Where Your Treasure Is…                                     

                                                     Matthew 13:44 / 6:19-21

                                                   April 29, 2007

 

Matthew 13:44

Matthew 6:19-21

  ð The Treasure Principle

 

* 15% of Christ’s teaching

 

Three groups asked JtB what they should do to show they were saved… his answers:

 

  1. share clothes/food with poor – Luke 3:11

  2. tax collectors shouldn’t keep extra money – Luke 3:13

  3. soldiers should be content with wages, not extort – Luke 3:14

 

“Our view of money is CENTRAL to our spiritual lives,

not just important!”

Four positive examples…

 

1. Zacchaeus …half of possessions, 4X to those cheated

 

2. Jerusalem believers … eagerly sold possessions

 

3. Ephesian occultists … burned magic books…

 

4. widow … two coins

 

Two negative examples…

 

1. rich man (Luke 12) …barns

 

    ð rich toward himself, not toward God

 

2.  rich young ruler (Matthew 19)  

… “eternal life?”

 

    ð man will not serve God unless money is dethroned

 

Matthew 13:44

  ð traveler in the field gave up all because he understood what he would gain

  ð JOY!!

 

Matthew 6:20 – Store up for yourselves

 

  - What is this treasure??

            1. power – Luke 19:15-19

            2. possessions – Matthew 19:21

            3. pleasures - Psalm 16:11

            4. 100 times as much – Matthew 19:29

            5. Christ!!

 

  - Putting it another way…

            1. A person - Christ      

            2. A place/relationship - heaven           

            3. Possessions/Rewards

 

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep

to gain what he cannot lose.”   - Jim Elliot

 

  - cost-to-benefit ratio

 

 

“One should understand this principle to radically and

intelligently develop an investment strategy!”

 

“God is most glorified in us, when we are most satisfied in Him.”   - John Piper