When it comes to how we live our lives, we can either live for the things of this earth or the things of the kingdom of God. There is no middle ground. If we live for the things of this world, we will end up empty and unsatisfied. After all, the things of this earth will ultimately fade away. They will not last forever. We cannot take anything with us into eternity with Christ. If we live for the things of eternity, we will find peace and satisfaction, knowing that we have focused our time on the things of the kingdom of God that will last forever.
Jesus taught His followers not to waste their lives on the things of this earth that cannot last in Matthew 6. As He taught them, He said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal” (verse 19). Many of us are so familiar with this teaching today that we forget that this teaching is completely counter-cultural to the way the world thinks. You see, the world teaches us to do the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. The world teaches us to store up treasures here on earth. Jesus taught something different. Instead of living for the things of this world, Jesus taught His followers not to store up treasures here on earth. Why? Things on earth are temporary. New cars ultimately get older, getting spills from our coffee or dings from someone’s car parked too close to ours. Our clothes wear holes in them. Things on earth cannot last, and they are not worth the precious time and energy we devote to them. Instead of storing treasures here on earth, Jesus said, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (verse 20). Why should we live for eternity, storing up treasures in heaven instead of here on this earth? They will last forever. The investments we make for Christ and His kingdom are eternal. They will never fade away.
After teaching His followers about storing treasures in heaven instead of on earth, Jesus summarized this entire teaching by saying, “Where your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (verse 21). This, my friends, is the crux of the matter. What we treasure most reveals the state of our hearts. Let that sink in. If we want to know the states of our hearts, we can look no further than what we desire and want the most. We have to look at where we invest our time and energy. Maybe today what we need is to reevaluate what is most important to us. Let’s commit today to living for what matters most: Christ and His kingdom. That is the most important thing we can do with our time.
Take an honest look today at what you value most. What have you prioritized that holds no eternal significance? Commit to letting go of these things of no eternal value today. Instead, choose to live for what matters most: Christ and His kingdom.
“God, I know that the things on this earth hold no eternal impact. I confess…”
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
