Right Treasure 1

Right Treasure 1!

Matthew 6:19 AMPC

[19] Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

We all have things that we treasure. We all spend time and resources on things that we consider as important and strategic to our overall wellbeing. What makes this even more interesting from the perspective of the world's system is that what I consider important does not have to make sense to you and vice versa. As a result of our different backgrounds and experiences, we have come to have peculiar priorities. We will do anything tp pursue and entrench these priorities, and also quarrel with anyone who tries to tamper or hinder these priorities. That is the way human nature is wired, and it will take grace for a man to set his heart on the right priorities. 

This is the foundation of the verse above. Let us consider the context and audience. As it has been pointed out several times over the past few weeks, you do not demand specific allegiance from someone who you do not have a measure of control or influence over. I cannot demand allegiance and submission from someone over whom I hold no power or sovereignty. The verse above is taken from the first Sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat down with His disciples. Yes, the crowd was there listening to Him, but the bible passage was careful to note that having sat down, His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them. That was His audience. 

As it was then, so is it today. You may love the words and message in the verse above, but to be honest, if you belong to the uncommitted majority, this message is not for you. How do you encourage a man whose heart is set on the world's goods that there is a treasure bigger and better than the one he currently holds and owns? How do you encourage a mortal man to give up the known and visible for the invisible? The natural man is wired to live for the present; there must be an inner change for that man to understand the weight of the message in the verse above. Who am I? Who are you? Who is in charge of my heart: the Word, or the world's systems?

If Jesus could be advising His disciples this way, just picture the helplessness of those who do not even know Christ. If a disciple can struggle with possessions, picture the scenes for someone who has no allegiance to Christ. The counsel is simple: focus on the eternal, even whilst seeking a life of relevance and preparation down here. To store up treasure is to understand the long-term benefits; if all I care about is the here and now, I will have no interest in what tomorrow holds. I make sure not to gather or heap up treasures here on earth, where security is not guaranteed. As long as it can be stolen or tampered with on earth, it has no eternal value. What am I focused on? God's time of favour is here.