Treasure In Heaven

Intro

One of a child’s first words is “mine”

They see you do it

They want it

They don’t have faith in you

Do we trust God with what He has given us or hold on to it like a selfish child and shout, “Mine!”?

As we are talking about treasures on earth or treasures in heaven, use what God has given you on earth to invest in treasures in heaven

Matthew 6:19–24 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.

Treasure In Heaven

Treasures on earth

Preceding verses

Giving to be praised by others

Praying to be heard

Fasting to be seen

Treasures

House

Car

Boat

Retirement

Lake House

Degrees

Prestige

These will never satisfy

They all rot and rust

Someone always has more

Even those who seemingly have it all are in hopeless despair

We look upon these things as ways to find fulfillment and they will never fill the soul

My generation was told a satisfied life is in family, work, and house. Well that didn’t work

The generations coming up are told satisfaction is within you, be true to you, do what feels right. That’s not working either.

There your heart will be also

Here’s the heart again

What’s one way we keep our heart pure?

Keeping eyes set on eternity

The eye is the lamp of the body

Light comes in through the eyes, the five senses

Helps us find our way

Eyes on Jesus, His life was the light of men

Be loyal to God

Generosity vs Jealousy - haplous

Eyes on the world, darkness

Greed and jealousy

“They have and I want”

You cannot serve two masters

Serve - literally be a slave

Yes, strong words but that’s what it comes down to

Depend on worldly possessions to satisfy you

“I need more!”

Your soul will be in a dark place

Mark 8:36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”

Depend on God to satisfy you

The giver of life

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

How can we know if we are serving our possessions?

History is rife with stories of people who have given their property and their life for the sake of the Gospel.

Are you willing to give up your retirement?

Are you willing to see everything you have worked hard to build be burned?

Are you more concerned with your treasure here than in heaven?

How do you feel about tithing?

Treasure in heaven

1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

It all belongs to God

Do the will of the Father

Spend more time and energy on heavenly things rather than earthly things

Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”

How now shall we live?

How can you use what God has given you to invest in heavenly rewards?

Invest your time and energy

Study God’s word

Pray

Serve others

Use what God has blessed you with to serve the kingdom of God

Israel was blessed to be a blessing

Look upon the treasure that awaits us in heaven. What we have in heaven is so much more and will last for eternity. Upon A.W Tozer’s death, his daughter eulogized at his funeral, “I can’t feel sad. I know Dad’s happy; he’s lived for this all his life.” What are you living for?