(Continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount, you may see the rest of Matthew 5 on my blog entry of June 13, 2015, "My Attitude Toward My Enemies;" and Matthew 6: 1-18 on my entry of June 19, 2015, "In Doing What We Do.")
Matthew 6:19-24
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This is self-explanatory. Anything we hoard on this Earth is subject to decay, mold and theft, as well as loss in other ways. But whatever we "send ahead" to Heaven will be kept pristine and fresh, with nothing that could possibly diminish its value.
Giving to missionaries is one way we can invest in God's Kingdom and "send it ahead." To help the poor is another way, or to spend our time serving in some way also will make a deposit in our Heavenly account. Whatever we choose to give, whether in time, money, talents and gifts, skills, whatever God has given us, we can give it back to Him and He will keep it in store for us.
Wherever we've stored the most of what we treasure, that's where our focus will be, whether here on Earth somewhere, or in God's Heaven.
(Verses 22-23: For the discussion on Light and Darkness, see my blog post of May 21, 2016 that covers the next two verses. [I certainly do not want darkness to act like light in my heart.])
(Verse 24) No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
How do you view money, what is it? If you desire money to have money, for security or whatever, then your god is money. God provides finances as a tool for us to use in order to pay for whatever it is we need, but we only need enough to supply our needs. The richest man in the world was asked, "How much is enough money?" and his answer was, "Just a little bit more"! Money will never fill that God-sized hole He placed in every one of us. No matter how much of any of this world's goods you may be able to acquire, it will never be "enough." Only God is enough. And He has given Himself to us!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
