Treasure

Telos: Value is determined by the valuer.

Treasure Box

Information

Our treasure, impresses us, but doesn’t impress God, but our heart does.

Inspiration

Matthew 6:19–21 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Doxology!

Revelation

Not where treasure is, but where your heart is.

Jesus said money is the chief competitor for our heart.

Give me your heart, and I will take care of your treasure.

You lose your treasure by your heart not being in right place.

Application

1. Guard against your greed. Luke 12:15

A financial advisor named Ron Blue visited a rural village in Africa. He asked one of the villagers, “What is the biggest problem in your village?” He fully expected to hear about a food shortage or lack of medical supplies. He was hot prepared for the response he received. The man said, “materialism.” He explained, “If a man had a mud hut, he wants one made of stone. If he has a thatch roof, he wants a tin roof. If he has one acre, he wants two. Materialism is a disease of the heart.”

A young couple had been married for about a year. They were struggling financially and decided to do something about it. They would develop a strategy. They sat down one day to talk about their finances, and after much analysis, the young wife said to her husband, “If we miss two payments on the refrigerator and one payment on the washing machine, we’ll have enough money to make a down payment on a new television set.”

As Pastor Randy Alcorn says, “As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow.” Your heart moves toward what you cherish, and God wants you to move toward Him.

2. Give your stuff to God. vv. 16-18

1 Chronicles 29:14 NKJV

But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

Deuteronomy 8:18 NKJV

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

Job 41:11 NKJV

Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.

Jim Elliot at 22 years old: 'One of the great blessings of heaven is the appreciation of heaven on earth. He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose'.

3. Fight the “me/more” factor. vv. 17-19

George Barna 2001 report on Church

• In 2001, 14% of adults who claim to be followers of Christ tithed. In 2002, 6% of adults who claim to be followers of Christ tithed. Has dropped to 5% and then gone up and then back down.

• More Americans claim to tithe than actually do: 17% of adults claim to tithe while 5% actually do.

• 36% of adults in their 30s give to a church in any given month. 58% of adults in their 40s and 50s give to a church in any given month. 68% of people in their 60s and 70s give to a church in any given month.

4. Do your living in light of your leaving. v. 20

Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure.

Where your treasure is, there is your heart.

Where your heart is, there is your happiness.

Augustine of Hippo

5. Send your assets on ahead of you. v. 21

“Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.” A. W. Tozer

Transformation

Life Applications

1. Don’t allow yourself to think who you are is based off of what you have.

2. Look at your bank statement, your checkbook, your online account, and your receipts to see what your priorities really are. Where is your heart?

3. Start praying before you purchase. “God, is this a wise use of Your money?”

4. Develop the attitude that God blesses you to be blessing.

2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].