Where Your Treasure Is
Griffith Baptist Church – 1/20/08
A.M. Service
Text: Matthew 6:19-24
Key verse: Matthew 6:21
The Introduction
One of the better known treasure hunts in modern times is the quest to find the rumored wealth known as the “Beale treasure.” The hunt began when an eccentric man, who left the East for the gold and silver mines of the West, returned home, supposedly hid a vast amount of wealth, then disappeared forever. All he left behind were several messages written in a mysterious code. One of those messages when deciphered told of the treasure and its approximate location. The other documents, then, would narrow down the site. Since the Beale documents first came to light, thousands of man-hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent attempting to break the codes and find the legendary treasure. Today in the Word, MBI, December, 1989, p. 14
Our key verse is situated right in the middle of our text. (verse 21)
Here is where Christ focuses in on our material possessions and our wealth and gets us to think about what we give the most prominence to.
This verse gives some thoughts we ought to ponder as we look later at the remaining verses.
First, let’s take a look at the heart.
1. God did not say we could not have treasure, but that we have to watch what that treasure does to us.
2. Your heart contains what is most important to you.
3. What is in your heart will eventually be seen in some form by others – Luke 6:45 – A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Second, let’s take a look at treasures.
1. Treasures are not sinful; it is what we allow them to do to us that brings sin (covetousness, greed, discontentment, etc.)
2. You will always have treasure somewhere, the question is, where?
3. What we gain in the life to come will be based upon how we use what we have while we are here (use of our time, money, resources, etc.)
George W. Truett, a well-known pastor, was invited to dinner in the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After the meal, the host led him to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area.
Pointing to the oil wells punctuating the landscape, he boasted, ’twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.? Looking in the opposite direction at his sprawling fields of grain, he said, ’that’s all mine.? Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged, ’they’re all mine.?
Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, ’that too is all mine.’
He paused, expecting Dr. Truett to compliment him on his great success. Truett, however, placing one hand on the man’s shoulder and pointing heavenward with the other, simply said, "How much do you have in that direction"? The man hung his head and confessed, "I never thought of that.?
Our Daily Bread, October 24, 1992
Key Question: What is it you treasure the most?
Three questions regarding your possessions.
Body
1. Where Do I Put The Greatest Emphasis? – 6:19-20
A. Is it on the temporary or the eternal?
B. When John Jay was asked how it was possible for him to occupy his mind after his retirement from public life, he replied with a smile, “I have a long life to look back upon, and an eternity to look forward to."
C. Treasures on earth
i. 1 John 2:15 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
ii. What you own and have now – money, cars, house, etc.
iii. Subject to destruction and decay
iv. Insecure and easily lost
D. Treasures in heaven
i. Eternal aspect of our work on earth for God
ii. Everlasting and rewardable
iii. Securely locked in the bank of God in heaven
2. What Is My Guiding Principle? – 6:22-23
A. Where are my affections?
B. The evil (dark eye) is the eye that cannot focus on the right thing (23) –
i. It sees it’s wealth as more important than other things in life
ii. It even sees it as spiritual (I have to take care of what God has given me, etc.)
iii. A warning given to those who would be rich – 1 Timothy 6:8-10, 17 - 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
C. The eye full of light (22) –
i. Has the right spiritual focus on the eternal before the material
ii. Knows that wealth is given from God and should be used wisely
D. When the vision is right the rest will be right (thy whole body shall be full of light)
E. In one of his booklets, Adrian Rogers tells of some gold prospectors who discovered an exceptionally rich mine. One of them said, "Hey, we’ve got it made as long as we don’t tell anybody else before we stake our claims." So they each vowed to keep the secret.
Because they had to have more tools and provisions, they headed for town. After buying all the supplies they needed, they hurried back to the mine site. But they weren’t alone. A crowd of people followed them because their discovery was written all over their faces.
What happens on the inside shows on the outside. Joyful Christians with the light of God on their faces are needed in the darkness of this world.
3. To What Does My Loyalty Belong? – 6:24
A. There is no such thing as divided loyalty
B. Mammon may be considered any thing a man confides in. (money, work, possessions)
C. Colossians 3:1-2 – 1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
D. Loyalty - A feeling or attitude of devoted attachment and affection.
E. God asks for a one-sided choice, Him or what you have.
i. Remember question 1 about your greatest emphasis
ii. Your wealth is good only until your death, and than you have to face God as to how you used and where you placed it in your life.
iii. Loyalty to God is eternal and pays benefits long after your death and that make all your possessions look like a pauper’s penny.
Conclusion:
What do you treasure the most? What would you do to know Christ more and to do more for Him?
