Where is Our Treasure?

            The title of our lesson this morning is, Where is Our Treasure? By the word “treasure” I mean primarily money, but it doesn’t have to be. You’ve heard the saying, “one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure?” That’s not talking about money, but what someone considers to be of great value. If you consider something that you own to be of exceptional value, then that is a treasure to you. To one person, a valuable baseball card collection may be a treasure, but to me, if I had a valuable baseball card collection I would sell it and pay off some student loans in a heartbeat. Some people have antique car collections, and that is their treasure. Someone may have a family air loom that they treasure. To make things a little easier on myself in presenting this lesson this morning I’m going to be using money to represent whatever type of earthly treasure there may be. Our treasure might not necessarily be in the form of money, but no matter what form it may be in—cars, antiques, etc.—that is included. It is earthly treasure of any sort.

            There is also another kind of treasure that I am going to be talking about this morning, and that is spiritual treasure. That is the kind of treasure that we lay up for ourselves in heaven. It is a type of treasure that is saved up for the future. That treasure is eternal life that is still to come. One big difference between treasure that is here on earth and treasure that is in heaven is that one is for now and the other is for the future. I doubt very seriously that dollar bills are the currency of heaven. I’ve heard it said before, “Love is the currency of heaven.” I think that’s just about right. But, whatever is of this world stays with this world whenever we leave it: “we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out” (1 Ti. 6:7). This earth’s wealth is for this earth only, and we can only use it as long as we walk upon this earth, once we’re gone, it’s gone too. So money, is for right hear right now and that’s it. On the other hand, that treasure that is in heaven can’t be can’t be enjoyed as long as we are hear upon the earth. Sure, we receive spiritual blessings of God now, while upon the earth, but that future home in heaven still awaits us over there, not here. “For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Ro. 8:24-25). If we could have the joy of heaven now, upon the earth, it would not longer be something that we hope for, because we would already have it. We have to wait for that treasure because we can’t have it as long as we are here upon the earth. We are to be working as long as we are here upon the earth so that when we leave here, we can then enter into our future rest (Heb. 4:8f.).

            Another major difference between earthly wealth and heavenly, is that one is temporary and the other is eternal. Our lives are nothing more than a camera flash in the span of eternity. And since we “brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out,” our riches last for just about as long. It is like the flash of a camera; it comes and is gone that quickly. Eternal life, however, next to that camera flash, could be compared to a snail running a marathon; it will go on forever.

            Which one seems more desirable to you? Is it better to labor for a treasure that can be enjoyed for about as long as it takes to snap you finger, or for a treasure that can be enjoyed for the rest of eternity? The choice seems pretty simple when you look at it that way doesn’t it. That is the choice you and I are facing right now. We are working toward one or the other. And, by the way, the treasure in heaven is worth immeasurably more than the other.

            There is a short parable in Matthew 13:44 that says, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” They didn’t have Bank of America back then, so what did a person do if he had something valuable, some sort of treasure that he didn’t want to have stolen? He would go bury it in the ground somewhere. What did the man with the one talent do? He buried it in the ground. So here is this man that has found a buried treasure, literally. What did he do next? He walked off and forgot about it. No! He put off doing something about it until later. No! He recognized the worth of it and immediately sold all that he had so that he could by the field. If you own the field, you own what’s in the field as well. He couldn’t just take the treasure because it belonged to whoever owned the field. But the point is, all that that person owned combined, could not measure up to the worth of the treasure that he had found. In fact, the treasure that he had found was worth so much more that he, with “joy,” went and sold all that he had. He gladly parted with all his possessions for that treasure in the field. Jesus said, “That is like the kingdom of heaven.”

            The kingdom of heaven is hidden from those who have never heard the gospel. It is not hidden because God is trying to hide it from anybody, just the opposite is true, but it is hidden from some simply because they don’t know that it is there. When a person hears the gospel proclaimed, that is like discovering a great treasure! The problem is, though, that many don’t recognize the worth of it. They may just walk away from it and forget about it. Or, they may just put off doing anything about it indefinitely. But, according to Jesus, if a person understands what it is that he or she has just found, what should his response be? He should be willing to gladly part with all he has if it means having eternal life. There is nothing that a person can have in this world that is worth more than having an entrance into the kingdom of heaven! Nothing!

            Have you gone ahead and bought that field this morning, or are you still thinking it over and weighing it out? There are two other words of that parable that we haven’t looked at yet: “and hid.” After the man had found the treasure, and before he went and sold all that he had, he hid it again. Why? He was afraid of losing what he had just found! If he didn’t hide it again first, he was afraid someone else might take it before he had a chance to purchase the field and get it for himself. Along with finding the kingdom of heaven, there also comes a fear of loosing it. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them” (Heb. 2:1). That’s not just true for the converted, but unconverted, also, should “five the more earnest heed” to the things that he has heard also for fear of loosing what he has found before he has even taken the opportunity to posses it.

            There is a certain earnestness that comes with obeying the gospel for fear that something might happen before we get the chance. Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus, “and now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). It was something that needed to be done immediately! In Acts 2 and verse 41 it says, “They then that received his word were baptized: and three were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.” When Phillip when up into the chariot of the Ethiopian Eunuch and “preached unto him Jesus”, “as they went on the way”, Acts 8:36, “they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” He did not wait a moment longer; he and Phillip went down into the water right then and he was baptized. What about the Philippian jailor?  Acts 16:32-33 says, “and they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that wre in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.”

            If you’re not a Christian this morning, then I am asking for you to think about it very seriously from now until I finish this lesson and consider coming forward in response to the invitation this morning. It would be such a tragedy to have heard the gospel, and then put it off until it is too late. Will you become a Christian by being baptized into Christ this morning? Will you at least be thinking about it?

Chasing After This World’s Treasure Accomplishes Very Little.

There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt: and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind? All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath. Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion. Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart. (Eccl. 5:13-20)

Solomon saw the hording up and collecting of riches as a “grievous evil.” Why? He has, apparently, seen people who have saved up great riches to their own hurt. Rather than being a good thing, it actually turned out just the other way around. Riches get stolen, and then if he has a son, there is nothing to give to his son either. When all the working and laboring is over and after all of that wealth has been gotten, what is he going to do with it? When he dies he can’t take it with him. It is pointless and vain, like chasing after the wind. Not only that, but those with all of that money, don’t want to spend it a lot of the time, so rather than getting any use out of it, they sit in the dark (candles cost money), go hungry, are stressed out, and don’t get proper care for their ailments if they need it because they don’t want to spend the money. So, all their wealth has actually brought them nothing but misery and sorrow!

            So, what should we do? According to Solomon, if we have money, we should use it to eat and take care of ourselves. Use some candles so you can see your way around at night. Make use of the money that is available to you and be happy; it is a gift of God. Look at the last thing he says there: “For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.” When the times are good the years will fly by without much of great weight to stick out in your mind.  

            Money, in and of itself is not evil. Who was Abraham? He was the father of the faithful. He was the father of the Israelite nation. And he was very wealthy: “And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Gen. 13:2).

And he said, I am Abraham's servant. And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly. And he is become great. And he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses. (Gen. 24:34-35)

Was there anything wrong with Abraham being wealthy? No, not a thing.

            What does the Bible say about Job?

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. (Job 1:1)

What else does it say about him?

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. (Job 1:3)

What was wrong with Job’s wealth? Not a thing.

            Who was Joseph of Arimathaea? He was a disciple of Jesus. He requested the body of Jesus and buried Him in his own new tomb. And he was also rich.

And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. (Mt. 27:57-61)

            So money itself is not evil and there is nothing wrong with having it or, even, spending it. The problem with money isn’t the money, its having the wrong attitude about it and being bad stewards of it. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man didn’t go to torments because he was rich. Being rich is not sinful. The rich man went to torments because there was poor Lazarus laying at his gate destitute for food and with sores on his body so that the dogs licked at them and the rich man did not have even enough love to help that poor beggar. He had every means available to do it. He would have been more than aware of the need for it. He just didn’t care enough to do it. He was selfish and greedy with his wealth (Lk. 16:19-31).

            When Jesus comes again and all the nations are gathered before Him, why are those on His left going “away into eternal punishment”(Mt. 25:46)?

I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.

            Well, why did James say in James 5:1, “Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you”? How did they get to be so rich? Look at verse 4:

Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

They got rich through wicked means.

            In First Timothy 6:9-10 the Bible says,

But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It’s not money that is condemned there, but the love of it and lust for it is what is to be avoided. For the love of money people will do just about anything, even forfeit their own souls.

The question is, what are you laboring for; what are you striving to obtain? Are you struggling and striving for earthly wealth or for eternal life? That is the question. If you have money, fine. That really doesn’t matter. There is nothing wrong with that. But, have you become enslaved by it, or have you become enslaved by the desire for it? Solomon said it is and emptiness, it is a striving for the wind, it is a wasted effort. We didn’t come into this world with it and we sure can’t take it with us. Earthly wealth is very temporary. “It is a root of all kinds of evil,” said Paul. The love of money can cause us to be lost. In First Timothy 6:17-19 Paul also says,

Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.

A person can be rich one day and lose everything by the very next day. A natural disaster of some sort can wipe away investments in things in an instant. There can be a stock market crash. There can be a lawsuit that wipes you clean. Thieves can break in and steal. With money, you just don’t know; there is great uncertainty there. But, if we trust in God and are rich in good works, we can lay up for ourselves a foundation that is safe and secure against the judgment, and obtain life eternal, a treasure without comparison, that is eternal in the heavens, and guaranteed by God, who cannot lie. We can have that anchor of the soul set safely and securely on the other side (Heb. 6:13-20).

            There was once a wealthy young man, often referred to as the rich young ruler, who was faced with a decision: he could remain wealthy or he could give all that he had to the poor and follow Jesus. In Matthew 19:16-22 it says,

And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.

The problem with that young man wasn’t that he lacked the desire to do the right thing, he did. He said that he had kept the commandments of the law since his youth. The problem wasn’t that he had “great possessions.” His problem was that when forced to decide between his possessions or Christ, his possessions came first. “It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye,” said Jesus, “than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mt. 19:24).

Would we be willing to sell all that we have and give it to the poor so that we might follow after Jesus? The question isn’t whether or not we are good people. I’m convinced that we all are, but which to we value more, the kingdom of heaven or earthly riches? That is the decision we are faced with this morning. “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk. 16:13). We can’t serve both. We must make a decision and decide if we will serve God or money.

The wise man once said, “Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith” (Pr. 15:16). It is better to be poor with God, than to be rich in this world’s treasures without Him.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds. (Mt. 16:24-27)

            Is there any reason to keep going on further? Hasn’t the point been made already? We must be seeking the things which are above and putting our treasure up in heaven “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Mt. 6:19-20; cf. Col. 3:2). 

            Just one more thing, and the lesson will be yours. From the book of Matthew, chapter 6 and verse 21, the completion of the thought quoted just now from Matthew 6:19-20 is, “For where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.” If we lay up for ourselves treasure in heaven, that is where our hearts are going to be. If we lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, that is where our hearts are going to be. Our hearts belong to wherever we are laying up our treasure. Where is our treasure this morning? When we know where our treasure is, we will also know where our hearts are.

            If we are not laying up our treasure in heaven this morning and being rich toward God in serving Him, why not make that choice right now?

            If you are not a Christian this morning, or if you need to come forward and confess wrong of a public nature, have you given serious thought to it? There is nothing this old world has to offer that could be worth more than eternal life. If you have not already done so, will you purchase that field with the treasure hidden in it this morning like the man of the parable from Matthew 13:44 that we looked at earlier? Will you come forward and put Christ on in baptism this morning?