Treasure
THE KINGDOM: Week 6
Matthew 6:19–34
Big Idea: What you treasure determines what you trust.

“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. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:19-34 ESV

Introduction

Because hearts always follow treasure.

Jesus moves through four pictures.
Treasure.
Eyes.
Masters.
Worry.
They all answer the same question.
What has your heart?

1. Your Treasure Reveals Your Heart
“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.” Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

The issue has never been wealth itself.
The issue is worship.

Jesus says,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…”
Why?

Because earthly treasure is temporary.
Moths destroy.
Rust corrodes.
Thieves steal.
Everything in this world eventually fades.

“knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV

The most valuable thing in existence isn’t gold… It’s the gospel.

Greek Insight
Treasure - θησαυρός (thēsauros).
Meaning: a treasury or storehouse—a place where valuables are kept.

“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Notice the order.
Treasure first.
Heart second.

Your bank statement tells a story.
So does your calendar.
So does your screen time.

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2

2. Your Vision Shapes Your Worship
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:22-24

Whatever fills your vision eventually shapes your life.

Greek Insight
healthy - ἁπλοῦς (haplous).
It literally means single, undivided, whole, and in some contexts carries the idea of generous.

Jesus contrasts two hearts.
One is focused on God.
The other is consumed with getting more.

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils…” 1 Timothy 6:10

Notice…
Not money.
The love of money.

John Wesley  “Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”

Money is an incredible servant, but it is a terrible Savior.

3. Your Father Is Greater Than Your Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Jesus doesn’t begin by saying,
“Stop worrying.”
He begins by saying,
“Look.”

Look at the Birds
Psalm 147 says,
“He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.” (Psalm 147:9)

If God cares for birds…
How much more His children?

Look at the Flowers
Isaiah says,
“All flesh is grass… the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:6–8)

Flowers are temporary.
Yet God delights in making temporary things beautiful.
How much more will He care for people made in His image?

Look at Tomorrow
Jesus says,
“Do not be anxious about tomorrow.”
Not because tomorrow doesn’t matter.
Because tomorrow belongs to God.

Greek Insight
Anxious - μεριμνάω (merimnaō)
means to be anxious, to be divided, or to be pulled apart by cares.

Worry literally divides the mind.
Faith brings it back together.

Jesus continually brings us back to today.
“Give us this day…”
Today’s bread.
Today’s grace.
Today’s strength.

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
 
Matthew 6:33 “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”

Greek Insight
Seek - ζητέω (zēteō)
Means to seek, pursue, strive after, keep seeking.
It’s a present imperative.
A continual pursuit.

He’s calling us to build every area of life around God’s Kingdom.
Home.
Marriage.
Parenting.
Work.
Finances.
Politics.
Retirement.
Everything.
When the Kingdom comes first…
Everything else finds its proper place.

Close
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

Let’s treasure what heaven treasures.

Let’s seek first His Kingdom.
Let’s walk With Jesus… become Like Jesus… and live For Jesus.