Matthew 6:19-20 What Jesus Said About Your Treasures

Introduction: In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has taught His disciples about many things: Persecutions, godly living, attitude toward God and toward other people, about divorce, about prayer, forgiveness and even fasting. It seems only natural that He would teach them about money and wealth.

I. The problem

A. Does Jesus forbid His disciples having any possessions at all? (The owning of land, houses, holding

money, having jewelry, making investments, owning a business, accumulating a “nest egg?”)

B. If that is what Jesus commands that is what we ought to do.

C. Let us seek a Bible answer to the question.

II. The answer

A. Jesus does not instruct His disciples to live in absolute poverty.

B. The believer is to provide for his family, I Timothy 5:8.

C. They were to work and receive wages, I Timothy 5:18.

D. He is to support God’s cause, I Corinthians 16:2.

E. Disciples in the early churches held property.

1. Peter did, Matthew 8:14.

2. Phillip did, Acts 21:8.

3. Others did, I Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15.

F. Some owned businesses, Acts 16:14.

G. They were to save, Proverbs 6:6.

III. The point

A. The point that Jesus was making is that it is better to lay up treasure in heaven than on earth.

B. Treasures on earth are but temporary, fleeting.

1. “Moth doth corrupt.” (Especially garments laid up and unused).

2. “Rust doth corrupt.” (“Canker” James 5:3)

3. “Thieves break through and steal.”

(We have stronger houses, but we cannot keep the thieves out).

4. One way or another it is temporary.

C. But in heaven our treasures are secure.

IV. A way of laying up treasure in heaven.

A. One cannot drive over to heaven and make a deposit in the Bank of Heaven. (Cannot buy C.D.’s for

in heaven, put silver, gold, jewels in safety deposit box, put fur coat in the vault).

B. But God has provided a way to lay up treasures there.

1. When one lives for Christ and suffers persecution he lays up treasure in heaven,

Matthew 5:11-12.

2. When one receives a man of God, Matthew 10:41.

3. When one does soul winning, I Corinthians 3:8.

4. When one does any work for God in the will of God. I Corinthians 3:13-14.

5. When uses his time, talents, energies, his automobile, his phone, his money for God.

Conclusion: 1. If you want to go to heaven, repentance and faith is necessary. (Not by works).

2. Treasures laid up on earth are not secure. (Storms, floods, inflation, depression, rot, rats,

decay, etc. One hospital bill can cost $40,000).

3. What you lay up in heaven will be so much greater. (Greater than silver, gold, land,

investments, millions of dollars, etc.).

4. And you will enjoy it so much longer.

Preached at Pleasant Hill 9-12-82 A.M.