What Do You Treasure?

Text: Matthew 6:19-34

Sermon Bumper: “Customer is King” from RNM.

Introduction: We live in a culture that tells us that it’s all about what makes us happy. We live in a culture that tells us we should measure our success in this world by our bank account, 401(k), the kinds of cars we drive, and the size of our house. And even within Christian circles, we’re sometimes tempted to buy in to the secular mantra. We know that we ought to love and serve God alone, but sometimes we think we can have it both ways. We can serve God and Money.

Last week, we took a look at the Lord’s Prayer and we saw that one of the most crucial aspects of prayer is aligning our will to God’s will. Well, one of the places where that becomes the most challenging is this aspect of money.

It is one thing to say that we’re pursuing the Kingdom of God. But nowhere does our true allegiance show up more tangibly than in this area of money. Money is a kind of litmus test for our hearts.

How we affect this world with our money and how we are affected by our money is a powerful indicator of what we truly treasure.

So, my question for you this morning is: “What do you treasure?”

Matthew 6:19–34 ESV

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. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 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! 24 “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. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

How we use our possessions and money is an outward display of what our hearts most treasure. (6:19-21)

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

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.

You have a choice: Either use your money to advance the Kingdom of God, or use it to advance the Kingdom of this world.

Did you know that at the time the Civil War began in 1861, the United States government did not print paper money? It only minted coins.

But, in 1861, something significant happened that changed that. That year, 11 states seceded from the Union in order to form a separate country, the Confederate States of America. This, of course, sparked the American Civil War. But wars cost a lot of money so the new country printed paper money as a way to pay its bills.

But this new paper money was more like a promise – in technical terms, a “promissory note” – because its certificates were really pledges to give the currency’s holder a specific amount of gold or silver, but only if the Confederacy won the war.

Bills issued earlier in the war said right on them, “Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States, the Confederate States of America will pay” the bill’s amount to the person holding it.

“Six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States, the Confederate States of America will pay to the bearer on demand $100 with interest at 2 cents per day.”

Later currency delayed the promised payout until two years after a peace treaty and dropped the promise of interest.

“Two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States, the Confederate States of America will pay to the bearer on demand $1.”

This Confederate $1 bill was issued in 1864 in Richmond, Va., the Confederacy’s capital. National Numismatic Collection, National Museum of American History via Wikimedia Commons

So, in a very real sense, those who purchased these promissory notes were placing a wager, or perhaps we could call it making an investment, in the success of the Confederate States of America. They were making a bet that the CSA would win and their investments would hold value.

But, of course, that investment proved to be a poor one. When the South started losing the war, the value of Confederate money plummeted. To make matters worse, prices for food, clothing and other necessities rose because many items were scarce during the war. “Graybacks” became almost worthless. By late 1864, a few months before the war’s end, one Confederate dollar was worth just three cents in U.S. currency.

This is what 1 million Confederate dollars looked like, in a photo from 1962. U.S. National Archives

Then, when the Confederate army surrendered in April 1865, graybacks lost any remaining value they might have had. The Confederacy no longer existed, so there was nobody who would exchange its paper money for gold or silver. All those promissory notes promising a gold dollar in exchange became null and void.

Imagine you could be transported back in time with this knowledge. Would you willingly trade in your USA coins for these doomed to be worthless Confederate bills? That wouldn’t be a very smart investment. Even as a collector’s item today, their value is relatively modest, nowhere near the value of what the US Dollar would be if it were invested.

You and I are in the midst of a war between kingdoms. The currency of this worldly kingdom is literal money, and all that money can buy--cars, houses, nice clothes, cool toys and gadgets, and so on. But, we know how this story ends. How foolish it would be for us to trade what is eternal and guaranteed for that which is fleeting, temporary, merely a mirage.

Adapted from What happened to Confederate money after the Civil War? https://source.colostate.edu/what-happened-to-confederate-money-after-the-civil-war/

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The world dangles luxuries and all that sparkles and shines in front of us with the promise that it will satisfy. But when the war is over and the dust settles, all those things will prove to be worthless distractions. Investments in the kingdom of a doomed enemy of the God we say we follow.

What would you do if you lived during that time? I’ll tell you what I would do. If I were paid in CSA dollars, chances are I’d have to pay for many things using those CSA dollars. And so, I’d buy my groceries, pay for my house, and whatever else I had to do to get by. But, in the back of my mind, I’d know that every CSA dollar I held onto or used is one less real dollar I’d have at the end of the war. And I wouldn’t be investing in the Confederacy. So, I’d invest in things that would have long-lasting value, and convert the rest over to US Dollars while their value was still high. Because I know that a day is coming when all of those hard-earned graybacks will be nothing more than kindling for a fire.

We have to live in this world, but we are not of this world.

A day is coming when the war between the kingdoms will be over. That may be when you die, or it may be when Christ returns.

In a moment, all the material possessions, money, cars, every physical thing that we worked so hard for, will be instantly turned into fuel for the fire.

But there are ways we invest the currency of this world for the Kingdom of God and reap an eternal return on our investment.

When you tithe or give an offering, you are cashing in something that is temporal and fleeting for a reward that is eternal. You’re investing in the Kingdom of God, in souls being saved, lives transformed by the gospel.

When you give to the poor, or pay for a kid’s way to Church camp, or provide a Wednesday night meal out of your pocket, you’re investing in the Kingdom.

When you make a choice to forgo a luxury or to live simply, you’re freeing up more that you can invest in the kingdom.

When you give to missionaries, you’re investing in the Kingdom.

And those investments hold their value. In fact, they accrue interest exponentially!

That’s the perspective we need to have! Stop asking the question, “How much am I supposed to give to God?” and start asking the right question, “How much of this worthless, doomed currency am I going to waste, and how much can I invest in the Kingdom?”

Materialism corrupts our hearts and perspective and prevent us from serving God. (6:22-24)

Matthew 6:22–24 ESV

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 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! 24 “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.

The “eye” and “lamp” are our perspective on the world, particularly with regard to money and material possessions.

If we have an earthly, materialistic perspective on life, it prevents us from seeing the world and eternity through God’s perspective.

Everything is distorted and corrupted. We are unable to perceive life, God, and everyone around us in the way that God intended.

It reinforces our desire for money and leads us to despise God and push away from him.

Why? Because God calls us to forsake the pursuit of wealth in this life and pursue treasure in heaven! Every investment in the Kingdom of the World is a loss to the Kingdom of God, and vice versa.

You can’t have it both ways! But many of us are effectively trying to hedge our bets. We know that the Kingdom of God wins in the end. But, just in case all this God-stuff isn’t real, we don’t want to make ourselves too miserable here on earth. If it turns out that this is all there is, then we might as well live it up, right? So, we give a little in our offerings, just in case. But, we make sure that we have enough to be comfortable.

And that kind of thinking is not compatible with true faith. Jesus wants ALL of your heart. Not just part of it. You cannot serve God and money.

Here is a call to check our hearts for idols. What do you have that, if God were to take it away, would cause you to doubt God’s goodness or his love for you? Your home? Car? Job? Spouse? Children? Health? Reputation? Anything that we are unwilling to surrender to God is an idol.

And here’s the great irony: while this world promises happiness, comfort, and ease...

Materialism naturally produces anxiety. (6:25-30)

Matthew 6:25–30 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Disclaimer: You can have anxiety for a lot of different reasons, some of which include legitimate medical issues and hormonal imbalances. Medication is not evil and can be a helpful tool for managing such cases.

But, it’s also possible to use it as a shield to protect yourself from examining your heart. Not all anxiety is caused by materialism, but some is. So examine your heart.

It is impossible to find true peace in material things. (v. 25)

Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV

10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

The promise of materialism is that “If I just had ____, I’d be happy.” But, this promise is a mirage. It’s a lie.

If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk.

Materialism makes us atheists.

The result of focusing on the material is people who live as if there is no spiritual. And if there is no spiritual, then there is no God. And if there is no God, then it all depends upon us and the most important thing in life is ensuring our physical prosperity.

Some materialists are workaholics because they think it all depends upon them

Some materialists are worriers, because they are so concerned with maintaining their lifestyle and standard of living. Any threat to their comforts and luxuries is a threat to their mental wellbeing, which depends on their stuff.

Jesus promises food and clothing--not an abundance of physical possessions, luxuries, and comforts. Jesus promises what we need to survive the war and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

When we pursue these things, oftentimes we stretch beyond what God has provided for us. Then, when God does not grant us these materialistic desires, we doubt his goodness.

We pray for blessings We pray for peace Comfort for family, protection while we sleep We pray for healing, for prosperity We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering And all the while, You hear each spoken need Yet love is way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights Are what it takes to know You're near? And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?

...

What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights Are Your mercies in disguise?

--Blessings, Laura Story

The cure for anxiety is a focus on the Kingdom of God. (6:31-34)

Matthew 6:31–34 ESV

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Faith in God’s sovereignty and goodness. (6:26, 29-30, 32)

God is the source of all good things

He knows what you need and he is able to provide it, even behind enemy lines.

God is a good Father and knows your needs, therefore, he will provide what you need. Not always with what you want. Sometimes in this war of the kingdoms, times are tough and we have to forgo material comforts and pleasures.

Greater desire for the Kingdom of God than for material possessions.

This is easy to claim, but hard to live. Sometimes our idols are buried so deep it requires God to dig them up and purge them from our lives.

Illustration: When we first joined Wycliffe, we had debt that we had to pay off before we could join. I was working as a contractor, but it was winter, and work was slow. We were struggling to pay our bills. After several months of this, we were late on our rental payment and we realized that we had to make a choice. If we were really serious about going to the mission field, we were going to have to put our money where our mouths were. We had to purge. We downsized to a roach motel apartment. Sold off my truck, hunting rifle, some of my tools, my triathlon bike, etc.

Then, he took my pride. I still had to work as a contractor for another year or so, while trying to raise funds to be a missionary. I had to go around doing what felt like begging in order to get enough money to fund our mission work overseas.

Then, when we finally got to the field, he took everything else. My sense of home, every creature comfort I had, my pride in my ability as a father and husband, and lastly, he nearly took my wife.

It is doubtful God can use any man greatly until He has hurt him deeply. —A. W. Tozer

A. W. Tozer

Illustration of trying to pull a ball out of a jar. Must release the ball first before you can get your hand out of the jar.

We have to learn and relearn this lesson over and over again, because no sooner than we have released one ball we’ve stuck our hands into another jar and grabbed ahold of another ball.

The antidote to materialism and the anxiety it causes is pursuing greater treasures.

But the good news is that the treasures that Christ offers are far more satisfying, far more pleasurable, and far more lasting than what the world has to offer.

If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Conclusion:

How do we kindle a desire for lasting treasures? Focus on God and his word. Spend time in Scripture. Combat the lies of this world and the false promises of materialism with the truth of God’s word. Pray like we talked about last week. Ask God to kindle a passion for his Kingdom in your heart. Purge those things from your life that divide your allegiance.

Evaluate your heart. What is your greatest desire? What idols do you need to cast down? What is your treasure?