Read Matthew 6:19-24

“¹⁹ Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Have you ever visited a new friend and been given “the tour” of their house? It’s not usually a way of showing off, but often a way of vulnerably sharing their life with you. Often the tour involves one special thing that your host is particularly proud of. It could be a car in a garage, a beautifully manicured lawn, a high school sports trophy, a new TV, a piece of art or simply their favourite book. Oftentimes this moment of pride is them revealing their most treasured possession to you. It’s the item that has really captured their heart.

While Jesus isn’t against cars, gardening, sports, technology, art or books, he reminds us that while everything on earth fades or fails, heaven’s treasures are ours for eternity! It’s not clear whether Jesus means treasures that will last into our time in heaven (love, joy, peace), or if he is referring to the treasures in Heaven that he discusses elsewhere will be given as rewards (heavenly ‘crowns’) to those who imitate Christ well on this earth (loving the unlovable, forgiving those who sin against us, sharing God’s good news with those around us).

However, if we focus on the words “lay up”, it seems that whatever Jesus is asking of us, it is very active, even obsessive! Maybe the closest illustration is to that of a treasure hunter, like the wild old Indiana Jones movie character. One thing you’ll notice about each of those movies is that each movie involves only one treasure to be hunted down. That’s because even Indiana Jones can’t pursue both the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail at the same time!

Similarly, Jesus makes it clear that it’s impossible to treasure both God and money. We can treasure God and have money, but we cannot treasure money and have God. Every one of us will come to a point where we have to decide to hunt for either God’s treasure or the worlds. It’s not about being poor on earth, but rich in heaven. It’s not about having no money, some money or a lot of money, but rather treasuring God above anything else we possess or pursue.

At the end of the day, the choice is ours. One love, God or money, will rule the other. And the fearful but freeing decision Jesus gives to us is simply, “Choose your treasure”. One of the greatest surprises for Christ-followers is that when you choose Jesus as your treasure, you discover a new level of freedom with your finances. Jesus actually shows you how to master money, rather than money mastering you. As is always the case with Jesus, his path is not just true, but beautiful, and life-giving! Are there any ‘treasures’ in your life that have captured your heart over and above God? Are there heavenly treasures that you need to grow an appetite for?