Matthew 6:21
” For Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
The longer I live, the more I have come to realize, so much in life is passing. Things I once coveted and had to have, are bundled up and given to the Salvation Army. That “new car smell” has been replaced with “what’s that smell?” Even relationships that were once so close, have grown distant. The words of Christ shout a deafening cry,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew, Chapter 6, not only exhorts us to lay up heavenly treasures, it also sheds light on the spiritual activities that will help us do it. We are told to give, pray, fast and let go.
One of the great struggles we face is how to live for eternity, while living in time. We know, while God could cause manna to appear on our front lawn every morning, He has chosen to call us to “till the ground.” In other words, we all have to work for a living. We need the tangibles like cash, food, housing, etc. How do we balance living here with storing up treasures in heaven. I think one of the keys is found in Verse 33.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
When we decide to no longer worry, to no longer be consumed with the things of this life, and instead, put our full confidence in Jehovah, as our provider, we will be able to put Him first. When that happens, we will see He is, in fact, able to meet our every need.
Today, whether you go to work, school, or stay at home, put Jesus in first place. Seek to please Him with every step, and watch as He uses the details of your day as opportunities to store up treasures in heaven.
Pastor Jim
Questions for Chapter 6
Chapter 6 deals with spiritual exercise or activities that each Christian should be involved in. We are taught the proper way to give, pray and fast. The word “charitable” means mercy that causes us to give.
- Contrast the way the hypocrite gives with the way we should give.
- How does God respond to proper giving?
- In verse 6 Jesus is speaking regarding our private prayer life. How should we prayer? How does God promise to respond?
- What warnings does Jesus give about prayer? “Do not…”
- The “Lord’s Prayer” is designed to be an example. What does it teach about praying?
- What is “Fasting?”
- Choose something to fast from this week, i.e. lunches, dinners, T.V. or even Facebook and use that time for prayer and worship. Choose a friend to fast with and encourage one another.
- What can you do this week to store up treasures in heaven?
- Matthew 6:25-34 contains some of the most practical and valuable teaching in the whole Bible. What does Jesus teach that will serve as the antidote to anxiety?
Old Testament
Genesis 11- United
Genesis 12- Famine In The Land
Jim Gallagher 