COMPROMISING OUR TREASURE
1. A well known preacher once made a thoughtful comment about the verses just read.
2. He said, “In fifteen minutes’ conversation with most men you can tell whether a person’s treasures are on the earth or in heaven.
THIS
STATEMENT IS A PRETTY GOOD SUMMARY OF MT. 6:19-21.
1. Jesus told His people to avoid laying up treasures on the earth.
2. In the text just read there is a play on words.
3. The text says, “Treasure not for yourselves treasures.”
4. Another possible rendering would be, “stop treasuring treasures.”
5. When we think about the compromises that Christians can make Mt. 6 introduces us to a big one.
6. We can make a compromise in the area of our treasure.
7. Many things are considered treasure.
8. People may value a photograph, a piece of art, an antique, an automobile, coins, or something else.
9. In Mt. 6 Jesus said that His people need to pursue a certain type of treasure.
10. We
are to strive to “treasure up treasures” in the
11. What did the Lord mean?
12. I want to show what Jesus meant and then offer three points about it.
13. We begin with what Jesus meant.
A. A good cross reference for Mt. 6:20 is Mt. 19:21.
B. In Mt. 19 we learn that a young man came to see Jesus.
C. This young man asked the Lord what he needed to do to have eternal life.
D. The Lord (since the Old Testament was in force) told him to keep the commandments.
E. The young man said that he had done this. He wanted to know what he lacked.
F. Here is what Jesus said to him: Mt. 19:21 – READ.
G. We lay up treasure in heaven by helping people.
H. When we aid others we lay up treasure in a place where it cannot be destroyed.
I. Our treasure is stored in an area where its value is not diminished and it is completely safe.
14. The
Lord’s thought is further explained by another story (Lk.
15. Here Jesus told about a man who had a bumper crop.
16. This man decided to tear down his barns and build bigger barns.
17. This farmer planned to store up a lot of earthly treasure.
18. Jesus had this to say about him – Lk. 12:21 – READ.
19. Treasure that is stored on the earth is usually for “self.”
20. If we are storing up things for self we are not storing up heavenly treasure.
21. The reference that leaves us with no doubt about what Jesus meant is 1 Tim. 6:17-19.
22. These verses conclusively show the identity of “heavenly” treasure.
23. Here is what Paul said – 1 Tim. 6:17-19 – READ.
WE NOW KNOW WHAT HEAVENLY TREASURE IS (IT IS GOOD WORKS AND DOING GOOD TO OTHER PEOPLE). WE ALSO KNOW WHAT EARTHLY TREASURE IS (STORING UP THINGS THAT WOULD BENEFIT US).
24. Jesus said that we want to store up heavenly treasure and we want to make this our priority.
25. In spite of this command it is very easy to compromise what the Lord said.
26. We can try to load up on both heavenly treasure and earthly treasure.
27. We may come to the point where we think that having both is a good idea and quite possible.
28. This may sound okay to us but it is not acceptable to God.
29. In Mt. 6:24 Jesus said that we cannot serve “two masters.”
A. In life we can cheer for two teams.
B. We can work for two different companies.
C. We might head two different organizations.
D. Jesus described a “master” (someone we are totally dedicated to).
30. We might compare His illustration to the armed forces.
31. No man can serve in two different militaries.
32. If a man is a member of one nation’s army he cannot be 100% dedicated to another nation too.
33. Jesus said that when it comes to treasure it is impossible to make a compromise.
34. Our emphasis and attention must be on what is spiritual and the eternal.
35. The Lord based this upon three different reasons.
36. The first reason is found in 19b.
A. If we compromise on what our treasure is we will be disappointed.
B. Those who decide to pursue earthly treasures will lose what they have.
C. Jesus described this loss in several different ways.
D. He first spoke of a “moth.”
E. I have never been to the land of Israel.
F. If the books are accurate, moths are a terrible problem because of the weather.
G. Moths are not the only creatures that destroy things.
H. They are, however, a good example of how destructive some creatures can be.
37. Jesus also spoke of “rust.”
38. This is a rather broad term that described corrosion or corruption.
39. One source says this term describes “anything that can adversely affect an object.”
40. There are a lot of things that can adversely affect objects of value.
41. Wear and tear, water damage, fire damage, or simply the passage of time.
42. There other hazards in the world that Jesus did not mention.
43. People lose treasure in floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
44. The Lord went on to say in verse 19 that earthly valuables can be “consumed.”
45. That is, things can be ruined or destroyed.
46. If we avoid all the perils that have been mentioned there is still the threat of theft.
47. Jesus spoke about people “breaking through” and stealing things (verses 19 & 20).
48. The word translated “break through” literally meant “to dig through.”
49. In this day and time people had mud houses.
50. People took sharp tools and literally dug through the bricks to break into houses.
51. Houses in America are not made out of mud but people break into them to find treasure.
52. If we compromise on what our real treasure is what will we have?
A. We will have something that is temporary.
B. We will be left with an item that is subject to some form of decay.
1). Our earthly treasure may also something that others try to steal.
WHAT
JESUS SAID IN VERSE 19 SHOWS THAT MAKING COMPROMISES ON OUR TREASURE IS A BAD
CHOICE. IN VERSES 22-23 THE LORD ADDED A
SECOND POINT.
53. He said that the wrong kind of treasure will corrupt us.
54. If we are focused on the wrong thing we will be destroyed.
55. Jesus said that our whole body will be “full of darkness.”
56. In 23b Jesus said, “how great is the darkness.”
57. I recently read a column by a well-known writer.
A. This man described a recent conversation with some friends.
B. He said that during the meal people began to talk about their involvement with the stock market.
C. One of his friends said, “I don’t open my mail anymore. Why bother?”
D. This writer then said, “Everyone at the table knew he wasn’t talking about wedding invitations.”
E. The dinner guest was talking about his retirement funds.
58. There is nothing wrong with making retirement plans.
59. Jesus commended the stewards who traded and did well while their master was away.
60. When we think about investing there is both short term investing and long term investing.
61. The short term involves our life on earth.
62. We need a plan that lasts for a limited period of time (perhaps 50 years).
63. The long-term investment is the one that lasts for eternity.
64. Some become so involved with the short term that the long term is overlooked.
65. Attention needs to be given to both and we must place the right priority on both.
66. If we do not do this we will have compromised the gospel.
67. Judas was greedy. He decided that the short-term investment plan was the right one.
68. Did he make a good choice?
69. In Mt. 13 we are told about a sower who planted some seed.
70. Jesus said that some of this man’s seed fell among the “thorns.”
71. When He described this parable He said this: the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word.
72. Compromising on our treasure is so corrupting and destructive that it “chokes” the word.
73. There are surely people who have the word choked from their lives but they feel okay.
74. People can make compromises but not be bothered by them.
75. People can make concessions but mentally shrug them off thinking they are fine.
76. The Lord specifically said that we cannot make compromises in regard to our treasures.
77. The wrong kind of treasure will corrupt every single person.
78. The reason for this is found in Mt. 6:24 – READ.
A. Some try to compromise with God and money.
B. People try to have a foot in the world and a foot in the church.
C. God said that this cannot be done.
D. We either have God as our priority or we do not.
E. We need to have a “single eye” (verse 22).
79. Think of the person who is driving down the road.
80. This fellow is looking in every direction.
81. He looks over his shoulder and then cranks his neck to the right and left.
82. He pokes his head underneath the steering wheel.
83. He pulls down the visor to look for some paper and a pen.
84. Then he opens and peers into the glove box.
85. He drops his pen and then looks between the seats to find it.
86. What will happen to such a driver? He will have a wreck.
87. This man’s eyes should be directed towards the road in front of him.
88. Instead of looking in the right direction he is attracted to and looks at many other things.
89. Just as a driver may compromise their driving, so a Christian may compromise their faith.
90. If God is not the most important part of our life we are guilty of compromise.
91. This compromise will wreck our life.
92. There is no question about this because Jesus said we cannot serve two masters.
93. Who is our master? Who owns us? Is it money? Is it a job? Is it pleasure? Is it God?