Quest 30
IT’S A HEART THING
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
1. LIFE IS LIKE A DRIVING TEST – NOTHING IS INSIGNIFICANT.
Remember your driving test? Little things add up.
The test is to see what is in your heart (Deuteronomy 8:2) - And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
2. JESUS NEVER SAID THIS WORLD WAS UNIMPORTANT.
He came into this world to die for the inhabitants of this world (John 3:16) - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
But the importance of this world is where it leads (Matthew 7:13-14) - “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
3. WHATEVER THE WORLD GIVES, IT CAN TAKE AWAY.
What the moth destroys – Jesus was referring to fine clothes. Think of designer clothes or status apparel.
What can rust – literally, avoid what is eaten away. Jesus was referring to things that are stored, like grain, and eaten by mice, rats, or worms. Think of IRAs, retirement accounts, or quite literally things like vintage automobiles that do rust.
What can be stolen – Jesus was referring to valuables like coins, gold, etc. Since many of their homes were made of mud bricks, thieves would dig through the wall to steal these things.
Example: Government gives churches tax exempt status. What they give they can also take away.
4. WHATEVER GOD GIVES CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY.
The Bank of Heaven has never been robbed nor has its deposits ever been devalued (2 Timothy 1:12) – “For I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.”
Just as bad deeds go before us, so also our good deeds (1 Timothy 5:24-25) – “The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”
Lay up treasures in heaven (Colossians 3:23-24) – “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
5. WHAT YOU VALUE HAS YOUR HEART.
A wealthy young man came to Jesus and left with sorrow (Mark 10:21-22) - And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
If what you value is here, you’ll have a hard time leaving.
If what you value is there, you can’t wait to go.
