Jesus talked about treasure because how we handle our treasure reveals what we treasure...

This week, we have been looking at a part of perhaps the most famous sermon that Jesus ever preached. In this famous sermon, which we call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed to the crowds that they are not to store up for themselves treasures on earth. Jesus commanded the crowds listening, and followers of Jesus throughout history, not to center our lives on money, possessions and the treasures of this world. Jesus uses a play on words that literally means do not treasure treasure.

Instead of focusing on the accumulation of money, possessions, and treasure on earth, Jesus commanded the crowds listening, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to store up, to accumulate for ourselves treasure in Heaven. Jesus points out that when we accumulate treasures in Heaven; when we make deposits into our heavenly bank accounts, those investments cannot be consumed by the things on earth. Jesus point here is that while treasure on earth is temporary, treasure in Heaven lasts for eternity.

We also looked on as Jesus revealed the timeless principle that what we treasure is revealed by where we spend our treasure. Jesus then used a metaphor to reveal the reality that we follow what we are focused on.  Jesus is stating that when we are focused on storing up treasures in Heaven, we will reveal and reflect Jesus to others. We will reflect Jesus’ generosity. We will reflect Jesus’ desire to love and serve God and others through the money, possessions, and treasure that we have while we live life on earth.

By contrast, the person who is focused on storing up treasures on earth, whose life is clouded by greed and selfishness, is full of spiritual and moral darkness as well. Now, I don’t know about you, but sometimes we can find ourselves trying to have it both ways, can’t we? I can find myself tempted to try to have my feet in both worlds, so to speak. So, can’t we do both? Can’t we store up treasures on earth and in Heaven? We see Jesus provide the answer to this question in Matthew 6:24:

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Jesus, in verse 24, makes it clear that we cannot serve two masters. When Jesus uses the word serve here, He is referring to someone who acts in total allegiance and total commitment to someone or something. Jesus point is that you cannot be totally committed to two differing options. And here we see a second reason why Jesus talked so much about money, possessions, and treasure.  

You see, we cannot serve God and money not only because of the reality that we follow what we are focused on. Here we see that we cannot serve God and money because we will serve what we are devoted to. The timeless reality is that God and money, possessions, and treasure compete for our total devotion. You will either be totally devoted to God, or you will be totally devoted to money, possessions, and treasure.

That is Jesus point. God uses money to reveal who we love and trust more. God says “Dave do you love me? Do you trust me? Do you love me more than your money? Do you love me more than your possessions? Do you love me more than your treasure? Do you love and trust me enough to handle your money and finances according to my principles, or are you going to handle your money finances your way?”

And it is in this section of this famous sermon that we see Jesus reveal for us the timeless answer to the question “why did Jesus talk so much about money?” And that timeless answer is this: Jesus talked about treasure because how we handle our treasure reveals what we treasure. I think that Jesus had no problem talking about money because Jesus knew that how we handle money reveals our spiritual condition. Jesus had no problem talking about money because how we handle money reveals who or what has our heart. Jesus had no problem talking about money because we spend our treasure on what we treasure. Jesus had no problem talking about money because we follow what we are focused on. And Jesus had no problem talking about money because we will serve what we are devoted to.

You see, when it comes to money and treasure, God does not want something from us; God wants something for us. God wants for us to experience the relationship with Him that we were created for. So here is a question to consider: What does how you handle your treasure reveal about what you treasure?