Being part of the Sermon on the Mount, our reading focuses on several areas of a Christian’s life that our Lord Jesus teaches- Giving, Praying, Fasting and Storing up. On careful reading, we can discover the motive and the method in each of these disciplines. In the first three areas, if the motive is to be seen/recognized by men, one loses the real reward which comes from God. Jesus also explains how to go about these disciplines, so we can get the right results.

The focus of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew chapters 5-7 are about God’s Kingdom and how its citizens are to conduct themselves in this kingdom. If we look into the Prayer outlined here to be modeled, it starts with the Author of the Kingdom-His name being hallowed, reverenced! The first aspect of the prayer (Mat 6:9-10) is to let His Kingdom come! -meaning, His rule and reign to be in our lives as it is in heaven. The next aspect of the prayer (Mat 6:11-13) is to meet the needs of its citizens until God’s Kingdom is fully established on earth.

Matt. 6:19-21 moves on to another aspect of human life-storing up! It is human nature to think about the future and try to plan and lay up for future use- there is nothing wrong with that. But just to think for the “now” and live in an unmindful, wasteful manner is wrong! What we need to deal with is the motive and the method in the laying up of treasure!

The Motive:One who is earthly minded will think of amassing wealth to build his kingdom here on earth. But the sad and undeniable truth of it: they don’t last! As any other earthly matter, they waste away, they rust, they can be stolen…sometimes just disappear in a matter of moments! The Bible says not to put our trust in “uncertain riches but in the living God” (1Tim.6:17). If our focus is God’s Kingdom, our priority is His reign in our lives which will direct the course of our life—which includes how we gather wealth and how we use it! Building God’s Kingdom is to take precedence in a Christian’s life; not his!

The Method: The “how” of building God’s Kingdom is what concerns the Christian! Jesus speaks of laying up treasures in heaven! (Matt.6:20) Let us examine what the treasures are:

• The treasure of the Gospel: Paul mentions that we have “this treasure in earthen vessels” (2 Cor.4:7) referring to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  First and foremost a person needs to receive Christ in his life so that he becomes the possessor of this great treasure. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). So rather than gaining all the wealth of this world, one needs to gain eternal life for his soul through the gospel! That’s the greatest treasure one can possess!

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• The treasure of saved souls: Proverbs 11:30 says, “…he who wins souls is wise.” God does not want anyone to perish but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) and be saved through His Son. And He makes His appeal though us (2Cor.5:20) who are saved that we bring others to His Kingdom. “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation…” (2Cor.5:18). Dear Christian, the souls you win for the Lord are the only treasure you can take to heaven! Its this wealth that can stay rust-free, unstolen and will last forever!

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Brethren let our hearts be focused on going after the treasure of winning souls- for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also!

Think On: “Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity! And they will be living a fruitful Christian life down here as well.”  -1 Timothy 6:18,19[TLB]

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Listen- You are my all in all

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*Reference: The NKJV Study Bible Notes