Two Treasures, Two Hearts

& Two Masters

Text: Matthew 6:19-24

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (04/22/01)

Introduction:   

What do we think about?  Are our thoughts on earth or on heaven? Is our mind on earthly things or on God?

What are we seeking, the things of the earth or the things of heaven?

Where is our heart, focused on earth or focused on heaven?

The concern of Christ in this passage is money, possessions, and material things. His concern is that we guard against centering our lives around houses, furnishings, cars, lands, buildings, stocks—all the things that make up security and wealth on this earth.

1. A Contrast: Two kinds of riches (v.19-20).

2. A Caution: Two kinds of hearts (v.21-23).

3. A Choice: Two kinds of masters (v.24).

I. A Contrast: Two kinds of riches (v.19-20).

A. Earthly Riches.

These are the things on earth that men desire. Earthly riches can be anything that dominates a person’s life and holds it fast to this earth.

A treasure is that which has value and is worth something to someone. Men take things and ascribe value to them: it may be …….(diamonds); (gold); or money (paper and metal); (property); (buildings); (power); (fame).

1. Do not lay up for yourselves earthly riches (material possessions).

Christ says that a person is not to focus his life on earthly things, not to set his eyes and mind and energy and effort on such passing treasures.

It is easier to covet earthly things than heavenly things for four reasons.

a. They are seen and can be handled.

b. They are sought by most people, and other people influence us.

c. They are to varying degrees necessary for life.

d. They are present, ever before us, and can be possessed right now.

2. Earthly riches are corruptible.

Everything ages, dies, deteriorates, and decays. Things are on the earth only for a brief time, and then they are no more.

3. Earthly riches are insecure.

They can be stolen or eaten up.

They do not last; they waste away.

A person cannot take a single thing with him when he passes from this world.

1 Tim. 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.

Psalm 39:6 “Surely every man walketh in a vain show; surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them”.

Proverbs 23:5 “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”.

Eccles. 5:10 “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity”.

A person is a fool to seek an abundance of things

To grasp after more and more. Why? Because tonight or tomorrow or some day soon God will say, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall these things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20).

A man can lose much of what he has in this world and lose it quickly.

He can lose it through financial difficulties, accident, marital problems, illness, death, and through a myriad of other ways.

B. Heavenly Riches.

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Heavenly riches would be such things as...

becoming a true child of God

a blameless life

the forgiveness of sins

wisdom

understanding the will of God (purpose, meaning, and significance in life)

a constant Comforter and Helper, the Holy Spirit of God Himself

life that is abundant and overflowing (John 10:10).

an enormous inheritance that is eternal

1. Lay up for yourselves heavenly riches.

Luke 12:15 “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth”.

Even while a person seeks after something on this earth, there is an inner awareness that it will not last.

The earthly treasure may be a car, a job, a trip, a relationship, clothing, position, power, fame, or fortune. The fact is, no matter what the treasure is, it will end and pass away and be no more.

A worldly man’s meaning for living, his purpose and significance in life, is temporary, unfulfilling and incomplete.

2. Heavenly riches are incorruptible.

2 Peter 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1 Peter 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

3. Heavenly riches are secure.

Thieves cannot break through heaven; they cannot penetrate the spiritual dimension. No one nor anything can take away a person’s heavenly riches.

The love of God assures this (Romans 8:32-39).

Heaven is worth more than all the wealth in the world.

Matthew 16:26 “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”.

II. A Caution: Two kinds of hearts (v.21-23).

A. The Good Heart.

It is just like a good eye. Note that the eye is a gate that gives entrance to the mind of man. What man looks at is what he thinks about, and what he thinks about is what he actually becomes (Proverbs 23:7).

If a man focuses upon Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world (John 8:12), then his mind and heart will be full of light. Therefore, the deeds of his body will be deeds of light.

Singleness of the eye and heart means that a person sets his attention upon the Lord Jesus for the purpose of doing His will.

Acts 2:46  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Ephesians 6:5  Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

A man’s heart is precisely where his treasure is.

If his treasure is on earth, his heart is on earth. If his treasure is in heaven, his heart is in heaven.

A healthy heart is like a healthy eye. It grasps the true treasure, the treasure in heaven. But an unhealthy heart is like an unhealthy eye. It is in darkness, unable to see the treasure in heaven.

Note that the believer fixes his eyes upon heaven for two primary reasons.

1. His citizenship is in heaven:

Phil. 3:20-21 “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body”.

2. He seeks the treasures which are eternal:

2 Cor. 4:18 “For the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”.

1 Cor. 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned”.

The believer has a clear cut charge:

Col. 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not in things on the earth”.

Eph. 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”.

B. The Bad Heart.

Christ says that a person is not to set his heart upon earthly treasures.

Why? Such a person focuses his eyes (attention, mind, thoughts, energy, effort) on evil.

What does Christ mean? Earthly things are evil because they are deceiving.

They are corruptible; they age, die, waste away, deteriorate, and decay.

They are insecure; they will be stolen or taken away or left behind.

They cause a person’s heart to be full of darkness (Matthew 6:23).

They will consume a person (Matthew 6:24).

They cause a person to hate, despise, and reject God (Matt. 6:24).

They alienate a person from God (Matthew 6:24).

Something happens to a man who sets his eye upon earthly things. He is deceived in that he becomes...

covetous and consuming (to get more and more).

complaining and grudging.

apprehensive and fearful (of losing it).

hard and close-minded (to giving much). (James 5:9.)

2 Cor. 4:4 “In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.

Ephes. 4:18 “Having the understanding darknened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart”.

III. A Choice: Two kinds of masters (v.24).

There are two critical reasons why a choice has to be made.

A. A man hates one master and loves the other.

When both masters call upon the man at the same time, he has to make a choice.

B. A man either cleaves to or despises one of the masters.

He has to choose which master to favor and serve. He has to cleave to one. In cleaving to one, he reveals disrespect and spite for the other.

The choice is clear. A man either serves God or material things.

There are only two treasures: the earth and its treasures or God and His treasures, physical and material things or spiritual and eternal things.

Every man without exception has committed his life to one of two treasures: mammon or God.

He is focusing his heart, eyes, mind, attention, thoughts, hands, and energy upon earthly things or upon heavenly things.

So many look at wealth as a blessing of God, a sign that one is godly. But the Bible says differently.

LOOK UP & READ 1 Tim. 6:5-11

Mammon, earthly treasures, can be many things.

1. Riches and wealth.

2. Food, the filling of one’s belly.

Phil. 3:19 “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things”.

3. An evil, lusting eye.

Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”.

4. A lusting of the flesh.

LOOK UP & READ 1 John 2:15-16

5. Unproductive activity, relaxation, recreation, wasteful pastimes, sluggish feelings.

LOOK UP & READ Proverbs 6:6-11

God promises several great things to the man who serves Him.

1. All the necessities of life.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

2. Freedom from anxiety.

Phil. 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

3. Joy and contentment.

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation [behavior] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”.

4. Abundant and eternal life.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.

Conclusion:     (Review)