Treasures of the Heart
Matt 6:1,16-21
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
You value things that you don’t think about that are not healthy for you. Anxiety is a test for this. What we fear that doesn’t come upon us. If you are afraid of something, take it out to the extreme what if and realize that many many threats are unreasonable. God wants us to be free, we want to control our lives. This creates conflict with our environment, because we cannot control our lives. So, here we go. What can we control? Let’s begin by being honest about our hearts.
What do we really treasure?
Pride, (living your life to please and be honored by people)
Pleasure ( fun, delicious, dopamine producing) and
Possessions (greedy not needy).
- Storing Up Treasures
- Your heart treasures different things
Treasuring something is determined by spending time, energy and money on it.
We store up treasures by investing time, energy, our minds,
There is a line in the movie O Brother Where Art Thou that is spoken while in a movie theatre. “Do not seek the treasure, it’s a bush whack!” This is true of many different pursuits in life. What we pursue does not produce a lasting meaningful result for what we give to it.
- You can desire bad things
Your heart requires renovation. We have to learn to desire what God says is good for us, starting with the knowledge of God Himself!
Dallas Willard book:
Renovation of the Heart
- You are capable of deciding what to treasure
Hence the command, “do not store up treasures on earth”
But this will take practice and the right kind of practice! Fasting is an example of this, but must be done for the right reasons!
- Fasting is an Example of Seeking Heavenly Treasure
- Food tastes good, we desire it
God made it taste good. Every perfect gift comes down from God. If we make the taste the ultimate issue, we will not be healthy.
If a little bit tastes good, then a lot will taste even better. Not always. And this will lead to addiction when it comes to issues of taste.
If we make the cost of food the ultimate issue, then we will not be healthy.
It looks good. It is desirable for food.
And once we begin to eat for other psychological purposes, then we are in danger! Eating to be happy. Shopping to be happy.
Alcohol is more dangerous, but the same issues apply. God made it good. If a little bit is good, then… Every good and perfect gift has come down from the Father of lights.
So, we can voluntarily restrict our food intake so we can see the desire issues that we have rear their ugly head. What is the value of doing this? Well, what else do we desire that isn’t a heavenly treasure?
- Taste vs health demonstrates our heart issue
Can we decide what to desire? I believe we can!
Desire your spouse? Should that take work? Of course it takes work!
Can we fast together? February 26 for forty days after. Leading up to Easter and Resurrection. Crucifixion leads to Resurrection!
Fasting from anything pleasurable.
- Desire control is the big issue
Your heart is your responsibility. You are gonna have to fight with it at times.
Romans 7.
Psalms 42:
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
III. Treasuring the Truth
- Heaven will not disappoint
Rest from some things will not happen until heaven. Rest from what? Rest from the need to exercise faith in an invisible God.
Store up treasures in heaven. Why? Because they do not disappoint. They are not destroyed by moths, (what is?) they are not corrupted by rust.(What is?) They are not stolen by thieves. (What is?)
How much of your life is invested in heavenly treasures?
Relationships with people where you are serving, giving, teaching, helping folks to follow Jesus?
Serving our community, coaching a little league team and building the self-image of those kids!
Cleaning up a park, giving for a community project etc.
- Earthly treasures are always at risk
Success at work
Success at play
Build something, you will have to maintain it.
Relationships take time and energy and people change.
- Where is your heart?
Prayer fights against pride: Pray for humility
Fasting fights against sensuality: Fast for self-control
Giving fights against greed: Give to be free and celebrate God’s provision!
Anxiety comes from having the things that we cling to that “make our life good” threatened.
Anxiety vs. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This is such a wonderful statement. Seek the kingdom of God. What does God want in your personal finances? What does God want you to do with your time? What kind of car? House? Clothes? Does God care? He does it you are saddled with debt. He does if you are not being a giver! He does if you have no time to serve others. He does if you do not reflect His righteousness. The kingdom of God is the rule of God in our lives. It is reflected in His righteous standard of behavior!!
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