“But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not
break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be
also.” – Matthew 6:20-21
When you compare worldly ideals, to the teachings of Christ, the
contrast is staggering. This is because
all that is in the world is: the lust of
the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life; these are not of the Father but
of the world. Within the Sermon on
the Mount, Christ brings to us fundamental principles of the gospel. Of such, is one profound truth, where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The scriptures have a lot to say about the status of the
heart. The Word says: out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh. It speaks of having a
fixed heart. The condition, direction,
and allegiance of your heart is of vital importance. The heart drives humanity. When Jesus says where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also, he is issuing both a commandment and an epitome of
exhortation. When you think of treasure
it calls to mind: gold, silver, and precious stones. It is something tangible that has great
value. It could be: gold, silver, land,
cattle, fancy clothes, elaborate houses, and the like. In our modern day you could reasonably add: motor homes, airplanes, boats, cars, etc.
Treasure simply means something that has great value. The ability of moth and rust to corrupt, and
thieves to break through and steal;
implies that Jesus is warning against laying up for yourself temporal
treasures. Rather than laying up or
investing in treasures on earth; Christ tells us to lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven. Somewhere, someway,
we are all laying up for ourselves treasures, and where your treasure is, your
heart is. They are inescapably linked to
one another. Everything you have, has
you. This strikes to the heart the
subject of worldliness. If worldliness
is an identity with the world, then we as holiness people should take great
care to have no such identity; but rather an identity in Christ. If Christ preached, lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, and not treasures on earth. How can we preach abstaining from wearing jewelry,
suggestive dress, and make-up; then have homes you could fit homes in? Does it really matter if we pull off our
wedding rings, only to wear a wrist watch that could feed a family of five for months? Worldliness (or the lack of it) is simply the
fruit of your allegiance. Either to
Christ and godliness, or to the world, flesh, and the devil. Furthermore, God help us, to understand that
it is not the absence of wealth, rings, fancy dress, etc. that brings Christ-likeness, but rather the presence of the Holy Ghost in the heart. A Holy Ghost that brings a love for God and a
love for what God loves. A desire for
what God desires, and an emphasis on His direction in our lives.
When we lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, we place our
heart in jeopardy. Thereby, placing our
soul in jeopardy. If we are heavily
invested in this world, then we will be of this world. If we are divested from the world and
invested in Jesus; it will guard our hearts.
The sermon on the Mount is not only the gospel of Jesus, but it is also
the opportunity to safeguard ourselves against the trails and temptation of
life. By taking no thought, we guard
against care. By giving, we guard
against covetousness. By yielding, we
guard against pride. By laying up
treasures in heaven, we guard against worldliness. In all this, we are children of the Father,
and lights to the world; with the fire of the Holy Ghost is burning within. A
fire unhindered, free to burn, and draw the sinner who would be saved.
