Laying Up Treasure

Laying Up Treasure

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: Matthew 6:19-21

Louie Giglio –Jn.14 building a mansion - Jesus may be building you a mansion, but you need to furnish it. (Joh.14:1-3)

How do you “Lay up treasures in heaven?

Ver.21 For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure. (PT)

Jesus linked this command to the desire of our heart.
So it’s a heart issue, but also a perspective issue. What does Heaven treasure?

In talking to the rich young ruler: Mar 10:21 “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he walked away from Jesus sad.
This young man was very religious, but Jesus exposed his heart.

Every culture, every time setting, every generation, every ethnic group, etc. - seems to have different values.

What is it that sets your foundation of what is valuable? It is set by what you expose your heart to.

Treasure is linked to our heart.

If our greatest treasure is Jesus, we will desire to put our time, money, resources and talent on pursuits that please Him.

Once we become a follower of Jesus, there is a need to expose my heart to the heart of the Father to change what I value.

I don’t have a simple answer to this question, but today I want you and the Holy Spirit to sit down with the question: How do I know that I value what Heaven values?

Every one of us live in a culture that is opposite of Heaven’s.
To desire the things of heaven, we need a transformed heart that values Jesus more than an abundance of wealth and possessions.
Col 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
Eph 4:23 “… be renewed in the spirit of your mind…”
Php 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…”
Ro 12:2 “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

St. Peter was sitting watch at the gate when a man struggling with a heavy duffel bag made it to Heaven’s gate. Peter asked what was in the bag, and the man very proudly said, “Take a look.” Peter looked in the bag to see several bars of gold. Puzzled, Peter looked at the man and asked, “You brought pavement?”

You never see a hearse with a U-Hall hooked on behind.
Preachers have used this old saying for years to explain – You can’t take anything with you when you die.

So, how do you “Lay up treasures in heaven?

It is very clear from Scripture and from what Jesus said, that God gives wages, and rewards to those who dedicate their life to serving Him.
Who do you serve?

When I wake up in the morning with a mind “SET” on God’s instruction for the day, then live that way, God rewards me.

How I treat people around me is HUGE!

How I treat people who are poor and in need is HUGE!

How I live my life daily (not just Sunday morning) tells whether my words to God mean anything.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit How do I know that I value what Heaven values?
Holy Spirit, open my eyes to what You see for me in this message.

God at the beginning of this Calendar Year, I dedicate my life to you .

Related scriptures:
Mat.10:42, Mat 19:21, 27-30 Mar 10:21, Lk.14:13-14, Lk.18:22, Joh 14:1-3, 1Tim 6:6-11, 17-19,