Focal Passage: Matthew 6:19-34
At our house we have a small safe for very important items and documents. We have those items in the safe to make sure they are secure and not misplaced, destroyed, or taken. Those are usually items that are difficult or impossible to replace. Maybe you have some things you value in a safe place. You can usually tell what someone values by what they protect.
A prized possession gets special care. What we treasure, we guard. Going beyond our stuff, Jesus says the same is true of our hearts. In this passage, we see that the things or people we treasure captures our heart, shapes our vision, commands our allegiance, and controls our peace.
In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks directly to what captures our hearts when He says, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (vv. 19-20). Earthly treasures always come with an expiration date. They wear out, break down, get stolen, or slowly lose their shine. Then He states a truth that reaches beneath our behavior and into our desires: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (v. 21). Treasure doesn’t just sit on a shelf, it captures our heart and quietly directs our life whether we realize it or not.
Josh Sinquefield
Jesus then shifts from treasure to vision: “The eye is the lamp of the body” (v. 22). What we constantly focus on eventually fills us. If our gaze is fixed on possessions, success, or status, our spiritual vision grows dim. But when our eyes are set on the kingdom, light fills our lives. What we stare at today becomes what directs us tomorrow.
Then Jesus brings the issue into sharp focus when he says, “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money” (v. 24). Treasure always demands loyalty. It may not announce itself as a master, but it quietly competes for the throne of our heart. One promises security, control, and comfort. The other offers peace, purpose, and eternal life. Every day, we choose whom we will trust.
Jesus knows that worry often reveals where our treasure truly rests. So, He directly and compassionately speaks to our anxious hearts and says, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life” (v. 25). He points to birds that never farm and flowers that never labor, yet the Father faithfully provides for them. If God cares so deeply for His creation, how much more does He care for His children? Worry grows when our treasure feels fragile. Peace grows when our treasure feels secure in the hands of a faithful Father.
Then Jesus gives us the guiding principle for the whole passage. He says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (v. 33). Seeking first doesn’t mean ignoring responsibilities, rather it means ordering our loves. When God becomes our greatest treasure, everything else finds its proper place. Jesus never asks us to give up treasure; He invites us to exchange fragile treasure for eternal treasure. He Himself is the greatest treasure Heaven ever gave. The One who told us not to worry about tomorrow went to the cross for our eternity. Is Jesus your ultimate treasure? B&R
