Matthew 6: The Sermon on the Mount (30)
Pray Psalm 63.1, 2.
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Sing Psalm 63.1, 2.
Nun Danken: Now Thank We All Our God
O God, You are my God, and earnestly I seek You!
My soul thirsts and my flesh in weariness now greets You!
Thus I would see Your face, with glory and pow’r arrayed,
in this Your holy place,Your beauty here displayed.
Read Matthew 6.16-21; meditate on verses 19-21.
What “treasures” are you laying up in heaven?
Prepare.
1. What does Jesus mean by “treasures on earth”?
2. What kind of treasures should we “lay up”?
Meditate.
The word translated “lay up” is, in the Greek, θησαυρίζετε, thesaurizete. Do you see the word thesaurus there? A thesaurus is a treasure-trove of synonyms. Jesus says we should not “treasure up” things that, by their very nature, perish with the using, or even without using them. Material things have a relatively short shelf-life when compared with the eternity that stretches before us. When we treasure these above all, we devote our vision, attention, efforts, and energy to accumulating a trove of perishing things, because we think this is where happiness and security lie.
But of course, happiness and security, for which we accumulate material wealth, do not come from such wealth. Happiness—blessedness—is found within the Kingdom of God, under the rule of King Jesus, and in the power of His Word and Spirit. The security of our souls comes from hearing and obeying the Word of the Lord. Within the Kingdom of God, treasures of true and spiritual life are available to us—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit and the pleasures to be known in the Presence of God (Ps. 16.11). Jesus counsels us to treasure-up these, and to make them our constant objective and delight.
But we will only do this when it is our heart’s desire to gain the life God has in store for us in Jesus. Is this where your heart is? Look around at the way you use your time, the things that occupy your mind, the stuff that makes your heart rate quicken, and that you rejoice to possess. What do these say about the treasure you are seeking to lay up for yourself? If they’re not the treasure of spiritual things, it may be that you’ve never truly seen the great value of these. Turn to Jesus, and consider Him (Heb. 3.1; 12.3); He will show you beauty, goodness, and truth that never fade, and can never be exhausted in this life or the next. They who are truly righteous seek the treasures of heaven to enrich their earthly lives.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Do not set your heart on stuff.
Stuff eventually turns to dust, and
can easily be stolen, torched, or lost.
Don’t work hard for stuff, for poof—it’s gone.
Jesus said to set our hearts on the treasures of heaven.
These treasures can never be lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Our hallowed heavenly Father can see what we cherish
and what we work hard for, because He sees and knows everything.
Where your treasure is—
There your heart will be also.
“My heart is set on keeping Your decrees
to the very end” (Ps. 119.112 NIV).
It is astonishing to note that even Search Assist (our ever-present AI) has got a good grasp of what it means to be a dedicated Christian. This is how it explains Psalm 119:112:
“This verse expresses a commitment to follow God’s laws wholeheartedly and consistently, emphasizing a lifelong dedication to obedience and faithfulness. The verse highlights the importance of aligning one’s heart and actions with divine statutes, reflecting a deep spiritual resolve.”
If that is indeed true of us, then living for Jesus is the most important thing in our lives.
It motivates us, it guides us, and it determines what we spend our time and money upon.
It defines our treasures.
Niall Harbison is an Irishman, living in Thailand, a self-proclaimed unbeliever, who came out of alcoholism and drug addiction to find meaning and purpose in saving street dogs. In the past five years he has saved and fed thousands and helms an almost completed veterinary hospital—all done charitably. He must’ve raised millions of dollars by now, and yet he wears a hat, shorts, t-shirt, flip flops, and drives a moped. He has given up the idea of having a wife and children and is fully dedicated to saving dogs. His life has become focused outside of himself, and is unincumbered by stuff. And he’s only been sober since 2020.
What an indictment to worldly-treasure seekers; albeit an exemplary example to Christians, right?
What if we had that centered mindset?
That kind of unincumbered ministry mindedness?
That kind of love and concern for God’s creation and His creatures?
That kind of departure from stuff?
That kind of concern for people’s souls?
And we have the mind of Christ! (1 Cor. 2.16)
“If you then were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth.
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ Who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Col. 3.1-4).
With all your heavenly treasures in tow.
Reflect.
1. What “treasures” in heaven are you particularly eager to possess?
2. Are any earthly treasures or longings holding you back from those heavenly treasures? How should you deal with them?
3. What is your practice of setting your mind on Christ, exalted in glory?
If someone does something with the intent of gaining earthly profit, that one’s heart is upon the earth. How can a heart be clean while it is wallowing in the mud? On the other hand, if it be fastened upon heaven it will be clean, for whatever is heavenly is unpolluted. Augustine (354-430), Sermon on the Mount 2.13.44
Pray 63.3-11.
At the top of the list of heavenly treasures is the steadfast love of the Lord. Seek to know it more and more every day; and give God thanks and praise for the riches He has laid up for your soul.
Sing Psalm 63.3-11.
Nun Danken: Now Thank We All Our God
Your steadfast love, O LORD, than life is better to me;
so I will praise Your Name, and bless You, LORD, most truly.
My soul is richly blest; to You my hands I raise,
and open now my mouth to offer joyful praise.
By night, LORD, fill my mind with pleasant meditation.
For You have been my help as ’neath Your wings I station.
My soul clings, LORD, to You; I rest in Your Right Hand.
May all who seek my life in Your displeasure stand.
Unto the sword’s strong pow’r let our foes be delivered!
Pursue them to devour their mortal lives forever!
In God will we rejoice and glory in His grace;
but all who live by lies shall perish from His face.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column looks at people in ministry. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
