Teaching about Money and Possessions Matthew 6:19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
When Jesus is speaking on that hillside, he is describing the worst fears of many in the crowd, for some of them have already suffered at the hands of thieves, particularly the poor living in houses that are easily broken into. The housewives in the crowd are fully aware of the dangers posed by moths that might consume stored material, even if it is in a trunk. And of course, metal might rust and fall apart. Today, we still have thieves and moths and rust; however, now we have even more dangerous problems. There’s a new scam targeting seniors on social security. Hackers get a name and a social security number and create an online profile, sending the money that should go to struggling seniors to their own bank accounts. (One wonders what happens to seniors who are not computer-literate and who do not have an online presence. How can these people protect themselves?)
Why does Jesus teach on this point at this time in his sermon? Everything Jesus has already taught about the Kingdom of God has led up to this matter. Jesus has already spoken about the character of those who will inherit the Kingdom of God, refusing to take revenge, forgiving those who persecute them and praying for them. Jesus has also taught on prayer and fasting. Now Jesus is bringing his teaching to something close to everyone’s hearts, namely, possessions. Years ago, there was a ridiculous slogan stating that “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But what good are possessions to a dead person? Even King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived, lamented, “Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19)
Jesus’ point is simple: Where is your treasure? If you are only concerned about earthly things, you will certainly take every means possible to protect your wealth and your possessions. You will obsess about security systems, secret bank accounts, and other means of protecting your wealth. But what about heavenly treasures-what is Jesus talking about? Proverbs 13:7 tells us, “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”
Heavenly treasures belong to those Jesus has already described in the first part of the Sermon on the Mount, those who treasure God and His presence more than anything else, those who give freely, blessing others without thought of reward or recompense. God is the One who keeps the heavenly books, and He knows those who are trying to follow Him, trusting that as they pray and give, God will continue to provide so that they can do even more. One of the many blessings of the Kingdom of Heaven is that it is hacker-proof. Nobody can steal heavenly treasures. And now Jesus turns to a closely related matter, the things on which we focus our attention.
Matthew 6:22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”
As long as we are following God and trying to do His perfect will, we are safe. But it’s easy to become distracted. Years ago, a Christian couple came to me, asking me to spend time with them so they could share something. I agreed, assuming we were going to talk about Jesus. Little did I realize that their aim was to enlist me in an Amway sales pyramid scheme! For my friends, Amway had virtually become a second religion and was in danger of displacing Jesus in their affections. Recently, I saw an ad for an AI app that will direct as much of your life as you are willing to give to it. What’s the danger? A phone app developed by unknown workers might potentially take the place of God’s guidance and minimize your developing self-control, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. After all, if you can merely consult a phone app, why worry about being quiet before God and listening for His voice? The light in you doesn’t change to darkness at once but gradually, so gradually that you don’t even realize what is happening.
Only now are we beginning to glimpse the horrors posed by AI apps such as ChatGPT. ChatGPT will tell 13-year-olds how to get drunk and high, instruct them on how to conceal eating disorders and even compose a heartbreaking suicide letter to their parents if asked, according to new research from a watchdog group. The Associated Press reviewed more than three hours of interactions between ChatGPT and researchers posing as vulnerable teens. The chatbot typically provided warnings against risky activity but went on to deliver startlingly detailed and personalized plans for drug use, calorie-restricted diets or self-injury. (https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118565/documents/HHRG-119-JU00-20250903-SD013-U13.pdf)
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
The matter is simple: whatever we love and whatever becomes the object of our attentions will rule us. If we are focused on becoming as rich as possible as quickly as possible, we will become enslaved to money. One phenomenally wealthy businessman from Singapore told an interviewer that he intended to begin funding charitable outreaches just as soon as he had accumulated sufficient funds. But when the interviewer asked how much more this billionaire might need, the man could not answer. His money was controlling him.
One beloved pastor friend began life with the idea of becoming a millionaire by age thirty and succeeded. Our friend owned a variety of businesses as well as a small private plane. He was an elder in a local Methodist church, admired in his community. Then came the Sunday a team of lay witness missionaries testified in that church. Standing at the back watching the team, our friend suddenly became convicted that he had been faking a faith he did not possess. Our friend’s life changed dramatically that day, for not only did he commit his life to Christ, but soon afterwards, God called him into the ministry. Our friend sold the businesses and the plane and moved, entering seminary and service to God that would last several decades. During the short time our friend pastored our church, eight couples entered ministries of various kinds, and he was instrumental in our going to the mission field. Only in eternity will we know what kind of blessings God poured out through the ministry of this man and his family.
The questions these verses pose for us today are simple: Where is your treasure? Are you worried about amassing wealth here on earth or serving God, trusting that He will give you treasures in heaven? What is controlling you? Are you a slave to money, fame, popularity, or are you dedicated to serving God? Choose carefully, for you are choosing for eternity.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. Help us to keep our eyes on You, trusting You to bring about the changes and the guidance we need. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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