Friday, October 14, 2011

Treasure Store

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Do you remember as a child keeping your treasures in a safe place? My safe place was a cigar box hidden under my bed. Every day I would check my treasures to make sure they were safe. They were treasures to me because I loved them. I remember one painful day when my treasures were ransacked! I was absolutely devastated! When we lose something precious to us, we can turn to God. He is the real treasure we seek all of our lives. Sometimes the only way we realize that is to lose all that attaches itself to our hearts.

I. TREASURE IS THAT WHICH WE SEE VALUE IN. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”, is how the old saying goes. Indeed some people throw away things they don't see value in. Some men save and cling to that which is wearing out, useless, and dated. Sadly, some of God’s people are treasuring the wrong treasure. They are hoarding up human things.
II. EARTHLY TREASURES ARE NOT ETERNAL. The beauty of the things of this world can certainly be alluring. But every material thing is a temporary thing. It will not endure eternity. Only the things of God are eternal.
III. HEAVENLY TREASURES ARE STORED WHILE ON EARTH. We won’t begin to store up treasures in heaven once we get to heaven. They are stored up in advance. Our actions of godliness and our obedient service to God on earth affect what we experience in eternity. They are the eternal rewards or benefits received when we serve God.
IV. WHEN OUR HEARTS CARE MORE FOR ETERNAL THINGS THAN WORLDLY GOODS, IT WILL BE ONLY AFTER OUR HEARTS ARE CHANGED. When our hearts are changed we will want what God wants. We will want to serve Him instead of serving ourselves.
OUR EARTHLY TREASURE STORE IS FILLED WITH THOSE THINGS WHOSE VALUE IS MEASURED IN DOLLARS.
OUR HEAVENLY TREASURE STORE IS A WAREHOUSE WHERE HEAVENLY BENEFITS ARE KEPT.
WHICH STOREHOUSE WOULD YOU THINK HAS MORE IN IT?
WHERE ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR TREASURE?

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