“Matthew 6:19-24”

Saturday, May 23, 2020

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, 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 that is 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 one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

---End of Scripture Verses---

Italy and Greece are home to some of the most famous ruins in the world. It is estimated that 4 million tourists visit the Roman Coliseum and 1 million tourists visit the Acropolis in Athens each year. While these ancient sites are marvels to behold, the only real purpose they serve is to remind us of how things used to be. These megaliths are monuments to corruption. Every physical thing of value falls victim to time, elements, erosion, insects, vandals.

Jesus tells us in today’s passage that all of the things that we treasure here on earth will deteriorate. Our houses, furniture, cars, clothes, money will all succumb to the forces of physical nature and undergo corruption. Even if a thief breaks in and steals all our valuables, he will ultimately loose them as well. Jesus isn’t teaching us here that it is wrong to save money. He is telling us to not put our trust and love into things that will ultimately be ruined.

Jesus is warning us about the issues of “heart” trouble and “eye” trouble. We give our hearts to the things that we “treasure” or “value” the most (verses 20-21). The “heart” is really a metaphor for the “mind”. “If then you 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” (Colossians 3:1-2). If we love God more than all our earthly relationships and possessions, we will put Him first by obeying and serving Him with all our heart. If we do that He will reward us with eternal treasure in heaven.

“If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light” (verse 22). A “clear” eye is a “sound” or “healthy” eye. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “single”. If we are spiritually sound and have single-minded focus on the Lord and His will for us, we will be filled with the light of His goodness. We can’t serve God and wealth at the same time. God will not accept divided attention from a double-minded person. He wants us to be dedicated to Him, and everything else to take second place.

Let’s keep our eyes and hearts fixed on the Lord and His word. The only way we can know His will for us is to open our Bibles and learn what He wants us to believe and love and say and do. Heaven and earth will pass away but the word of the Lord will last forever (Matthew 24:35). The only way to receive the eternal treasure is to obey God’s eternal word.

Please read Matthew 6:25-34 for tomorrow – Sermon on the Mount – Don’t worry!

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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