Untitled Sermon

Intro

Illustration: Growing up, whenever I got a little money—birthday money, something extra around the house, whatever it was—I immediately started asking my mom to take me to the store.

She had a phrase she would always say:

"Boy, that money is burning a hole in your pocket."

And she was right.

I wasn't thinking about whether I needed something.

I wasn't thinking about value.

I wasn't thinking about tomorrow.

I was just thinking...

"What can I buy?"

Then something funny would happen.

I'd finally get what I wanted...

and after a while, the excitement disappeared.

Then I'd need something else.

Then something newer.

Then something bigger.

The funny thing is...

Most of us grew older...

but we never really outgrew that mindset.

We just added more zeros to the price tag.

Jesus says something in Matthew 6 that completely changes the way we think about money.

In just three verses, He reveals that money isn't actually the subject...

our hearts are.

Opening Scripture

Matthew 6:19–21 ““Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

The end of verse reveals something very interesting

While the passage talks about money, it’s really about the heart.

It’s about worship.

It’s about what we’ve decided is truly valuable.

So that’s why I’ve titled this message: I Think You’ve Misplaced Your Wallet

Because your wallet has a way of revealing what your heart truly treasures.

Transition: Here’s why Jesus brings this up and what I believe He wants us to understand!

Your Heart Always Follows Your Treasure

Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Notice Jesus doesn't say...

"Where your heart is, your treasure follows."

He reverses it.

Your heart chases what you value. IOW Your heart always follows your investments!

Examples:

Parents naturally think about their children.

Investors constantly check the market.

Hunters think about hunting.

Golfers think about golf.

Car guys think about cars.

Whatever you treasure occupies the attention of your heart.

Your heart doesn't drift toward Christ—it drifts toward whatever you treasure.

Transition: Which raises an uncomfortable question...what exactly are we calling treasure?

We’ve Confused Tools with Treasure

POINT:

Some of us treasure

Money... Career... Possessions... Influence... Success...

None of these are bad.

Good gifts become bad gods when they occupy the place only God should have.

They're wonderful tools but they’re terrible treasures.

Money pays bills.

Money creates opportunities.

Money can solve many temporary problems.

Here's the problem.

We've been asking money to do something God never designed it to do.

Money was never meant to satisfy us—it was meant to supplement what God wants to do through us."

Money cannot...

give peace

heal loneliness

give purpose

save your soul

Money makes an excellent servant. But it’s makes a terrible savior.

"Nobody buys a hammer because they love hammers.

They buy a hammer because they want to build something."

Money should build something eternal.

Transition: Jesus tells us why!

Earthly Treasure Never Last

Jesus gives three reasons.

Moths.

Rust.

Thieves.

Jesus gives 3 examples. Trying to make it clear that nothing on earth last forever!

Everything earthly eventually...

wears out

loses value

gets stolen

breaks

becomes obsolete

Everything on earth has an expiration date.

The newest phone becomes old.

The newest car becomes used.

The newest house needs repairs.

The newest clothes become Goodwill donations.

If moths can eat it, rust can destroy it, or thieves can steal it... it was never meant to hold your heart.

Transition: So if earthly treasure can’t last… if it was never meant to hold our heart… If it was never meant to be our wallet, what can?

Invest in What Heaven Values

What does heaven treasure?!

People.

The Gospel. (Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”)

The Kingdom. (Psalm 145:13 “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations…)

Faithfulness. (1 Corinthians 4:2 “Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.” )

Lives changed. (Personal Encounters with the God)

Souls saved. (Lead people to Christ)

Disciples made. (207 is important - community center)

Jesus isn't saying don't have possessions.

He's saying don't let possessions have you.

Don’t let your house have your peace (Car | bank account)

God desires for us to use temporary things to accomplish eternal things.

Every dollar eventually leaves your hand. The only question is whether it reaches eternity before you do.

Closing

The greatest danger isn't having money.

The greatest danger is allowing money to have your heart.

When I was little, money burned a hole in my pocket.

Today...

Jesus asks whether money has burned a hole in our hearts.

Maybe the problem isn't that we've lost our wallet.

Maybe we've misplaced it.

We've put it somewhere it was never supposed to be.

We've placed our hope... our security... our identity... our satisfaction...

inside something Jesus only intended to be a tool.

Jesus isn't after your money.

He's after your heart.

Because wherever your treasure is...

there your heart will be also!

Application

This week, before you spend a dollar, ask your self this question:

Is this helping me build something temporary… or something eternal.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying, but if we’re enjoying without investing, we’ve missed the point.