Show me your treasure.

Sermon on the Mount Series

We are back in the sermon on the mount today and it is one of my favorite topics to talk about because it seems to be one that each and every one of us gets hung up on several times in our lives.

The title of my sermon today is show me your treasure. And yes we are going to talk about money today. More specifically we are going to talk about Jesus teachings about money and possessions.

The cool thing about Jesus teachings is that he’s like ok I’m going to teach you the best way to live life the best way to do things and he just kind of lays it out there. The problem isn’t that what he’s teaching is hard to grasp intellectually....It’s really not. The problem is that sometimes are hearts aren’t ready to actually listen and apply it.

My whole sermon today is only over six verses but they are profound in what they teach then and now. You see the thing about Jesus teachings they are timeless…they matter just as much today as they did then. Matter of fact in some ways they make more of an impact in our culture especially today’s topic.

Ok so don’t answer out loud but I want everyone to think about this question. WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE. And oh by the way this is way more than money we are going to be talking about today.

Lets take a look at the passages we are going to dig in to today and then I have some questions for you when we get done reading it.

We are going to be in Matthew Chapter 6 starting in verse 19 and going through verse 24.

19 “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.

22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

TREASURE!!!

So let me ask you guys a couple of questions before we go any further.

Have you ever have anything stolen from you?

Have you ever lost things due to some type of fire, flood, tornado, or any other disaster like this.

If you have then you understand that things can be taken away in the blink of an eye.

I mean if you look at verse 19 and 20 Jesus is giving us some pretty easy to understand principles. Don’t store your treasures up here on earth right. We’ve already seen just from the 2 questions I asked earlier that those things can be destroyed or taken in the blink of an eye.

Look at what’s going on in Afghanistan. We are blessed to live in a country that isn’t war torn but don’t you know that there is treasure being stolen and destroyed right now as I speak.

We have this tendency and I don’t know if its a global thing but I’m pretty sure it is that when we talk about treasure we immediately take our mind to money. I know I do. But there are other things that we treasure. You can get a pretty good idea of where a person’s treasure is if you look at their belongings right. Where do you spend your money. Now I have to say this and I’ll probably repeat it a few more times to make sure it sinks in. Money is not a bad thing. Buying things is not a bad thing. It’s motives....It’s our heart.

We have a tendency in our culture to run in the extreme right. The topic of money is no different. There’s a whole movement right now that tells you to hate the rich. But I want you to know that to 95% of the world you are the rich. We never think of it that way. Normally when we think of the rich we think of someone else. The other extreme is a shame mentality that we have when we use our money to buy things.

I’ll give you an example....You go out and buy a new truck. People come tell you oh man that’s a nice truck....Your immediate response is well it’s really not that special…got a great deal on it....or your like I’m embarrassed to be driving it.

Why are we like that? It really depends on motives....heart issues.

If we can really figure out Jesus teaching here I think it will be freeing to a lot of people in regards to their spiritual life and relationships.

If you look again at the passage look at verse 24

24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

Jesus is specifically talking about money. It is the best of example. Because we are so tied to money and riches and power and well it all boils into this pot called I’m relying on myself not on my relying on God.

I could never count how many blessings and how many miracles I’ve missed out on because I was so busy storing up treasure for myself. And guess what. It’s gone. All gone. All the treasure I stored, the hours I worked, the things I missed, because I was serving a master that only demanded that I bow even more to it.

(BUCKET ILLUSTRATION)

You see what happens is I am so busy being consumed with the need of money that I can’t even see that I’m wasting it, the moth is eating it, thieves are stealing it, and rust is destroying it faster than I can bury it. And if you notice the treasure isn’t the only thing that gets destroyed by the desires of my heart being tied to money. Marriage, family, friendships, time. It all gets destroyed.

Then look at verse 24 You can’t serve two masters. Flat out can’t do it. Just so we are clear this is red letter stuff. This is Jesus saying this. Anybody in here ever worked 2 jobs at 1 time. Could you give your all to both jobs. I couldn’t. Still can’t. There are times where I don’t put enough time in here at the church because of other job obligations. Then there are times where it shifts and I pour in here and sell the other job short.

I say all that to say this. We can’t even work 2 jobs fairly. We certainly can’t serve two masters. Jesus makes it very clear. We will hate one and love the other be devoted to one and despise another. You can’t serve God while you’re enslaved by treasure.

Please understand what I’m saying here. Each of us is going to have to make a choice. Where is our treasure. Are we going after it so hard here on earth that we can’t serve God because we don’t have time. Do we love money and despise God. Where are we going to store our treasure. No money in and of itself is not a bad thing. It’s neutral. It’s a tool. Money isn’t the problem here. Our hearts are the problem. Our eyes are the problem. Look at verse 22.

New Living Translation Chapter 6

22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!

At first glance this doesn’t even look like it belongs in here. It’s like Jesus had a squirrel moment. He’s teaching one thing and dives off into a totally different thing. But not so fast. This is still reflecting our personal attitudes about wealth money and treasure. Jesus is not saying that getting paid for work is wrong because in several instances Jesus and other New Testament authors teach about working for pay. It’s a heart condition an inner attitude about the value we place on God against the value we place on money. So to explain this lets look at it this way.....

Matthew B. Seek to Serve God, Not Money (6:19–24)

the light would be an accurate perspective on the value of material wealth, while darkness would be some warped distortion of this truth. The person with a generous eye can see clearly, and life can be guided in wisdom and safety by such light. The person with a covetous, selfish eye is walking in darkness and is bound for harm he cannot see.” Poor perspective causes stumbling.

So with all that said I want to ask you this question....

SHOW ME YOUR TREASURE.

SHOW IT TO ME.....

Is it here on earth.....

I don’t know about anybody else in here but when my time is over on this Earth I want all my treasure waiting for me to show up not left here on earth.

Money can’t save us. I want you to here me when I say that. I remember thinking if I could make a little more money everything would be ok. Then I would get a new job and a higher income and I was in the same boat....Money can’t save us. Treasure can’t save us....

There is one name that saves and that is Jesus.

There are some of you here this morning that are in this constant chase of more treasure…gotta have more....can’t get enough. And it keeps going out faster than it comes in because there is a hole your trying to fill. Money can’t fill it. Things can’t fill it. I want you to see me say this....Everybody look up here. Look right at me....I know its that weird uncomfortable eye contact but i want you to really hear this.

JESUS LOVES YOU....THERE IS A BETTER WAY. THERE IS A BETTER TREASURE....A PERMANENT TREASURE…ONE THAT WON’T RUST OR RUIN.....AND IT STARTS WITH JESUS. DON’T YOU WANT THAT TREASURE.

For those in here who have been chasing treasure in this life putting God second to money there is a better way. It can start today. But its up to you. As the band plays come meet with the Lord. These altars are open you can come and start or start over again on building up your treasures in Heaven. For those of you who don’t know Jesus this morning it’s time to start. It’s time to put your faith and trust in the Savior. The one who not only keeps treasure from rust and rot but made a way for us to be in Heaven with Him. Come now and place your faith in Jesus.