CHAPTER 1
Week One Where Is Your Treasure?
"Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don't eat them and where thieves don't break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
1. Redefining Treasure
"Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them." (Matthew 6:19)
The first time it happened, I didn't know what she was up to.
I had come to home to visit my parents, and as I was leaving, my mom stopped me and handed me a box. It was an old cardboard box that was heavy in my arms. When I opened the box, I realized what she was doing. She was cleaning out her closets. This became her custom for the next couple of years. Every time I left, she would hand me another old box. The boxes were filled to the brim with stuff. It was my stuff.
When I opened the boxes, memories would flood over me. One box was filled with all my old trophies. Soccer, baseball, basketball, and pinewood derby trophies reminded me of my pursuits when I was younger. Another box held my baseball card collection, the one I pored over hour after hour in elementary school. Another box had photos, another notes and cards, another local newspaper clippings with my name highlighted.
My mother had given me the treasure from my first eighteen years. Surprisingly, it all fit into four or five boxes. Not so surprisingly, the stuff that had been cluttering her closet now clutters mine.
We all have stuff. We have so much stuff that our homes can't hold it all. But this book won't be an indictment on stuff. In fact, much of our stuff is quite helpful. The couches, the refrigerator, the beds all go to good use. Even the things we think that are worth keeping in boxes can hold special meaning. What I've learned, though, is that those things are not our treasure.
Jesus said we should stop collecting treasures for our own benefit. His words imply that our lives have a higher purpose than acquiring things to fill rooms and closets. This may seem obvious, until we consider where we spend the majority of our time. If most of our time is spent making money to pay for our stuff, then we at least need to pause for a moment and consider Jesus' admonition.
Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth.
Jesus is not condemning stuff. Most of us need a couch, a refrigerator, a bed. Most of us are grateful for reminders of the past kept in boxes. Instead, Jesus is pointing us to a greater purpose for our lives than accumulating things in the temporary homes we live in. He has more for you.
Jesus wants to redefine what means treasure to you.
O God, I know that you have something to say to me today. Help me to hear your voice above all the noise in my life. I search after many things; help me to search for you. I have sought treasure in many places; remind me that my treasure is in you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
How does today's Scripture intersect with your life? Reflect on this gentle warning from Jesus, then write down your thoughts in a journal or in the space provided below.
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If you have a chance, take a prayer walk today. As you walk, ponder the fact that in our lives we have the opportunity to collect not just "stuff" but treasure. What do you treasure? Ask God to give you insight into what you should treasure.
Do you have any collections? What might your collection or valuables say about how you spend your time, energy, and resources?
Consider taking some time to look through keepsakes you have saved over the years. Ask yourself why you saved these particular treasures, and recall what memories or reminders they hold for you.
2. The Truly Valuable
"Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don't eat them and where thieves don't break in and steal them." (Matthew 6:20)
I have the opportunity to spend time with people during their last days on earth. It is one of the privileges afforded to pastors. We stand with family members when we know the end is near. We sit next to bedsides and have conversation, prayer, and tears.
I'll never forget being with John in his last few hours. I sat by the window next to his bed. As he spoke, the afternoon sunlight danced across his face. John had been one of my mentors in the faith. He had a fifty-year head start on me in the ministry, but he treated me as an equal. John talked to me about the events he remembered in his life, the things he was thankful for, the moments he regretted, the times he treasured. John talked about his family, his friends, and his God.
With John and all the others, I can't ever recall a time in those last moments when they wanted to talk about the things they had acquired on earth. No one has ever mentioned a beach house or fancy car. Rarely do folks share personal accomplishments or business ventures that went well. These things have their time and place to be celebrated, but it is not usually in the final moments.
People in their last moments talk about their family, their friends, and their God. Deathbed conversations focus on children who have been taught, mission trips that have been taken, and relationships that have lasted. People talk about vacations and moments of great laughter and surprise. They share stories that are amusing and meaningful. They talk about tragedies overcome and healing in the midst of pain. There is less talk about salaries and more about promises—promises shared with God and with people.
I'm not sure I know exactly what Jesus meant when he talked about treasures in heaven, but I think it may have been these things. Treasures in heaven come from loving God and loving people. Moth and rust can't touch these things; thieves can find no way to steal them.
Jesus was trying to move us from focusing on the temporal to keeping an eye on the eternal. Each day there are opportunities to love and serve in ways that point people to our great God. Let's be looking for those opportunities today.
God, thank you for the gift of today and the treasure that is found in it. Give me eyes to see what is truly important. Help me not to linger on the trivial, so I can grasp the valuable things you are placing before me. In Jesus' name. Amen
After reflecting on today's Scripture, consider your true treasures. What greater treasures exist in life? What do you hold dear that will not rust and cannot be stolen?
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What do you think Jesus means when he refers to treasures in heaven? What does the phrase mean to you? What could it mean to you?
Consider what you might reflect on when your life is coming to an end. Are there people whom you would want to tell that you love deeply? As part of your devotion to God today, seek out one of those people and speak encouragement, love, and value.
Make a list of people and things that are your treasures. Throughout the day, remember to say thank you to God and to them. Consider handwriting a thank-you note to a special person in your life and dropping it in the mail.
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3. Life Is More than Stuff
Then Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one's life isn't determined by one's possessions, even when someone is very wealthy." (Luke 12:15)
When Jesus talks about treasure, he means more than just money; he is referring to how we invest our lives. Our treasure is found in the ways we spend our time, energy, thoughts, and emotions.
Clearly, though, Jesus also is talking about money. Though it makes us uncomfortable at times to talk about money in a church context, Jesus did not seem to have this aversion. He discussed money openly and often. Jesus talked more about money than he did about heaven and hell combined. Eleven of thirty-nine parables were about money. One of every seven verses in the book of Luke has some connection to money. Jesus talked more about money than anything, it seems, except the kingdom of God.
Found in Jesus' conversations about money and possessions are warnings against greed. There seems to be a natural tendency to want more, and when we get more to want even more. Today there are cultural messages telling us we are defined by what we have acquired and how high we have risen economically. Jesus says, "Watch out! Guard yourself against all kinds of greed. After all, one's life isn't determined by one's possessions" (Luke 12:15).
When we focus on what we can acquire, we focus less on God. When more and better possessions motivate us, we are motivated less by what God wants for us. Jesus warns against greed, because he knows that it leads us farther away from God.
What motivates us? What moves us? These things tell us about our hearts. Jesus cares about our hearts. After warning about greed in this passage from Luke, he tells a story of a man who acquired more and more and more. The greedy man's only consideration as he attained more was how to store it. He tore down old smaller barns and built new bigger ones. Instead of considering how these possessions might honor God and help care for others, the man only wondered how he could hold onto it longer.
Jesus warns against this type of greed, because our lives are not all about us. What we have is always connected to our relationship with God and with others. We may not be wealthy enough to need storage barns for all of our stuff, but we all have a tendency to hold on to it tightly. Jesus reminds us that our life is not found in these things. Our life is found in him.
Jesus, help me today to hear your warning about greed. I know I have the tendency to want more even when I have enough. Let my life not be distracted by earthly pursuits, so that I can see clearly how you want me to invest my time, energy, and resources. Amen.
If your life's value is not determined by your possessions, how is it determined? What makes you truly wealthy—family, friends, community, talents, gifts, experiences? Take a moment to write down ways in which your wealth is determined.
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As you go about your day, consider whether you ever feel resentful toward those who may have more than you. Why do you feel that way? What might you do about it?
When we hear Jesus' strong admonitions, sometimes we feel the sting of guilt or helplessness. Light a candle outdoors, in your home, or in your office today. Let the candlelight remind you that Jesus is always with you, no matter where you are. He cares deeply for all of us and only warns us because he loves us. Allowing his light into our life helps us to shine more brightly.
Find a way to share your gifts this week. As you share, try to do so not from a sense of duty but out of joy. Create and share something you love! Consider sharing your wealth through a song, a poem, a piece of art, or a delicious meal.
4. A Matter of the Heart
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountain. He sat down and his disciples came to him. He taught them, saying ... (Matthew 5:1-2)
Jesus talked a lot about money. We have established that. But why?
The Sermon on the Mount is the longest continuous stretch of Jesus' words that we have. We are told that when Jesus saw a large crowd one day he sat down on a mountainside and taught the people. What follows in Matthew 5–7 is what we have named the Sermon on the Mount.
There is a feeling at the beginning of the sermon that when such a great crowd of people needed to hear the word of God, Jesus just couldn't keep walking. He felt compelled to stop and teach. The Sermon on the Mount, though it addresses many different subjects (from anger to prayer to worry), is clearly focused on one thing: Jesus is looking at the heart.
Jesus cares about the hearts of God's people. He talks about outward expressions versus inward emotions. For example, he mentions the outward act of murder but is just as concerned about the anger in the heart that leads to murder. That anger also leads to hurtful words against our brothers and sisters, as well as to other outward expressions of what is in the heart. Again and again, Jesus looks on the inside. He longs for the transformation of our hearts, knowing that unless our hearts are changed, our actions will remain misguided and hurtful.
Jesus talks about treasure, because he knows it affects our hearts. Money does not just stay in a wallet or a bank account. Money causes stress in our marriages. It causes division in and among people. Money and its pursuit can be all-consuming and burdensome. Those who have lost their job, for example, will tell you that it isn't just a financial issue, but an emotional and spiritual one. Jesus talked about money not because he wanted people to give their money to him or the church. There is no evidence of that. Jesus talked about money because he knew that the way we view and use our money can give our hearts great joy or great grief.
Sometimes you or I avoid difficult subjects because they might make someone feel uncomfortable. Jesus loves us too much to do that. He cares about our hearts, so he talks about the things that affect our hearts. He talks about anger and prayer and worry ... and money. He loves us so much that he won't ignore the things that affect our hearts in a deep way.
Jesus, thank you for addressing issues of the heart. My heart is crying out for you. I need your peace, your joy, and your hope. By your Spirit, bring about change inside me so my life will look different on the outside. Amen.
If Jesus were to sit down and speak with you today, what would he say? Could you imagine talking with Jesus about matters of your own heart, including how you spend your time, energy, and resources?
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What does it mean to you that Jesus risks making you feel uncomfortable by discussing things that really matter? Are there things you need to talk about with Jesus that you have been holding back?
If you had been in the crowd listening to Jesus, what issues of the heart would you have wanted Jesus to speak about? Take some time to list those issues here or in a journal.
Make time to read the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) to discover what Jesus is saying to you. Some believe this is the best sermon ever preached. Consider how it applies to you today.
5. Heart Follows Treasure
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)
When Jesus utters these words, he forever changes the way we look at the investment of our time, energy, and money. We usually think, "Where my heart is, there my treasure will be also." In other words, the things I value and hold dear will determine where I spend my time, energy, and money. If you want to know what I treasure, then you need only to look at my heart.
Jesus says the opposite is true. You will learn about my heart by looking at my treasure. This is not just a change in semantics. Jesus knows that where our money is going will shape what is in our heart, whether we want it to or not. Financial commitments require our time and energy, and they pull our heart in directions that perhaps neither we nor God ever intended. If you buy a car that requires a significant percentage of your income, you have no choice but to spend time, energy, and money paying for it. You put your treasure into it, and your heart will follow.
If you look at where you invest your treasure now and want to change but see no easy way out, there is hope. Maybe you can attend financial classes being offered at your church or in your community. Maybe you can meet with financial experts to discuss steps to get out of a mess. Change won't be easy, but it will be worth it.
Jesus cares about your heart. Jesus longs for your heart to be at peace and wants you to invest your life in the things of God. This knowledge gives us hope that, with Jesus' help, we can make things right when investing our time, energy, and resources.
Imagine living a life in which those investments match up with our heart's desire! Imagine a time when our heart and treasure are unified in their focus. A first step is acknowledging before God that we need help. A second step is asking God to give us the desire to lay up treasure in heaven instead of treasure for us. We can do that today.
O God, I need help. For too long I have pursued the things that would give me acclaim and prestige. I have sought earthly treasure, and it has left me wanting. Give me the desire and the courage to live a life that lays up treasure for you. Give me the contentment that is only found in that pursuit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Do you feel comfortable with the things you currently are treating as treasure? Is there some reevaluating of treasure that this Scripture could help you reflect on today?
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You might feel discouraged when looking at your current reality. Remember, though, that you are connected to the God who can do anything! In that knowledge, use your creative abilities to draw, paint, sculpt, sing, write, or create something that represents your dreams for the future.
