"Treasure With Heart"

Sermon

“ Treasure with Heart”

By: Steven Old

Introduction: What do you treasure? In a world with so many choices, a believer can get confused, in where he should place his treasure. Most people value their family, spouse, children, relative, friends, etc. Society tells us we need to value, ourselves, our needs, our wants, and our desires. The retail market accommodates by supplying our need with products, allowing us to specify our needs with their product. We are given the ability to choice the size, color, weight, brand name, manufacturer, billing methods, and even if we want it guaranteed or not.

Which brings me to the question,” Where should a believer place his treasure?”

We are going to look at some scriptures to see where and how, as believers, we should place our treasures.

What is a treasure? A treasure is the place in which goods and precious things are collected and laid up for future use. It is something the soul will have, look upon as the best things, satisfaction and confidence in and above all things.

In chapter 6, Jesus is rejecting the Pharisaic practices and hypocritical deeds. The Pharisees believed the Lord materially bless all He loved. They were intent on building great treasures on earth.

I. Because our heart will be upon our treasure, we must not seek earthly things. (Vs. 19)

A. To store earthly things means to live day by day as to increase either the bitterness or the happiness of one’s consequent amount.

--Wealth in Christ’s day was partly in fabrics, rugs, garments, and hangings.

B. Earthly things are liable to loss and decay by internal corruption.

1.Moths would eat the fine cloths and spoil them.

2.Rust acted to eat and destroy the gold and silver goods.

C. Earthly things are liable to loss and decay by external violence.

3.Thieves could easily breakthrough the mud walls of a Palestinian house.

a.No treasure can be laid up so safe in this world, from the hand of violence. It is foolish for us to make our treasure, which may easily be robbed.

Worldly riches have in themselves a principle of corruption and decay.

All earthly treasures are temporary and will perish.

Illustration:

The Rich Young Ruler: (Mark 10:17-22)

(“ So if we are not to lay our treasures on earth, then where should we lay them?”)

II. Because our heart will be upon our treasure, we must seek Heavenly things. (Vs. 20)

Read— (Luke 12:33-34)

The Hebrews, when on a journey, where provided with a bag, in which they carried their money. Christ would have his disciples put their money in other bags, which would not rot, become worn out, or full of holes through use, Christ would have his disciples put their money into the hands and bellies of the poor.

A.Instead of wanting more for ourselves, we should give all we can spare.

1.We are obligated to be ready at the command of God to depart will all things.

2.We should sell if a hindrance from the service of Christ.

3. Must not sell to hoard up money selfishly.

4. Give alms out of a compassionate and friendly heart.

B. Bags not of wax, but of grace in the heart of good works in the life.

1.Grace is woven in the soul.

2.Grace will follow us in another world.

3.Our good works will follow us.

4.God is not unrighteous to forget them.

C.Treasures in heaven will enrich us for eternity.

1.It will not be exhausted, spent up, or ever have an end.

2.Never spoil with keeping, or waste away in spending,

3.Moth and rust cannot destroy.

4.They have no danger in being robbed, because they are out reach of enemies.

“Fixed your eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor.4: 18)

Illustration:

(“How do we place our treasures in heaven?”)

III. Because our heart will be upon our treasure, we must seek the Creator of all things (Vs. 21)

A. Our heart is the center of all physical and spiritual life.

1. The soul or mind as a fountain of thoughts, passions, desires, affection, appetites, and purposes.

B. Our mind conditions the state of our heart, our hearts follows what we treasure (dwell with object of love), and our treasure can either be earthly (temporary) or Heavenly (eternal).

C.We are to concentrate on the eternal, not the temporary. (Colossians 3:1-4)

1.We are dead to sin.

2. We are dead to the law of sin.

3. We are dead to the rudiments of this world.

4. We can love heavenly things and have a heart towards God.

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

D. A Heart towards God:

a.Treasures to be acceptable to God.