The Ultimate Treasure #2 - Stewardship

WHMBC VBS 2007 – Treasure #2 – Stewardship

Matthew 6:19-24

Yesterday we looked at how we can find the treasure – Map – Bible. Compass – God. Shovel – Christians

How do we use what God has given us - Stewardship is not about your money, it is about your life.

Stewardship is about how we manage our time and our talents. It is about giving to God the best of who we are and what we have received.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Stewardship is about who is in charge of your life.

Tonight I would like to look at where our treasure is. There are two simple answers to this question. Our treasure is either on earth or it is in Heaven? The Lord said that where our treasure is that is where our heart will be.

We often speak of our possessions, but according to the Bible, God owns it all and we own nothing, we are stewards of everything God entrusts to us.

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it is His.

It is not wrong to possess things but it is wrong for things to possess us.

We are stewards and not owners. Have you ever looked after something for someone? I borrowed Bro. Billy’s car – I drove it, put gas in it – I did everything that I would do in my car. I was borrowing it. When I go home I’ll have to give it back.

That’s what we do with what God has given us - borrowing them – therefore when we give to Him all we are doing is giving back to God what belongs to Him in the first place.

Jesus gives us four tests to help us determine the accurate answer to this question of "where’s your treasure?"

I. How long will it last? – Matthew 6:19-20

When you store all your treasure on earth, what happens?

Moths eat holes through your Nike / Levi’s.

Rust weakens and ruins your skateboard, bike causing disintegration and uglification of all your nicest stuff.

Thieves will break a window to steal your x-box, PS3, jewellery and DVD.

Then, eventually, you die and leave it all behind. Hang on preacher, that’s a bit gloomy – we’re only teens, we don’t want to think about death!!!

You have to plan for the future!!! When I started work they told us to pay into a pension fund – money for retirement. I didn’t want to – I wanted my money and ALL of it – I thought, “Plenty of time to do that when I’m older”

Time comes around quick, you might be teens but before long you will be as old as Bro. Billy, your eyesight goes and your hair falls out – Plan for the Future. Trust Christ as your Saviour before time runs out.

How long will your treasure last? Not long if it’s on earth. That is why Jesus advises us to store up our treasure in heaven instead of on earth.

Heaven is a much safer place to stockpile your wealth because in heaven there are no moths, no rust, and no thieves. Once you get your money transferred to heaven, it is safe and secure for all eternity. It is permanent. It will last forever.

II. What excites you the most? - Matthew 6:21

If you choose to store up your treasure on earth, your heart will be focused on things of the earth, and you will love it here on earth so much that you will tend to drift away from God.

But if you choose to store up your treasure in heaven, then your heart will be more excited about heaven, and as a result, you will end up growing closer to God.

Do you understand how this works? Whatever you invest your time and money in will become very important to you.

If you invest money into baseball that is what will take up your time – before you know it you’ll be missing church to follow your team. You’ll be keeping all your money for the next ticket or cap or mit…

Have you ever read a book that you just couldn’t put down.. If you invest your time solely in a book – you’ll find that you don’t have time to read the Bible.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The same thing works in your relationship with God. When you choose to heavily invest in God’s purposes, you will find that your life will be blessed by God.