Where your treasure is…

Introduction

Over the last half year, God has been inviting me to think about a hard question.

It all came about through a number of different things that happened and that entered my thinking. As you know, we spent seven weeks this spring traveling first to Israel and then to Europe. It is the most extravagant thing we have ever done. Now that we have a taste of this kind of traveling, we want more, because it was very enjoyable. However, even as we planned it, I thought about how that extravagance fit into my life as a Christian.

In contrast to that, we had an experience when we were in Bethlehem. We had visited the old part of the city and were walking back to our hotel. On the way a little boy, about 6-8 years old was constantly touching my elbow and asking for a shekel. Now a shekel is worth about 30 cents Canadian. We had been encouraged not to give to those who beg, but it was hard not to and again I wrestled with how I should respond as a Christian.

Over the last half year or so, I have also thought about my spiritual life. I have thought about where my joy comes from. I have wrestled with the question, “am I going through the motions or am I following God from my heart?” I have always had a dislike for living a faith life which is simply carried out because of duty. Not that I can’t do it that way. Remember the chip commercial in which the tag line is, “you can’t eat just one?” Well I think I could eat just one, but is that really how I want to have a relationship with God? Is that what God wants for me?

Being on sabbatical also allowed me to think about the job I have. Why do I preach and visit and lead a church? Is it because it is my job or is it because I love Jesus and want to serve Him?

With all of these questions and experiences rolling around in my mind, one day God asked me, “Am I your treasure?” The question went deep and I have thought about it often since. I am not done thinking about this question and this morning I would like to share with you three passages in the Bible which speak about the question of where our treasure is.

Matthew 6:19-21 - “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.”

Luke 12:32-34 - “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 13:44-46 - “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.”

Why Jesus As Our Treasure?

The Treasure – Heart Connection

In Matthew 6:21, Jesus makes a direct connection between our treasure and our heart. It isn’t hard to discover where our treasure is because there is a direct connection between it and our heart.

I often have said, “There are three things I don’t share: my canoe because there is a lot of sweat equity in it and it is very special to me; either of two cakes my mom makes (napoleon or Christmas cake) because they taste so good; and my wife, whom I love dearly. What am I saying? These things are dear to my heart and because they are, it is evident, because I won’t share them, that they are treasures to me.

In the Life Application Bible Commentary it says, “whatever occupies a person’s thoughts and consumes his or her time – that is the person’s ‘treasure.’” In other words, whatever is our treasure will fill our hearts and occupy our mind and take up our time.

How do you feel about this question? What happens in your heart as it is asked? Is it warmed or does it become agitated when you think about Jesus as your treasure? If God were to ask you this question, how would you answer?

Earthly Treasure Doesn’t Last

One of the reasons I am glad to think about this is that I have done enough things and bought enough things and lost enough and experienced enough grief to know that whatever we treasure on this earth won’t last.

One of the places we visited in Germany was the well known Neuschwanstein castle. It was built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. He had grown up and was actually reigning as king in Hohenschwangau castle, but wanted an ideal medieval castle. He began building on September 5, 1869 and it took him 17 years to build. However, after he moved in, he lived in it for less than half a year when he died in his forties.

When we do business on earth, we try to make the best deal we can. If we can afford 30 year shingles, we buy them. If the warranty is 25 years instead of 20, we take that into consideration because we want what will last. Jesus counsels us in Matthew 6:19-20, to recognize that whatever we treasure on earth will not last.

In the Middle East, some clothes were so well made that they were considered a form of wealth. Remember the story when Elisha healed Naaman, the ruler from Aram and refused payment from him? After Naaman left, Gehazi went after him and asked for two suites of clothing. This story illustrates that clothing was a precious commodity. However, especially in those days, clothing was also subject to moths. It may have been precious, but it would not last.

Jesus also speaks about rust. All Bibles translate this Greek word as “rust,” but it actually means, “what is eaten” and so can refer to metal eaten away by rust but also to grain eaten by mice. Whatever we possess has a way of being eaten away. Even bank accounts and investments can be eaten away as many in the US and Canada are finding out these days.

He also talks about what can be stolen. No matter how secure we think our treasure is, there are ways for it to be taken from us. For example, not only can our house be robbed, but our health can be stolen by illness. No treasure on earth is permanent.

William Barclay notes, “All purely physical pleasures have a way of wearing out…It requires more of them to produce the same effect…A man is a foolish man who finds his pleasures in things which are bound to offer diminishing returns.” He also speaks of pleasures which “lose their attraction as a man grows older…In life a man should never give his heart to the joys the years can take away…”

Herod the Great was an amazing builder. While in Israel, we saw a number of his building projects. We saw the ruins of his palaces at Herodium and Caesarea Maritima. Herod was desperate to retain his position as ruler. This is shown in the fact that rather than prepare for his successor to enjoy what he had built, he killed his wife and some of his sons so they could not take his place. Well Herod isn’t ruling in the palaces he built or even living in them. They are ruins and just a tourist attraction.

As people think about these things, some are tempted to reject all enjoyment of the things that are in this world. I do not believe that that is what God has in mind. He has given us many wonderful things in this world to enjoy and we should enjoy them, but if they are our treasure, then we have set our heart on something that will not last.

Even if our treasure is our family and friends the same thing holds. Family and friends are precious, no doubt, and God intends them to be precious. But if they are our treasure, we will experience much grief when we lose them or the relationships change.

One of the questions I am wrestling with is this: “We live in this world and as long as we do, we will participate in and enjoy earthly things, but, what does it mean to enjoy the blessings of this world – pleasures, good things, family, friends and loved ones, but have Jesus as our treasure?

The Father Has Given Us The Kingdom

One of the reasons that we often cling so tightly to the things of this world is that we fear what we will lose if we don’t have some treasure. What if our friends aren’t our treasure? Will we lose having relationships? What if we don’t make sure that our money is our treasure, will we be taken care of? Out of fear we hold tightly to these things and they become our treasure.

In Luke 12:32, Jesus comforts us in these fears and gives us another reason why He alone can be our treasure.

Jesus says to us, “Do not be afraid…” We fear that we will not be taken care of and that we will miss out on fun. What are your fears? Whatever they are, Jesus says, “do not fear.”

He goes on to address us as “Little flock…” What a wonderfully endearing term. It speaks of the shepherd’s care for those who are weak and assures us that we are under that wonderful care.

Then to add power to this blessing he says, “it has pleased…” What God does for us is not done because God is pressured by guilt to give us His blessing. What God does for us is not done because God owes us something for all our hard work and faithfulness. What God does for us is done because “it has pleased” Him to do it. Have you ever had joy to bless someone and it pleased you to do something for them? That is the attitude God has towards us and towards His giving to us.

He gives as a Father. There are fathers who are so only as a biological fact, but there are others who are fathers who care for their children and nurture them and provide for them and love them. It is in that sense and out of that motivation that God blesses us.

His blessing is a gift given to us. By “us,” Jesus refers to everyone who is His child.

The thing which the Father has given us is the kingdom. He has given us all. Remember the promises sometimes made by kings, “I will give you up to half my kingdom?” God has given us all of His kingdom and we have the privilege of being heirs and children, blessed by a Father who is pleased to bless us in this way.

I have to confess that one of the biggest problems with wanting God to be my treasure is that I do not seem to be able to trust Him. For some reason or other, I want to retain a little treasure that I have control over. I am reluctant to give myself over completely to God so that He alone is my treasure. But when I read such promises as this, I know that there is no reason for such fear and holding back. As I was meditating on this one day, I asked myself, “why don’t I trust Him completely?” As I meditated, God encouraged me by reminding me: It isn’t that He has no power – He created all things! It isn’t that He doesn’t love me – He sent Jesus to die! It isn’t that He doesn’t know me – He is near me! It isn’t that He doesn’t know what is coming – He is eternal! It isn’t that His plans aren’t good – He is righteousness and justice!

If Jesus Is Our Treasure

So as we think about these things, realizing that there is a very close connection between our treasure and our heart and we will treasure whatever is in our heart; understanding that whatever we treasure on earth will not last and realizing that God has already shown Himself faithful, the thought of having God as our treasure is very appealing.

What If He Is Our Treasure?

What will it look like if Jesus is our treasure?

If Jesus is our treasure, we will desire Him more than anything else. In Mt. 13:44-46 we have a picture of such longing. This chapter contains a series of parables describing the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus speaks about a man who finds a treasure hidden in a field. This was not an unusual thing in that place. In a land which was invaded quite often, wealth was frequently put in a jar and buried in a field. When the foreign occupation was over, the person could come back and find his belongings again. However, sometimes he didn’t come back and years later, someone would dig up the hidden treasure. Jesus says that if a person found such a treasure in a field that didn’t belong to him, he would go to great lengths to legally become the owner of the treasure because it was such a great treasure.

In the second image, he speaks of a person who was a dealer in pearls. At that time wealth was often held in precious stones or gold. This is still true in the Middle East today, which is why we saw so many jewelry shops in old Jerusalem. This man found a pearl of unusual quality and wanted it as his treasure. He also “sold everything he had” in order to purchase that which was his treasure.

If Jesus is our treasure, it will also be with joy that we will be willing to sell all and make Him our all. Myron Augsburger says, “Such is the nature of full dedication to Christ, not a painful exercise of becoming religious, but a joyous relationship with the Redeemer.” John Piper says, “Don’t miss the word “joy” in this verse: “In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” The loss of all things is not sad if we gain Christ.”

Living With Jesus As Our Treasure

What will our life look like if Jesus is our treasure? Since it is true that “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” we know that whatever is in our heart will also be lived.

If Jesus is our treasure, then we will obey Him out of a glad heart. There will be a willingness to our obedience to whatever Jesus wants from us. Such willingness will arise out of a deep gratitude for the gift of salvation we have been given by Jesus’ sacrifice. It will arise out of a recognition that we are working for that which lasts.

If Jesus is our treasure, then there is hope when the situation around us is one of devastation. One of the most devastating things that can happen to us is that we will die. William Barclay says, “If everything which a man counts valuable is on this earth, then he will leave this earth reluctantly and grudgingly; if a man’s thoughts have been ever in the world beyond, he will leave this world with gladness, because he goes at last to God.”

If Jesus is our treasure, then we will offer sacrificial service with joy. I was reminded of the story of Joseph. Joseph fell in love with Rachel, but Laban required that he work seven years for her. In Genesis 29:20 it says, “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.” If we are truly in love with Jesus, then our service for Him will be equally a joy, whatever that service may be.

If Jesus is our treasure, our lives will be marked by generosity to others in need.

In Matthew 13:44, it says about the man who found the treasure in the field, that “in his joy went and sold all…” If Jesus is our treasure, then it will be no difficulty to give with generosity.

When talking about treasure in Luke 12:32 when Jesus encourages us not to be afraid, he also shows the way to that kind of love and freedom when he says, “sell your possessions and give to the poor…” If Jesus is our treasure, it will be a joy for us to give generously. Such generosity includes the giving of financial things. However, it is also generosity of time, by which we become willing to give that most precious of commodities - portions of the 24 hours a day with which we are all equally blessed. It is also generosity of spirit by which we extend grace to one another in all our relationships.

If we love Jesus, such generosity will be no burden because it will be a natural expression of our love for Jesus. But we need to think about this the other way around as well. If in our heart we want Jesus as our treasure, sometimes we have to show our wallet and our hands that we really mean that Jesus is our treasure by physically reaching down into our wallet or, grabbing our day planner and actually choosing to demonstrate where our treasure is by giving away the $20 in our pocket or serving with the precious moments of our day.

The rich young ruler was invited to give away his possessions, but walked away. One of the first reactions of Zacchaeus when he met Jesus was to promise to give away much of his wealth. What was the difference? One man had come to love Jesus. But what if I am more like the rich young ruler? After warning that it is hard for the rich to get into the kingdom of heaven because they find it hard to give up on their treasure and make Jesus their treasure, Jesus also promises that what is impossible with men is possible with God. John Piper comments, “But what they can't do, Jesus says, God can do. What is impossible with men, is possible with God. That's what conversion is: the work of God changing the heart and filling it with the wealth of the glory of Christ and freeing it from slavery to the vain glory of things.”

Conclusion

So when God asked me the question, “Am I your treasure?”, how did I answer? I’m still working on that, but, I am drawn to Him. I want Him to be my treasure. I see the joy and blessing and peace that comes from having Him as my treasure and I desire that. So I have asked Him to continue to draw me, to change my heart so that He will be my treasure.

In Isaiah 55:1-3a God makes this invitation: He asks, ““Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread,

and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

That is my invitation to you today, but I would like to make it more than just a passive invitation. I would like to invite you to act on that invitation. I would like to invite you to do one of three things. You can either:

1. Go and talk to God. Ask Him if He wants you to make Him your treasure and then ask Him what that will mean for you.

2. Read these verses again slowly and carefully several times and listen to what God is saying to you through them.

3. Choose to make a sacrificial donation that God is asking you to make – a donation of time, money or grace – and act on that generosity because He is your treasure.

Is Jesus your treasure?