Matthew 6:19-21 19Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Treasures are the things we value. We work and save so that we can obtain them. Jesus talks about two different types of treasures in these verses. We seek the treasures on earth because we are deceived by the promise that they will make life more pleasant. There are many good things that we can buy or make ourselves that do indeed make life easier, but the happiness is only temporary. . The problem is not the things in themselves but misplaced priorities. God gives us many blessings so that we can enjoy life and wants us to work hard and improve our living situations. The problem is when our priorities get mixed up.
In the ancient world, people treasured fine clothing, precious metals, and wood products–not much different from today. Moths were even more of a problem back then because of storage issues. Rust refers not simply to the decay of metal but corrosion and eating away of anything. Thieves create victims who feel their safety and possessions have been violated. It is discouraging to work hard for something and only to have it break or be stolen. The promise of happiness that things of this world offer only leads to more worry (taxes, broken cars, aging houses). Our treasures can quickly be taken away (James 5:1-3).
The pursuit of riches can have a devastating impact upon our families, lives, and relationship with God. Materialism clouds our vision. It does not matter how much we have or how little we have. What matters is what takes our attention. Our treasure is anything we put higher than God. Anytime we put things in front of God, we will end up in difficulty. Hoarding can lead to idolatry and other sins (1 Timothy 6:10).
Jesus taught about money and possessions more than any other topic. Why? Because in this life, most people constantly battle to get money to buy food, clothing, and a comfortable place to live. These things are necessary, good, and important, but this battle can take our eyes off of the most important things of life. What matters most are treasures in heaven. These treasures are eternal and safe from moth, rust, and thieves. First Peter 1:3-5 reflects on the treasure of our salvation, which is “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” The treasure we can store up in heaven is our own salvation and the witness we can have that helps others experience salvation. Our greatest investment we can make that will have the greatest dividend is to help our family put their faith in Christ and to take this hope to others.
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