Our Treasure
Matthew’s gospel records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16-22.
Illustrated in this scripture is a concept some Christians may be asked to do. It concerns a wealthy man that approached Jesus.
Now there is nothing wrong with being rich. There are many wealthy people in the church today who are doing good as there were in the early church. It’s the priority you give to your wealth. Wealth can make your life easier and even allow you to help others. However it is a two edged sword. It can pull you away from God.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
It’s the love of money that can cause us to wander away from our faith.
The man who came to Jesus and asked , “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” intellectually believed in God. He had obeyed the rules God set down for following God from his childhood.
This man however lacked faith in God. He relied on his wealth for security. When asked to give up that wealth and rely on his faith in God to provide all he needed he turned away. He was unable to give up the security of his material wealth.
Jesus said this,
“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 moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Like I said there is nothing wrong with having wealth in its place, but our true treasure must be in heaven. We must be willing to give up our wealth in this world if God asks us to do so.
We if we are true followers of Christ must be willing to go where God calls us to go. Be that to talk to the neighbour next door or on the mission field thousands of miles away.
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” Matthew 13:44-46.
If we claim to be Christians this is what we must be willing to do.
Please think about it.
Matthew’s gospel records,
“Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
“Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Matthew 19:16-22.
Illustrated in this scripture is a concept some Christians may be asked to do. It concerns a wealthy man that approached Jesus.
Now there is nothing wrong with being rich. There are many wealthy people in the church today who are doing good as there were in the early church. It’s the priority you give to your wealth. Wealth can make your life easier and even allow you to help others. However it is a two edged sword. It can pull you away from God.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.
It’s the love of money that can cause us to wander away from our faith.
The man who came to Jesus and asked , “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” intellectually believed in God. He had obeyed the rules God set down for following God from his childhood.
This man however lacked faith in God. He relied on his wealth for security. When asked to give up that wealth and rely on his faith in God to provide all he needed he turned away. He was unable to give up the security of his material wealth.
Jesus said this,
“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 moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21.
Like I said there is nothing wrong with having wealth in its place, but our true treasure must be in heaven. We must be willing to give up our wealth in this world if God asks us to do so.
We if we are true followers of Christ must be willing to go where God calls us to go. Be that to talk to the neighbour next door or on the mission field thousands of miles away.
Jesus said,
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it” Matthew 13:44-46.
If we claim to be Christians this is what we must be willing to do.
Please think about it.
