TREASURE
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE TREASURE HIDDEN IN A FIELD.
TREASURE in EARTHENWARE VESSELS
A jar of clay with its flaws, chips, and cracks is fragile and easily broken. It’s not a of great worth or monetary value, but rather a common, ordinary vessel.
Our physical bodies are like that earthen vessel, a fragile clay pot! We have our flaws our disabilities and we have shattered dreams. None of these things can bring a sense of value to our lives. If we focus on our human fragility, despair is bound to come over us.
But the secret to overcoming despair is shown in the ancient writings of the bible. Inside that broken, fragile, ordinary clay jar there can be a priceless treasure! The void in the human heart is a God shaped void and God wants to fill it with heavenly treasure. But when we make the right choice God will fill your heart.
Cast Down but Unconquered
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NKJV)
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
A jar of clay with its flaws, chips, and cracks is fragile and easily broken. It’s not a of great worth or monetary value, but rather a common, ordinary vessel.
Our physical bodies are like that earthen vessel, a fragile clay pot! We have our flaws our disabilities and we have shattered dreams. None of these things can bring a sense of value to our lives. If we focus on our human fragility, despair is bound to come over us.
But the secret to overcoming despair is shown in the ancient writings of the bible. Inside that broken, fragile, ordinary clay jar there can be a priceless treasure! The void in the human heart is a God shaped void and God wants to fill it with heavenly treasure. But when we make the right choice God will fill your heart.
Cast Down but Unconquered
2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (NKJV)
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
Temporary treasure versus Eternal treasure
Which is the better?
The answer depends on whether one is earthly-minded or heavenly-minded and is investing in the future eternity to come, or are investing in the here and now.
Jesus used the three examples below to show how the things we deem most important are only temporary. He uses the moth, rust, and the thief. We can all think of examples of these things in our lives. For instance, someone drives a new car off the lot so proudly. They love this vehicle. They have the windows rolled down and the music cranked as they want the world to know they have just bought this new car! The next thing you know, a little humility comes as they are sideswiped, and their new shiny car is destroyed and no longer of value.
The Moth: Moths can get into clothes and eat holes in them.
Rust: the effect of salt on cars is brutal. You could have the nicest car in the world, but it eventually rusts. Like the moth rust can eat away at earthly treasure.
The Thief: With treasure comes the fear of someone stealing it, so we put walls around our house so no one can get in. We have security guards and hidden safes. But still the thief will do anything to make our treasure, his own.
Maybe your treasure is money, precious metals or jewels.
Jesus is calling us to change our minds from the temporary to the eternal, from the things that are passing by, to the things that are permanent. You never see a hearse pulling a furniture trailer! If you did, we would all be shocked because we know the earthly treasures we store up cannot be taken with us. They are only temporary. All through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asks us to repent, to change our minds and our attitudes, and to be like those in Hebrews 11 who had eternity in their hearts and the promises God gave them.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desired a better that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).
In contrast, Jesus says in
Matthew 6:20, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Here Jesus is talking about laying up eternal treasures that do not fade away. What are these treasures Jesus is talking about?
First Peter 1:3-6 states:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.
What an awesome thing to know that as believers our inheritance is waiting for us, that as children of God, we will inherit eternity! Being with Christ, that is our reward! Those who strive to store up treasures here on earth will be disappointed because those treasures will only pass away.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
At the end of our life as believers, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for our lives here on the earth. Whatever we have laid upon that foundation, whether gold or hay, will go through the fire and either last or not last. Those believers who seek to build up wealth and riches on earth will suffer loss and will be saved as through fire, whereas those who strive to lay up treasures in heaven will receive a reward. The greatest of these treasures is that we can enter eternity fully pardoned and set free from the bondage of sin because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
So the question arises, “How do we lay up treasures in heaven?”
The answer is by living the way God has asked us to live and following after Him in all that we do. For example, loving your neighbor as yourself – if a man has a need for a shirt and you have extra, give him one – being a cheerful giver, honoring God in your marriage, guarding your mind against adulterous thoughts, sharing the good news of the gospel with those around you. There are so many things which all narrow down to loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.
In the final statement in verse 21, Jesus goes back to the heart:
Exodus 20:3 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
One of the Ten Commandments states: “You shall have no other gods before Me”
When we set our hearts on the things of this earth and fall to the temptation of being worldly in our ways, we are committing idolatry because we are no longer serving God.
Rather, we have put our riches above God, and we are serving them. They have become our god and our life.
Jesus challenges us, as He challenged those He was talking to that day in the crowd, to ask ourselves where our treasure is.
If your treasure is on earth and the things of this world, your heart will be there as well. If your heart is focused on the Father and on laying up treasures in heaven, your heart will be there.
The answer depends on whether one is earthly-minded or heavenly-minded and is investing in the future eternity to come, or are investing in the here and now.
Jesus used the three examples below to show how the things we deem most important are only temporary. He uses the moth, rust, and the thief. We can all think of examples of these things in our lives. For instance, someone drives a new car off the lot so proudly. They love this vehicle. They have the windows rolled down and the music cranked as they want the world to know they have just bought this new car! The next thing you know, a little humility comes as they are sideswiped, and their new shiny car is destroyed and no longer of value.
The Moth: Moths can get into clothes and eat holes in them.
Rust: the effect of salt on cars is brutal. You could have the nicest car in the world, but it eventually rusts. Like the moth rust can eat away at earthly treasure.
The Thief: With treasure comes the fear of someone stealing it, so we put walls around our house so no one can get in. We have security guards and hidden safes. But still the thief will do anything to make our treasure, his own.
Maybe your treasure is money, precious metals or jewels.
Jesus is calling us to change our minds from the temporary to the eternal, from the things that are passing by, to the things that are permanent. You never see a hearse pulling a furniture trailer! If you did, we would all be shocked because we know the earthly treasures we store up cannot be taken with us. They are only temporary. All through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asks us to repent, to change our minds and our attitudes, and to be like those in Hebrews 11 who had eternity in their hearts and the promises God gave them.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desired a better that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).
In contrast, Jesus says in
Matthew 6:20, “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Here Jesus is talking about laying up eternal treasures that do not fade away. What are these treasures Jesus is talking about?
First Peter 1:3-6 states:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.
What an awesome thing to know that as believers our inheritance is waiting for us, that as children of God, we will inherit eternity! Being with Christ, that is our reward! Those who strive to store up treasures here on earth will be disappointed because those treasures will only pass away.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).
At the end of our life as believers, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account for our lives here on the earth. Whatever we have laid upon that foundation, whether gold or hay, will go through the fire and either last or not last. Those believers who seek to build up wealth and riches on earth will suffer loss and will be saved as through fire, whereas those who strive to lay up treasures in heaven will receive a reward. The greatest of these treasures is that we can enter eternity fully pardoned and set free from the bondage of sin because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
So the question arises, “How do we lay up treasures in heaven?”
The answer is by living the way God has asked us to live and following after Him in all that we do. For example, loving your neighbor as yourself – if a man has a need for a shirt and you have extra, give him one – being a cheerful giver, honoring God in your marriage, guarding your mind against adulterous thoughts, sharing the good news of the gospel with those around you. There are so many things which all narrow down to loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself.
In the final statement in verse 21, Jesus goes back to the heart:
Exodus 20:3 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
One of the Ten Commandments states: “You shall have no other gods before Me”
When we set our hearts on the things of this earth and fall to the temptation of being worldly in our ways, we are committing idolatry because we are no longer serving God.
Rather, we have put our riches above God, and we are serving them. They have become our god and our life.
Jesus challenges us, as He challenged those He was talking to that day in the crowd, to ask ourselves where our treasure is.
If your treasure is on earth and the things of this world, your heart will be there as well. If your heart is focused on the Father and on laying up treasures in heaven, your heart will be there.
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