Refresh
A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon

Preaching Text: Matthew 6:19-24

To treasure things is a natural expression of our humanity.  Jesus doesn’t deny this but instructs us to treasure things that will have eternal value. He recognizes that our earthly possessions can become idols that take the place of God.  He instructs us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, which are eternal. This is a matter of the heart, not just stuff. There is a root level of idolatry that must be renounced to find the eternal treasure. 

Christ is our true treasure and offers us that which is eternal.

Ephesians 1:3-11 tells us that believers have already been blessed with “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”  In Jesus, we have redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, insight, and the knowledge of the mystery of his will.  We also have obtained an inheritance.  In short, what Jesus offers is better than anything money or possessions can offer.  Therefore, we must tend our hearts, minds and wills.

Heart: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”  The Lord wants us to value eternal things, such as relationships and his Church.

Mind: “The eye is the lamp of the body.” What we choose to look at influences what we think about.  The Lord is inviting us to avoid coveting by looking at things of eternal value instead of temporal things.

Will: “You cannot serve God and money.” To serve something is an act of the will. Eventually, a choice will have to be made. What the heart wants, the mind justifies and the will chooses. The Lord wants us to choose to serve him instead of anything else.  We can decide to serve Christ, fill our minds with his words and grow in our love for him by treasuring him.

Taking It Home: Discuss directly with the Lord or with another believer some of the things you treasure. Honestly ask if there could be a root of idolatry. If so, take some action to renounce it and return to Christ.