Do Not Store Up For Yourselves - Treasures on Earth - Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus is not into the prosperity doctrine. Jesus is into sharing your wealth with the poor and sowing it into the gospel. He does not suggest you get rich in the world's goods.

OUR TEXT

Matthew 6:19-21 (New King James Version)

19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

So what would treasure on earth possibly be? Well here is a list:

A million dollar house Shares Designer brand clothes Jewelry in excess The Best digital TV and equipment on the market. Going out all the time to restaurants and entertainment. Luxury cars. Expensive other things.

Warren Weisbe in "The Bible Exposition Commentary New Testament, Volume 1 Page 27" says:

"Materialism will enslave the heart (Matt. 6:19-21), the mind ( Matt. 6:22-23) and the will (Matt. 6:24). We can become shackled be the material things of life, but we ought to be liberated by the Spirit of God.

If the heart loves material things, and puts earthly gain above heavenly investments, then the result can be only a tragic loss. The treasures of earth may be used for God. But if we gather material things for ourselves, we will lose them; and we will lose our hearts with them. Instead of spiritual enrichment, we will experience impoverishment."

Weisbe says it will be a tragic loss. James goes further and says if we are friends with the world that we are enemies of God.

James 4:4 (New King James Version) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

How many enemies of God do you think go to heaven?

Ask yourself, are you rich toward God?

Does your money own your heart?

Let us pray:

Dear Father,

Please show me what is excess in my life and that of my family. Father teach me how to be rich toward you both in money and time. Father lead me to the correct teaching, lead me to the right teachers of the word and purify my heart in this matter I pray. In Jesus name I ask.

Amen

Be Blessed

Matthew Robert Payne.

If you have enjoyed my article you can read the book "The parables of Jesus made simple" for free here in its entirety or just selected parables in chapters at http://www.parables-of-jesus-christ.net/ The book will be published in book form in January 2011