Sunday, November 22, 2009: Treasures in Heaven

Treasures in Heaven
Matthew 6: 19 – 24.

I. Introduction.

This Thursday will be Thanksgiving Day. Did you know that Thanksgiving is not a Christian holiday? In fact, I don’t really know what to call Thanksgiving. The word “holiday” comes to us from the two words “holy” and “day.” Christmas is a “holy day.” Easter is a “holy day.” But Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July are not “holy days.” They are national days of celebration, and they are “days off of work.” But they are not “holy days.”

Perhaps you don’t need to be reminded of the first Thanksgiving feast, with turkeys and Indians and Pilgrims. Of course, this is only partially true. There were Pilgrims and Indians, but there probably weren’t any turkeys. And they probably didn’t watch the Dallas Cowboys on television.

More than likely, the first American Thanksgiving was a transport from England. The first American settlers had participated in a long history of harvest festivals when they lived in England. Immediately following their first American harvest, they continued the tradition.

However, I think there ought to be a religious element in our Thanksgiving traditions. On one hand, all good gifts come from God. Therefore, we should be both thankful for all the blessings in our lives and thankful to God for his provision. On the other hand, the greatest blessing in our lives is not a physical blessing. The greatest blessing is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We had a sin problem that separated us from God and made it impossible to save ourselves. Therefore, God sent his only Son to live, die and rise again to provide us with forgiveness and eternal salvation. We have eternal hope as a result of what God has done for us.

This is the reason why I like to observe the Lord’s Supper on the Sunday morning before Thanksgiving. There are some Christian traditions which do not refer to this as the Lord’s Supper. Some Christians call this the Eucharist. “Eucharist” is the English form of the Greek word eucharisto, which means “give thanks.” The simple act of eating and drinking is a reminder to give thanks to God for what he did for us in Jesus.

When I announced a series of sermons on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I planned to stop the series for Advent. (Advent begins next Sunday.) I considered preaching a Thanksgiving sermon today as well. However, this Scripture in the Sermon on the Mount makes a good Thanksgiving sermon. So, I planned my Sunday morning preaching around this Scripture as a Thanksgiving sermon.

Read Matthew 6: 19 – 24.

For the past four weeks, we have read Jesus’ teaching about our religious expression. Jesus taught us to exercise Spiritual Disciplines in our private lives. We should give financially in private. We should pray in private. We should fast in private. Now, Jesus has shifted from our private lives to our public lives. We might make an argument that Jesus has also shifted from our religious lives to our secular lives. The only problem with that is the fact that Christians don’t have secular lives. Everything we do in private is done in the presence of God. Everything we do in public is done in the presence of God. Everything we do in church is done in the presence of God. Everything we do at work, school or home is done in the presence of God. God is equally concerned with how we live in public and in private.

Jesus’ teaching here is organized around three illustrations. All three of these illustrations can be described as contrasts or as a choice between two opposites: treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven; good eyes versus bad eyes; and Lord God versus lord money.

The first and third contrasts are simple. The second requires some explanation. Let’s save the most complicated for last and understand how Jesus used it in this context.


II. Verses 19 – 21… Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

People in the ancient world did not use money, banking and investments like we do today. The most valuable things to ancient people were precious metals and fine clothing or fabrics. These treasures were vulnerable to at least three enemies. Fabrics could be eaten by moths. Metals could rust or corrode in the desert heat. And, all treasures were vulnerable to thieves.

If you think about it, modern day treasures are also vulnerable. Of course, we use pesticides to get rid of insects. We use climate controlled storage to reduce the threat of corrosion. However, theft continues to be a problem. In addition to theft, we also face the effects of inflation, depreciation, the strength of the U.S. dollar on the international market as well as devaluation from market fluctuation.

The ultimate worth of your treasure depends on where it is stored. Any treasure stored on earth is vulnerable. It is perishable and cannot last forever. Yet, treasures stored in heaven are neither vulnerable nor perishable. Treasures stored in heaven are the only treasures that can stand the test of time.

What is the difference between earthly treasure and heavenly treasure? Earthly treasure includes anything that has value on earth. Money, gold, diamonds, houses, cars, stocks, investment funds… All earthly treasure can depreciate in value or it can be stolen. By contrast, heavenly treasure includes anything that has value in heaven. These treasures have eternal value, will never depreciate in value, and cannot be stolen from you. Heavenly treasure should be defined in broad terms as anything that lasts forever. We could argue that salvation is a heavenly treasure. However, Jesus was speaking to his disciples who were already saved. Salvation is a heavenly treasure, but this is not all Jesus is talking about. Jesus also has in mind treasures like: holiness, obedience, serving others, souls won to Christ, and disciples nurtured in their faith.

The key to understanding Jesus’ words is not the definition of “treasure.” I believe the key is what is meant by “storing up.” I believe this refers to accumulating resources. When we accumulate earthly treasure we risk losing all we have. In Jesus’ economy, only heavenly treasures are to be stored up. Earthly treasures are to be used while we are on earth.

Accumulating resources is not the same thing as saving for the future. Christians should save for the future. Accumulating resources is not the same thing as making a lot of money in order to provide for our personal needs and the needs of our families. Christians should work and earn money for ourselves and our families. Accumulating resources is being stingy and greedy and covetous with earthly treasure.

This is perhaps the greatest threat to American Christianity. We spend a lot of our time thinking about the implications of the growing Islamic population and the complacency of the church. However, we need to worry about how we are using our earthly resources. Earthly treasure is not intended for accumulation. It is intended to be used to the glory of God and for the pursuit of God’s Kingdom.


III. Verse 24… "No one can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money.

Slavery is a repulsive institution to us today. However, this was an important part of the ancient culture. It was so important that the New Testament is filled with imagery and illustrations about slavery. In fact, the Bible teaches us that all humans will be slaves to something. We can be slaves to sin, death, fear, or to Jesus.

Here, Jesus says we can be slaves either to God or to money. This is a choice between the Creator or the creation. You and I are going to be slaves to something. But, we get to choose our master.

Imagine what a difficult situation it would be for a slave to have two masters. The relationship would work fine as long as both masters agreed. Yet, it would be impossible for the slave to meet the demands of two masters who were making opposite demands. God and money are not usually in agreement. They make opposing demands.

The literal word translated “money” in this Scripture is the word mammon. Mammon includes money, but it is much broader than that. It includes money and all earthly possessions. Basically, it refers to anything of value.

Jesus is not saying we should not have money and possessions. This is what I think Jesus is saying…

It’s OK to have possessions. It’s not OK for your possessions to have you. It’s OK to save money. It’s not OK to think money can save you.

Do you wonder why the words “In God We Trust” appear on all of our money? I think it is there to remind us not to worship money. It’s like a sermon “to go” carried around in your wallet. Every time you buy a cup of coffee, a hamburger, a new car or a new house, there is a reminder. Money cannot save you. Only God can save. Only God should be worshipped and trusted as Lord.


IV. Verses 22 – 23… "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

This illustration has always confused me for two reasons. First, I don’t understand what Jesus is saying. Second, it doesn’t seem to fit well in this context. Jesus began by talking about money and ended by talking about money. In the middle, it seems that he is talking about the difference between good eyes and bad eyes.

However, it does make sense when we realize that the Bible often uses the eye figuratively and connects it to the heart. The eyes reveal the condition of the heart. We also see this same concept in the expression “fix your eyes on” something. A person fixes his or her eyes on the thing that is most important to them. The eyes reveal the heart by showing our ambitions.

Jesus did not literally say the words “good” and “bad” in describing human eyes. The word “good” is literally the word “single.” “If your eyes are single, your whole body will be full of light.” The word “bad” is literally the word “evil.” “But if your eyes are evil, your whole body will be full of darkness.” Since “light” and “darkness” are opposites, it seems that Jesus intends for us to interpret “single” and “evil” as opposites as well.

The “evil eye” is a concept that was familiar to Jesus’ ancient audience. It is still a familiar concept in the Near Eastern world. The evil eye does not refer to witchcraft or a hex. It refers to covetousness, stinginess, greed and theft. A person who looks at you with an evil eye is a person who wants to take your stuff.

This contrast becomes more apparent to us when we realize that the Greek word for “single” is a form of the Greek word “generous.” In other words, this is what Jesus was saying: “If your eyes are generous, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eyes are covetous, stingy or greedy, your whole body will be full of darkness.”

Jesus is talking about money and possessions! This is how we choose to serve God over money. This is how we “store up” treasures in heaven. The answer is the way we use our earthly resources. We can be generous, or we can be stingy and greedy. The generous person serves God with their entire life—not just on Sunday mornings. The stingy and greedy person thinks only about their own life—and one day wakes up and finds that all their resources have deteriorated, depreciated and have been lost.

V. Conclusion.

Today, we are about to give thanks to God for his greatest blessing in our lives. That blessing is not our money, possessions, jobs, or even our families. God’s greatest gift is the life, death and resurrection of his Son Jesus.

We struggle with giving our lives to God as the only Master and Lord. We know that God is the only Creator. We know that only God can save us. But there are times when we think we need a little more money, a new and bigger house, a shinier car, or even a new job. We think that money, houses, cars and jobs can make us happy.

We know better. But we still do it. As we take the Lord’s Supper this morning, think of all the things you have placed your hope in. Think of all the things you thought could save you and make your life better. As we take the Lord’s Supper this morning, let this be your confession…Jesus is my Savior and Lord. The job is already taken. Money, houses, cars and jobs cannot make my life better.