PLEASE READ: Matthew 6:19-34
You can easily discover what someone values by watching where they invest. And that is not just their money, but their time, attention, energy, and resources. The investments we make in life have two basic categories: those of eternal value and temporal value. Although life requires that we invest in both areas, when it comes to treasure Christ tells us that our eyes and hearts cannot be divided. We must choose whom we serve.
What or whom do you value? Where is your true treasure? You can know by looking at your investments.
The Concept of Treasure
God is the One who initiated the concept of “treasure”. When He spoke to Israel in the wilderness His covenant with them was one wherein He proclaimed them to be His very own people who were a peculiar “treasure”. Now we see Christ on the scene asking for a reciprocation of that affectionate claim for Himself from His chosen people.
The treasure Christ speaks of is not found in monetary value. On the contrary, it is only found in the pursuit of His kingdom and the purposes of God. Our instinct is to invest where the affections of our hearts and the focus of our eyes are beholden. It’s easy to find ourselves pursuing the things of this world, exhausting ourselves for more gain of what will eventually rot, wither, fade, or perish. With His reminders of thievery and destruction, the Lord reminds us of just how transient and temporal things of monetary value truly are. The perils of this life can plunder all we have worked so hard to attain very quickly, and with little notice in advance.
He reminds us that if we understand where our treasure truly is, and invest accordingly, the things of this world will be added to us. But to do this effectively, we must have a single eye and heart that is completely undivided. Strangely, He likens monetary wealth to a “master”, which is something we serve willingly. When our hearts are entangled in the things of this world to the extent that they rob us of our eternal focus and affection, we become divided.
The Singular Eye and Heart
With life comes the accumulation of riches. But they will ultimately perish, and therefore we must regard them appropriately, from the proper perspective. Regardless of whether we’re rich or poor, if we’re going to invest in God’s kingdom, our eyes and heart must be heavenward. Our prospects must be eternal. Once we come to understand what God values, we realize that the only things of true eternal value in God’s eyes are people. Everything else will ultimately perish. It’s is promised and absolute.
Therefore, when we invest in His kingdom, it’s is the souls of people that He wants us to love. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life can have no place in one who is of single eye and heart.
If we are going to reciprocate the affection God has shown us by making Him and His kingdom our sole treasure, we must understand that we are children in our Father’s world.
Childlike Faith & Dependency
Christ invites us into the same childlike faith and dependency upon which all of creation hinges, including the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. Some of the most carefree, vulnerable, delicate, and short-lived creatures are tenderly cared for by our heavenly Father. In comparison, Christ reveals to us an understanding of who we really are. We are not self-sufficient beings. There is no need to worry about our lives, even our most basic needs. Our heavenly Father provides them. This is not to say we are to shun adult responsibilities, purposes, and aspirations. Those are all from God. But it is very necessary to understand who it is that ultimately feeds, clothes, and houses us.
Why else would we find ourselves praying for such things? But He tells us, no. For even the Gentiles seek those things. We are encouraged not to worry about such things. But there is a contingency: We must seek first His kingdom. Then all these things will be added to us.
Taking life one day at a time is sufficient, which reiterates the concept of “daily bread”. God gives enough for one day. If we try to take more, it will rot.
Christ promises that when we reciprocate His covenant affection by making Him and His kingdom our sole treasure, we will invest accordingly. And He will add all things to us freely. But our eyes and heart must be single, and we must choose whom we serve.
He made us His treasure. Only once we realize that He is also ours will we be free of this world.
Cheers & Shalom,
Image Credit: Comfreak | Pixabay
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