Treasures and Kingdom Citizens

Introduction: What goes through your mind when I say the word, TREASURE? My mind went immediately to all the legends I heard about as a child growing up, and about the ones I have read about, or heard people speak about. Allow me to share a few with you:

The Stories of Hidden Treasure

1. The Oak Island Money Pit.

Located on Oak Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Oak Island Money Pit is a famous treasure site. Legend has it that a deep pit on the island contains a hidden treasure, possibly belonging to pirates or the Knights Templar. Despite numerous excavation attempts, the treasure if it exists, remains undiscovered.

There is an entire Television show on the History Channel given over to the search for this treasure.

2. The Treasure of the Knights Templar.

The Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order, were believed to possess vast wealth and treasures. After their dissolution in the 14th century, many stories emerged about their hidden treasures. Some legends suggest they buried their treasure in various locations, including France, Scotland, and the Holy Land.

This is what the movie National Treasurewas about. The search for the treasures of the Knights Templar.

3. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine.

Located in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, USA, the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is said to be a rich gold deposit discovered by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz, known as the "Dutchman." The mine's exact location has remained a mystery, and many treasure hunters have searched for it, often encountering dangerous circumstances.

As a kid my friends and I were talked about going to the Superstition Mountains and searching for the Dutchman’s treasure.

4. The Beale Ciphers.

The Beale Ciphers refer to a set of three ciphertexts that supposedly reveal the location of a hidden treasure buried in Bedford County, Virginia, USA, in the early 19th century. The ciphers were published in a pamphlet in the 1880s, but their true meaning remains unsolved. Despite numerous attempts to decipher them, the location and contents of the treasure remain unknown.

Are these stories legends, or are they real? Explorers, historians, and enthusiasts have dedicated significant efforts to unraveling the mysteries surrounding these hidden treasures, but to date, most remain undiscovered.

Kingdom Treasure

When I asked you what you thought when you heard the word, TREASURE, did anyone think of the kingdom of heaven? Jesus taught in one of His parables that the kingdom of heaven was like a TREASURE hidden in a field, and when a man finds it, he goes and sells everything he has and returns to buy the field (Matthew 13:44). Jesus was teaching the ultimate value of belonging to God’s forever family. There is no greater TREASURE than being a child of God.

In the Scripture before us, Jesus is going to speak to His disciples about the proper view of TREASURE. Like His disciples there are probably a lot of people who have a very distorted view about TREASURE. Jesus is going to clear it up for us.

I. Lay up for yourselves TREASURES? – 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

What does Jesus teach His disciples in these three verses? He teaches them three important truths about TREASURE. Don’t miss this. What Jesus teaches here is very important for us to get a handle on. Why? Because as Randy Alcorn says, “God sees our faith and finances as inseparable.” So, then, how are we lay up TREASURE the right way?

1. Don’t lay up your TREASURE on earth – Matthew 6:19

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

Jesus is not against treasure, but against laying up TREASAURE here on earth. D.A. Carson wrote that this could read, “Stop storing up treasures.” Jesus tells His disciples why. He said that moths destroy it, that rust destroys it, and that thieves break in and steal it. Carson wrote, the home at this time were made of mud brick walls, and thieves would dig through the walls and steal people’s TREASURE. The point is that earthly TREASURES won’t last.

There we have three enemies – moths, rust, and thieves. Those are some great reasons why we should NOT lay up TREASURE here on earth. Moths eat away the things we TREASURE. Rust, mildew and rats eats away at the things we TREASURE. Thieves break in and steal the things we TREASURE.

Mice in the Glove Box

The other day I opened the glove box on my truck to put in my registration and proof of insurance. At the bottom of the glove box was a pile of Kleenex that a rodent decided to turn into a nest. There was a large pile of chewed-up Kleenex. It was a mess. That’s a good picture of what we are talking about.

I can’t think of any TREASURE we may have here on earth that doesn’t eventually end up destroyed or tossed out because it becomes useless. Go to your local dump and you’ll see all the TREASURESpeople toss out daily.

2. Lay up your TREASURE in heaven – Matthew 6:20

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

As I have already stated, Jesus is not against laying up TREASURE. However, He is precise when it comes to the WHERE we should lay up TREASURE. He tells His Kingdom Citizens to lay up TREASURE in heaven. Why?

Well, Jesus tells us that moths cannot destroy it, that rust cannot destroy it, and that thieves cannot break in and steal it. Have you heard of the FDIC? The Father’s Deposit Insurance Corporation (The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn).

How do we lay up TREASURE in heaven? Let me begin by sharing the words of Jesus spoke to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:21. Jesus said to him,

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.”

The rich young ruler was unwilling to do what Jesus told him because he was very rich. Money had become his god. We read that he went away from Jesus’ presence very sorrowful (see Matthew 19:22).

We can lay up TREASURE in heaven in the following ways:

1. Give to the poor (the real poor). Spurgeon called them, “God’s money boxes.” When you give to the poor you lend to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17).

2. Provide for missionaries - support those that “Go” (Matthew 28:19-20).

3. Pay for a student to go to Bible college. Help educate the next generation of preachers.

4. Give to your local church through tithes and offerings.

5. Share with those who have less than what you have.

Much could be accomplished if all of God’s people just gave 10% of their income back to kingdom work. Some of you need to GROW UP this year in the area of tithing. If you have a problem with this, take it up with God. Are you aware that 15% of everything Jesus said related to the topic of money and possessions? Jesus spoke more about money than heaven and hell (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle).

6. Support parachurch ministries – Cup of Grace, Union Gospel Mission, Samaritans Purse.

I have read that when John Wesley died that he left behind, “A knife, two spoons, and the Methodist Church.” You see, John followed Jesus’ advice. You see John laid up his TREASURE in heaven.

Do you know who else laid up TREASURE in heaven? The widow with her two mites. You can read about her giving in Mark 12:41-44. She gave all she had. She gave out of her own need. Now, that my friend is sending your TREASURE ahead. She had laid up TREASURE in heaven.

3. Where your TREASURE is, there your heart will be also – Matthew 6:21

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus taught that if all we do is accumulate TREASURE here on earth that our hearts will be earthly-focused. TREASURE here – heart here.However, if we send our TREASURE ahead – to heaven, our hearts will follow. TREASURE there – heart there.

So, as I have already said, Jesus is not teaching against laying up TREASURE, He just wants to make sure we understand what vault to place it in.

How is it possible to get to this point in the Christian life? We need to continue to receive the teachings of Jesus Christ. He says,

II. Keep your eyes healthy – 6:22-23

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 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!

1. Keep your eyes healthy – Matthew 6:22

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

Are your eyes healthy? Why speak of the eyes? Have you heard of the lust of the eyes? Our eyes see things, and the next thing you know we want it. Our “Wanters” never seem to be satisfied. The Bible says in Proverbs 27:20,

Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

I think Jesus is telling us to have some spiritual control over our eyes. If we don’t our lives will get out of control. We must have a Kingdom focus.

It has been said, “We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t like.”

2. Take note when your eyes are bad – Matthew 6:23

23 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!

How do we know if our eye is bad? We will do whatever it takes to get, get, get! We will want more, more, and more. I often use the seagulls in Finding Nemo who clammer, “Mine, Mine, Mine” as an example of bad eyes. It is all about me, myself, and I.

So many people get so caught up with earthly things – material possessions that have no lasting value. We are all guilty. This is why Jesus is teaching this principle. Guard your eyes, for the lust of our eyes, can bring us into darkness, and the pursuits of material things become our god. There are so many people that chase after the things of this world instead of spiritual pursuits.

Years ago, a former member of SLBC stopped by the church for a visit. I asked him, “What are you out doing?” He responded by saying, “You know, just chasing the dollar.” Is anyone present today guilty of this same thing? Can I remind us that on our dollar there is a motto that reads: In God We Trust. But do we?

Not only do we need to keep our eyes healthy, but we need to make a choice as to whom we are going to SERVE.

III. Decide who you will SERVE – 6:24

24 “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.

Life is all about choices! Well, here Jesus tells us the two choices we have – you cannot have both (we will lie to ourselves and believe we can, but we can’t). Jesus makes a very serious statement here: No one (me, you, others) can serve two masters. So, what master will we SERVE? Jesus said if we try and serve two masters, we will be loyal to one and despise the other. He again makes it emphatic – You (me, you, others) cannot serve God and mammon. So, what are the two choices? They are:

1. SERVE God.

2. SERVE Mammon or money.

The word “master” means, Lord, owner, supreme in authority. Which of the two will control our lives? God or money? So many people want to try and serve both God and money. It is not possible. Are you smarter than Jesus Christ? There can only be ONE GOD. He is the Almighty!

Martin Luther said, “People go through three conversions: The conversion of their head, their heart, and their pocketbook. Unfortunately, not all at the same time.” His point is simple - God wants the whole man. Has your wallet gone through a conversion?

Not only do we need to keep our eyes healthy and make a choice as to whom we are going to SERVE, but we also must fully recognize who CARES for us.

IV. Let God take CARE of you – 6:25-34

Should children have to WORRY about having a roof over their heads, food to eat, and clothes on their backs? No, that is the responsibility of their parents. A child doesn’t WORRY about those things. They just go about their daily lives.

What does Jesus teach here? He says,

1. Don’t worry about your life – 6:25-27

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

Underline the word, “life” in verse 25.

There are some of you that need to hear just this message from this chapter. You need the reminder that a child of God does not need to WORRY. Don’t WORRY about your LIFE. We are to take one day at a time. We calendar months in advance, but none of us have a corner on life. We don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, but we KNOW the one who holds tomorrow in His hands. Therefore, STOP WORRYING about your LIFE.

In my personal devotionals the other day I was reading 2 Samuel 8, and two times in the text it said,

So the LORD preserved David wherever he went (2 Samuel 8:6;14).

Scripture also tells us,

My times are in your hand; (Psalm 31:15a)

We are to TRUST God with our lives.

2. Don’t worry about your clothing – 6:28-30

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Underline the word “clothing” in verse 28.

Please stop saying, “I have nothing to wear.” Wash your clothes and you will have plenty to wear. You may not have something NEW to wear, but you will have something to wear.

Every year, people in the United States throw out more than 34 billion pounds of used textiles. Divided across the population, that’s more than 100 pounds of textile waste per person each year. However, textile waste generation does not occur equally. People with higher incomes generate on average 76% more clothing waste than people with lower incomes. (Bu.edu).

Jesus tells His disciples that they are not to worry about CLOTHING. God will clothe them. I love the visual painting that Jesus shares here of the lilies of the field (a picture is worth a thousand words) and the grass of the field. Jesus says that “Solomon (the world’s wealthiest man – 1 Kings 10:14-29) in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

What a wonderful reminder. And look at verse 30,

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Our faith is in the God who created all things, including us! Have faith in God to clothe you.

3. Don’t worry about your sustenance – 6:31-32

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Underline the word “eat” in verse 31.

Where do our three squares come from? Costco, Walmart, Fred Meyers, Super 1 Foods, Yokes? No, our food is a gift from God. Everything we consume here on planet Earth has been given to us as a gift from God – plants and animals. Our meals come from our provider – our heavenly Father.

Are you aware that many times people go hungry for one of these three reasons:

1. Choice – people spend their money on other items.

2. Behavior – people are unwilling to work, or just plain lazy.

3. Sin – people within governments withhold food from their citizens.

The bottom line is that Jesus tells His disciples that they do not need to WORRY about what they shall eat. Underline the words in verse 32,

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

Not only do we need to keep our EYES healthy and make a choice as to whom we are going to SERVE, but we also must fully recognize who CARES for us, and finally, we must SEEK FIRSTGod’s kingdom.

V. Seek first the kingdom of God – 6:33-34

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

It makes sense to me that Kingdom Citizens pursue the Kingdom of God. It becomes our priority in life. If we want to line up our life, which includes all our TREASURES, we will take heed of the words of Jesus in these final two verses. What does Jesus say to His disciples? He makes five very powerful statements worth thinking about. They are:

1. Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness,

What you pursue takes your time. It will have your attention. What you give your time to is what you are seeking first. It shows what is important to you. You give time to what is important.

Jesus says that God’s Kingdom is to have top billing in our lives. But he doesn’t stop there. He also states that we are to seek God’s righteousness.

· God’s Kingdom is His rule and reign over all aspects of our TREASURES.

· God’s righteousness is His moral law placed in our hearts. It is His will that we live for.

Do God's kingdom and His righteousness have first place in our lives? Are we pursuing God with everything about us? Is it evident to others?

2. And all these things will be added to you.

God promises that if we put Him “First Place” He will take all the things of this life (i.e., our TREASURES) and make sure we are not going without. Can we TRUST our heavenly Father? The answer is, yes!

3. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow,

Because we have placed God number one in our lives and believe that He is the one who provides for us, then we must stop WORRYING. Don’t fret about things we really have no control over.

Someone wrote, “Worry is praying to the wrong god.”

Live for God today (the present) and don’t WORRY about tomorrow. It has been said that 99% of the things we WORRY about – tomorrow’s troubles never happen.

God will take care of our tomorrows.

4. For tomorrow will worry about its own things.

What does this mean? A few Bible translations read it this way, “for tomorrow will bring its own worries “or “it will have enough worries of its own.”

Stop making a list of all the things you need to be WORRYING about tomorrow. You and I do not control today, tomorrow, or any day. We must leave our days in His hands.

5. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In life, every day can bring trouble our way. No one is exempt. We live in a fallen and broken world. This is not how God originally designed it, but what we have inherited from our parents, Adam, and Eve. What we face today is the consequence of Fall (Genesis 3).

Trouble - trouble everywhere. Isn’t that true?

You can look for the TROUBLE, or you can look to the one who can handle any TROUBLE that may come into our lives. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Cast your TROUBLES where you have cast your sins.” (The Complete Gathered Gold).

The Living Bible Paraphrased reads the last part of verse 34, like this, “Live one day at a time.” Which I believe can be interpreted as, living for God every day.

Conclusion: Allow me to wrap this up by asking you a series of questions for you to think about. Here they are:

1. What will you do with the TREASURE you possess? Will you lay it up here on earth or send it ahead to heaven?

2. How will you keep your EYES healthy? Will you focus on eternal things, or on material things around you?

3. Whom will you SERVE? God or money? You cannot SERVE both. One will be your MASTER.

4. Will you TRUST God to meet all your needs? Or will you WORRY about your life, clothing, and sustenance? Nature doesn’t WORRY.

5. Will we SEEK first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Will we put God first in our lives? Will we seek to live out His teachings (His righteousness) in our daily lives?