Treasure

Curtis Pryor

The Red Letters • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

Matthew 6

Treasure

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Seek the treasure found in God's presence and in His provision: all other "treasure" pales in comparison

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Introduction

Matthew 6:19–21 NIV

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

Most treasure hunters throughout the centuries have searched for sunken or buried treasure…this is still true of modern treasure hunters. Millions of dollars worth of gold and jewels have been uncovered

There are countless books about treasure hunters and their adventures. Not to mention movies, such as Indiana Jones or Allan Quartermane.

Everyone

History is filled with stories of treasure hunters — it seems most of them searched for sunken pirate ships. Millions of dollars worth of gold and jewels have been uncovered in the process. In the world of fiction…there are countless books about treasure hunters and their adventures.

I am reminded of the infamous “D.B. Cooper” - a bank robber who jumped out of a plane somewhere in the Northwest in 1971…with millions of dollars. People are still searching for that money.

I’m sorry to burst anyone’s bubble, but we live in real-ville folks. Chances are almost zero that none of us will never find buried treasure, win the lottery, or inherit millions of dollars. Don’t waste your time looking. You won’t strike it rich. You won’t discover hidden treasure in the walls of your house or hidden in your attic or basement. Your more likely to get hit by lightening…at least that’s my opinion.

Here’s the issue: everyone longs for something…some kind of treasure: it may not be buried; more likely it is toys, gadgets, money, property, position…we search and we search. It is human nature . The question we need to ask is “What is treasure, really?” What does it look like? How can I find it?

Jesus taught and lived a life that illustrated the nature of real treasure. He knew the secret code to unlock the vault. Except it’s not a secret for those who want to know. He said in , verse 21, “Where your treasure is, there you heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19–21 NIV

Here’s the good news. God

Prayer

Last week we joined Jesus on the side of a Galilean mountain preaching to a large crowd (Sermon on the Mount). He began by revealing what true blessing from God looks like: When you embrace the earth-shattering words of Christ, you will experience a radically blessed life. Blessed are the poor, meek, those who are persecuted because they follow Christ, etc.

Let’s go back to that mountain …as His message begins to reveal another important truth to the hungry crowd: the nature of true treasure.

Big Idea: Seek the treasure found in God's Presence and in His provision: all other "treasure" pales in comparison

Interrogatory: What is the secret passageway or code that can gain access into a God kind of treasure?

Transitional: I can guarantee one thing: you won’t discover true treasure when you run away from God’s presence

Matthew 6:33 NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

TRUE TREASURE IS FOUND IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Matthew 6:1–4 NIV

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Exposition:

Jesus bluntly told the crowd that outward acts of religious devotion do not impress God. He made it clear to them that His followers’ devotion to the Lord must not look like the hypocritical display of the Pharisees nor the mindless devotion of the pagans.

He said if you want to be like the Ph

Matthew 5:20 NIV

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

A. Do good because of the presence of God

whatever you do…do it as unto the Lord…because of His presence in your heart

Matthew 6:1–4 NIV

Last week we found Jesus on the side of a Galilean mountain preaching to a large crowd. He started out by revealing what true blessing from God looks like: When you embrace the earth-shattering words of Christ, you will experience a radically blessed life. Blessed are the poor, meek, those who are persecuted because they follow Christ, etc.

“Acts of righteousness” — almsgiving (giving to the needy), prayer, fasting, outward “religious” actions

According to Jesus’ clear words:

If you give or do good deeds for the applause of men, you will receive a temporary reward (their applause)

On the other hand

If you give as an act of worship, only seeking the heart of God, you will receive eternal rewards

Jesus’ words that day painted a beautiful picture of His followers as people whose faith is deeply held…personal, transforming. It is upside down and backwards compared to the actions of the religious elite or pagan worshippers. It is based upon the inner working of God…it is from the inside out.

…true treasure is found in the presence of God…therefore

B. Pray and worship in spirit and in truth because of the presence of God

(John 4:34)

John 4:23 NIV

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

Prayer and worship are about being…not doing: it is between God and His people

Prayer is about relationship…not doing: it is about embracing God

Our prayer and worship might well inspire or bless others, but let us never do those things to impress anyone.

Matthew 6:5–8 NIV

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Mt. 6:

Illustration: I don’t think I have ever preached a sermon that I didn’t go to Linda afterward and ask “Well, what did you think? Did I communicate the main point clearly? Did I tell too many stupid jokes?” My motivation is to preach clear, biblically sound, anointed messages. But I must take care that, in my long hours of study and prayer, that I do not make the message about the applause of men. My true treasure should be to have the approval of God, above all.

Show when tempted to hide, and hide when tempted to show — A.B. Bruce

Application:

What motivates the manner in which you serve, pray and worship?

The Pharisees obeyed the letter of the law…Jesus seeks people that pray and worship because they desire to reach Him — because of His presence — salvation — because His truth is written on their hearts

The pagans of the day focused on religious babblings: rites, rituals, and some pretty horrible activities — Jesus only desires worship and prayer that flow from a genuine personal relationship with Him…His presence!

Prayer, worship, studying God’s Word, fasting and other such actions are not ends in themselves: they are the tools God has provided that enable us to know Him and hear His voice in our lives.

Transitional: As we pursue a deeper relationship with the Lord (presence), we will learn the truth that He is our sufficiency in all things (provision)

TRUE TREASURE IS FOUND IN THE PROVISION OF GOD

A. Seek God’s priorities instead of your own

Matthew 6:19–21 NIV

Matthew 6:19-

Jesus’ powerful message that day on the mountain side was crystal clear:

If you seek tangible treasure here in this life — whatever you might find will be your reward

On the other hand...

If you find your treasure in knowing Jesus — you will receive an eternal reward that won’t fade or rust or disappear

Storing up treasure here on earth is an exercise in futility

Does this mean we don’t need to save for important things? Or even fun things?

No…that’s a foolish thought

However, our priorities should not be dependent upon material possessions, fame or fortune, or what people think of us.

Define your treasure and you will discover what makes you tick!

More than words, actions reveal your true treasure: how you spend your time, energy, money...

So I ask again: What is it that you treasure? What is it that you seek? Money, possessions, some good “cause”, the approval of people, addictions, obsessions?

Matthew 6:24 NIV

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

…true treasure is found in the provision of God

B. Seek God’s gifts instead of your “wants/needs”

Matthew 6:25–27 NIV

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Matthew

Jesus’ words on that mountain…His very words, are a treasure for us today

Worry in this life will get you nowhere!

Trusting the Lord in this life will lead you to the presence, power, and provision of God

This, of course, is counter-culture and upside down compared to the way the world operates.

Illustration: A miserly millionaire called a family conference and informed everyone, “I’m placing a bag full of money in the attic. When I die I will grab it on my way up to Heaven. See to it that no one touches that bag.” No one touched it. He eventually died. After the funeral, the millionaire’s wife was curious and decided to check the attic — the bag full of money was right where he left it. “The fool,” she said. “I told him he should have put it in the basement.” When it comes to our spiritual condition and eternal matters, God’s provision is the only thing we need. Jesus is the answer to all of it.

Application:

Worry is our enemy — it steals our faith and joy — it makes us sick and sad

How can you defeat worry?

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Worry is faith in the negative, trust in the unpleasant, assurance of disaster, and belief in defeat…worry is wasting today’s tome to clutter up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles - William Ward

Challenge

Your priorities....those things you treasure reveal the true condition of your heart.

Challenge

Seek the treasure found in God's Presence and in His provision: no other treasure will fulfill the needs of your heart

Does this mean we can have no other treasure or anything of value in our lives?

Not at all - it means that those things we do treasure are filtered through our relationship with God…as we pursue His presence and are content with His provision.

Our relationship with God is deepened and anchored as we seek Him: in prayer, worship, listening to Him...

Elisha…when he discovered the Shunamite woman’s son was dead...

2 Kings 4:33 NIV

He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord.

Jesus often went to solitary places to talk to His Father

Here’s the crux of Jesus’ words on the side of that mountain

Jesus calls His people to be:

Different from the culture

Different from the hypocrisy of empty religious activity

Different from who we once were…before we knew Him

Caught up in materialism, worry, pride, bitterness, prejudice, hatred, addictions, and so many other things

Jesus gives us choices

Where is your treasure?

Where do you seek to be affirmed?

The approval of men or God?

What is the treasure you seek your whole heart?

Mt 6:

Matthew 6:31–34 NIV

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.