a word about TREASURES

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." ~Matthew 6:19-21

To lay up means to make provision for.  God promises to provide all our needs according to His unlimited riches and power (Philippians 4:19).  ALL our needs means both what we need physically and spiritually.  God desires that we be dependent on Him for ALL things.  To spend time and energy in pursuing earthly things takes away the joy we have in trusting God and is a sign of an ungrateful heart.  

WHAT IS TREASURE?  a thing which is laid up, valuable, hidden away, or accumulated. 

  
A thing becomes a treasure when one sets their affections toward it (Luke 12:33,34). Our treasure is what we value and esteem most.  Our treasure is the direction of our desires, thoughts, considerations and pursuits.  Our treasure is what we aim for, the intent of our heart, what we care about and fear more than anything else.  It is our main hope, trust, joy, and delight.  The question is,

IS MY TREASURE EARTHLY OR HEAVENLY?

EARTHLY TREASURES are temporary and:

• Susceptible to destruction from within.  The Bible mentions moths and rust - elements that can eat away even the very best of things.  
• Susceptible to violence from without by thieves and robbers. 

HEAVENLY TREASURES are eternal and:

• Sure and Sanctified
• Safe and Secure
• Sources of happiness
• Salvation to the Soul

The desire of one's heart determines which treasure is most precious.   We choose which is most precious to us.  Just like the sunflower follows the sun, our heart follows the treasure that means most to us.   Jesus admonished His followers (and us!) to seek after and lay up the things that are acceptable to God.  He tells us to crave and cherish things that are eternal and not temporary. 

Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Luke 12:33-34, "Sell that ye have, and give alsm; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."