 The self-righteous man

16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?"

(there is no GOOD THINGS we can do! The only good in us is God – in the form of the Holy Spirit, doing is not the answer.)

Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18 "Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"

20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered the man on the same grounds as the question was asked, what must a MAN DO to obtain eternal life, and that would be to fulfill the 10 commandments, which is impossible. Only Christ had kept them all.

Salvation does not lie in good works.

21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Jesus showed this man where he fell short with the law, where he had broken a command.

According to the law, if you love your neighbor as yourself, then share your wealth with him.

And if you love God with all your heart, then follow me (Jesus).

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad (lupeo – grieving), because he had great wealth (polus ktema – many possessions).

The Gospel makes one MAD, SAD or GLAD.

Naaman went away in rage.

This young rich ruler went away sad (grieving)

And Zacchaeus received Christ joyfully!

How do you respond to the Gospel?

CONCLUSION

You can not serve God and wealth.

Your heart can not be divided between two kingdoms,

Does today’s message make you mad, sad or joyful?

ALTAR CALL

If you have found yourself concerned with the things of this world instead of heavenly things, come forward for prayer.

If you have never truly committed yourself to Christ, come forward today and do so.

Commit yourself to the Lord and you and your household shall be saved.