Have you noticed how many commercials there are about investing your money for the future? A recent commercial advertised an investment company that could help you with “your kind of rich.” They seemed to be advertising their ability to get their customers to that level of “rich” that would satisfy their desires. While all of us should be careful to set aside money for retirement, healthcare, and unexpected difficulties, when does financial planning cross the line and become an addiction? Too many Christians have traded the quiet contentment provided by God for anxiety about the future. Thankfully, the Bible addresses this issue and leads us toward a better perspective about money and the future.
- What does it say? (Matt. 6:19-24)
First, Jesus told his disciples not to accumulate treasures for themselves on the earth because those treasures would disappear due to moth and rust or thieves breaking in and stealing them. Instead, they were to accumulate for themselves treasures in heaven because moth, rust, or thieves could not affect those treasures. He told them that their treasure would determine where their heart was.
Next, Jesus told them that the eye was the light of the body. If their eye was healthy, their whole body would be full of light. But if their eye was bad, their whole body would be full of darkness. If the light in a person was darkness that darkness would be very great.
Finally, Jesus told them that nobody was capable of serving two masters. He would either hate the one and love the other, or He would be devoted to one and despise the other. He told them that they were not able to serve God and money. - What does it mean?
Before we get into the text, we need to consider the context. The larger section begins at Matthew 5:1 where Jesus left the multitudes, went up on a mountain, and then sat down to teach His disciples. So, the things taught in chapters 5-7 are meant for the disciples of Jesus. In other words, these are meant for those who believe Jesus and are willing to follow His directions.
Chapter six ends with the famous statement in Matthew 6:33. Jesus’ disciples are supposed to make God’s kingdom and righteousness the primary focus. And as they do, God will provide for their needs. However, even that statement has its own context beginning in verse 19. First, He addresses what we treasure (Matt. 6:19-21). Second, He addresses what we focus on (Matt. 6:22-23). Third, He addresses who we serve (Matt. 6:24). We will look at these verses in today’s study.
A disciple should treasure the right things (Matt. 6:19-21).
It is easy to accumulate things. If you have any doubt about this, you can visit our basement. We have accumulated many things that we would like to get rid of. That seems to be a normal result of living somewhere for several years. However, this wasn’t what Jesus was talking about. He was talking about storing up treasures. A treasure is something that you consider valuable and that you hold onto because of the benefit you think it will give you in the future.
Jesus told His disciples that they weren’t to accumulate treasures on earth. He said that these things could be destroyed by moth and rust. Can you think of things that can be destroyed this way? “A distinguishing sign of the Jewish upper class was the fine and stylish clothes they wore.”1 Moths could get into the clothing and cause damage. Without moth balls, you might pull out a shirt from storage and find extra, unwanted holes in it. Rust can metal. You could restore an old car and keep it covered in a garage, but it will eventually start to rust again. They always do. Jesus also said that earthly treasures can be stolen by thieves. There is no fool proof way to guard your treasures from being destroyed or stolen.
Instead of accumulating treasures on earth, Jesus told His disciples to accumulate treasures in heaven. What exactly does that mean? I believe that heavenly treasures are the things we do for the Lord. That would include living in a way that honors God, ministering to others, and pointing people to Christ. Jesus said that these things will not be affected by moth, rust, or thieves. That is true. You can have nothing in your bank account on earth but have lots of treasure in heaven because you are investing in the things that God values. There is definitely a difference between what God values and what people on earth value. So, we need to make sure that what we treasure keeps our focus on things that really matter.
A disciple should have the right perspective (Matt. 6:22-23).
After talking about what they treasured, Jesus used the illustration of an eye seeing the light. He stated that the lamp of the body was the eye. Now what does that mean? He talked about healthy eyes allowing you to see the light while unhealthy eyes keep you in the darkness. Think about the physical meaning before looking for the spiritual meaning. If someone has good eyes, he is able to see the light. But someone who has bad eyes is left in the darkness. Only a good eye will allow someone to see the light and that affects his whole life.
Spiritually, the eye represents your spiritual viewpoint. Someone with a good, spiritual eye will see the wisdom in what Jesus has said. His whole perspective will be affected by the truth and will see its value. In the case of treasures, he will see the value of accumulating heavenly treasures as opposed to earthly ones. On the other hand, someone with a wicked, spiritual eye will be filled with sinful darkness because his perspective doesn’t value what Jesus says. He will enjoy living in sin and he will think that accumulating earthly treasures is extremely important because his perspective is opposite of what God wants.
At the end of verse 23, Jesus adds to the illustration by saying that if the light in you is darkness, it is a very great darkness. Here we have the illustration of a man with an eye that can physically receive light, but instead of seeing light he sees darkness. In spiritual matters, this describes someone who thinks he can see but actually has a completely wrong perspective about what is good. Jesus once described the religious leaders of his time in this manner (John 9:39-41). He told them that He had come to give sight to the spiritually blind. Sadly, the Pharisees thought they could see, but they were actually blind to the truth because they had chosen to live in sinful darkness. As you can see, it is important to have the right spiritual perspective.
A disciple should serve the right master (Matt. 6:24).
Your treasure and your perspective reveal something about you. They reveal who you are serving. Jesus made it clear that one person cannot serve two conflicting masters. Imagine how difficult it would be if you had two managers at work and they told you to do completely opposite things. One might tell you to stay late and finish a report while the other told you to forget about the report. In that case, you would definitely love the one over the other. But you couldn’t be loyal to both. You would have to make a choice. Would you finish the report or not do it at all? You can’t choose to do both.
From a spiritual perspective, it is impossible to serve God and other things that conflict with His ways. Jesus continued the thought applied to treasures. He said that you can’t serve God and riches.2 On the one hand, God wants you to have the perspective that heavenly treasures are what are important. “Only one life twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” On the other hand, the world’s perspective says that having lots of money will bring security and satisfaction. “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.” That perspective can’t exist with God’s perspective. You can only serve one. Jesus made it clear which one was right. - How does it apply?
If during this study of Jesus’ teaching, you got the idea that having a retirement or savings account is sinful, you have missed the point. Jesus was not against the use of money itself but was against the enslaved focus on it. The Bible says a lot about money including saving, giving, working, and providing for your family. But these things are not the focus here. Instead, He addresses the improper focus on money and treasures. With that in mind, let’s consider several questions.
What is your treasure?
In today’s culture, many focus on accumulating as much wealth as possible to ensure a good retirement. Others collect jewelry, cars, clothing, or gold. As the collection grows, so does their focus on it. The sad thing about this kind of focus is that it can all be lost in a moment. I knew a mechanic who had spent lots of money fixing up car. He later told me that the roof of his barn collapsed on it and it lost all its value.
Earthly treasure will not last forever, but heavenly treasures will. Can you imagine arriving in heaven and realizing that all you treasured was worthless there? But you could also imagine arriving in heaven and seeing that person you led to the Lord, that person you cared for, and that missionary you supported through the years. Those are the heavenly treasures Jesus was talking about. And those are much more valuable than anything you can accumulate on earth.
What is your perspective?
Most of us have pretty good eyesight. Our eyes can see what the light reveals around us. But not all of us have the right perspective. When you hear what God says in the Bible, your perspective can be changed if you allow it. As you see what God values, you have the choice to change your perspective to match His. Or you can continue in the darkness of sin, enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. Sadly, if you continue in your sins, there will be a price to pay in the future. Then you will realize that God was right after all. But then it will be too late.
What is your perspective? Are you someone who has recognized that God’s perspective is best. His perspective covers much more than riches. It also covers morality, kindness, sin, and your relationship with God. As sinners, we want what is best for us instead of what God says is best. But the more you learn about God from the Bible, the more you will understand that His ways are best. As God works in your heart, turn from your wrong perspective about life to what God has revealed in the Bible. And if you have already done that, check your focus. Have you been living with God’s perspective in mind or have you slipped back into your old ways?
Who are you serving?
Jesus taught His disciples to value heavenly treasure. He taught them to have the right perspective as well. But He also taught them that they could only serve one master. People who focus on accumulating wealth can become controlled by that desire, if they are not careful. Constantly checking the stock prices, interest rates, and Crypto value can become so important that they don’t have time for the Lord. At some point their focus on earthly treasure becomes a slavery to money. That isn’t the way that Christians are supposed to live.
How are you using your time? You can spend your time serving the Lord or serving something else. In this instance, we are talking about a slavery to accumulating wealth. But it could be other things as well. If you were to write down the things you have been focused on this week, would there be any mention of God and His priorities? If not, what will you do about it? Don’t let earthly matters take all of your time. Serve the Lord and accomplish things that will have lasting value beyond what happens right now.
Conclusion
You have heard what Jesus said about treasure, perspective, and slavery to money. It may be that you have realized your own need in this regard. Perhaps you have been so worried about your finances that you have lost sight of what is really important. But it is not too late to change your perspective. Recognize what you have gotten wrong and turn your worries over to the Lord. Then seek the Lord’s help as you serve Him with His new perspective.
Bibliography
Barbieri Jr., Louis A., “Matthew” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary New Testament, USA: SP Publications, 1983.
Keener, Craig, A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.
Lenski, R. C. H., The Interpretation of Matthew, Columbus: The Wartburg Press, 1943.
Sproul, R. C., Matthew, Wheaton: Crossway, 2013.
Footnotes