Scripture: Matthew 6:19-23
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; 23 but if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Meditation: What kind of treasure and wealth are you looking
for? Jesus offers a treasure of imcomparable value and worth, but we
need healthy eyes – good spiritual vision – to recognize it. What Jesus
said about seeking treasure made perfect sense to his audience: keep
what lasts! Aren’t we all trying to find something we treasure in
the hope that it will bring us happiness, peace, and security? Jesus
contrasts two very different kinds of wealth – material wealth and
spiritual wealth. Jesus urges his disciples to get rich by
investing in wealth and treasue which truly lasts, not just for a
life-time, but for
all eternity as well. Jesus offers heavenly treasures which cannot lose
their value by changing circumstances, such as diminishing currency,
material degradation, lose, or physical destruction. The treasure which
Jesus offers is kept safe and uncorrupted by God himself.
What
is this treasure which Jesus offers so freely and graciously? It is the
treasure of God himself – the source and giver of every good gift and
blessing in this life – and a kingdom that will endure forever. The
treasure of God's kingdom produces unspeakable joy because it unites us
with the source of all joy and blessings which is God himself. God
offers us the treasure of unending joy and friendship with himself and
with all who are united with him in his heavenly kingdom. In Jesus
Christ we receive an inheritance which the Apostle Peter describes as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4 ). Paul the Apostle
describes it as a kingdom of everlasting peace, joy, and righteousness
in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
How realistic and attainable is this heavenly treasure? Can we enjoy
it now, or must we wait for it in the after-life? The treasure of God’s
kingdom is both a present and a future reality – like an investment
which grows and matures, ever increasing, and multiplying in value.
Seekers of great treasure will go to any length to receive their reward. They direct all their energies and resources to obtain the treasure. We instinctively direct our energies and resources – an even our whole lives – towards that which we most value. To set one’s heart on heavenly treasure is to enter into a deeper and richer life with God himself. It is only by letting go of false treasure that one can eter into the joy of a heavenly treasure that is immeasurable and worth more than we can give in exchange. Do you seek the treasure which lasts for eternity?
Jesus also used the image of eyesight or human vision to convey an
important principle of God's kingdom. Blurred vision and bad eyesight
serve as a metaphor
for moral stupidity and spiritual blindness. (For examples, see Matthew
15:14,
23:16 ff.; John 9:39-41; Romans 2:19; II Peter 1:9; and Revelations
3:17.)
Jesus describes the human eye as the window of the “inner
being” – the heart,
mind, and soul of an individual person. How one views life and reality
reflects not only their personal vision – how they view
life, reality, and the world around them – it also reflects their inner
being and soul – the kind
of moral person and character they choose for themselves. If the window
through which
we view life, truth, and reality is clouded, soiled, or marred in any
way, then the light of God's truth will be deflected,
diminished, and distorted. Only Christ can free us from the spiritual
darkness of sin, unbelief, and ignorance. That is why Jesus called
himself the light of the world – the one true light that can overcome
the darkness of sin and the lies of Satan.
What can blind or distort our “vision” of what is true, good, lovely, pure, and eternal (Philippians 4:8)? Certainly prejudice, jealousy, and self-conceit can distort our judgment of ourselves and others and lead to moral blindness. Prejudice and self-conceit also destroys good judgment and blinds us to the facts and to their significance for us. Jealousy and envy make us despise others and mistrust them as enemies rather than friends. We need to fearlessly examine ourselves to see if we are living according to right judgment and sound principles or if we might be misguided by blind prejudice or some other conceit. Love is not jealous ...but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Do you live your life in the light of God’s truth?
“Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting life. May the light of your truth free me from the error of sin and deception. Take my heart and fill it with your love that I may desire you alone as my Treasure and my All."
Psalm 132:11-14,17-18
11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn
back:
"One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.
12 If your sons keep my covenant and my testimonies which I shall teach
them, their sons also for ever shall sit upon your throne."
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:
14 "This is my resting place for ever; here I will dwell, for I have
desired it.
17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a
lamp for my anointed.
18 His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown
will shed its luster."