Storing up true treasure
Matthew 6:19-24
Opening thoughts:
Visualize your refrigerator… Look at the top shelf. That’s where you keep all the stuff you use on a daily
basis. Now go to the bottom shelf. Bend down and look all the way in the back. What do you find? (go
with an example of a student who finds nasty, rotten food)
-What are some things that happen when we hold on to things too long and don’t use them?
-What are some other examples of things that lose their whole purpose for existence if they aren’t used
regularly? (a car, the human body, teeth, etc…)
State: In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus talks about seeking after true treasure. In one pursuit, we will only
find decay and rottenness. In the other, we will find true treasure and reward in this life, and the life
to come.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he uses common life objects to help people understand true faith. One
example of this is that Jesus often talks about different parts of the body, such as hands, feet, mouth,
eyes, and heart. In this section about treasure, Jesus focuses on our eyes and heart. Why do you think
he does this?
Answer: Just as the heart forms the center of one’s affections and commitments, the “eyes”
enable the whole person to see. This is a teaching about finding out what is at the very core of
our affections.
According to this section of scripture, can a person with great wealth be a faithful follower of Chirst?
First of all, Jesus warns in multiple places that material prosperity often has an effect on our spiritual
condition. This section does not imply that rich people cannot be Christians. Although here are two
things to consider:


Throughout the centuries, the poor have most readily responded to the Gospel. Why do you
think this is?
In Matthew 19:22, Jesus warns that it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus seems to be pointing out that it is extremely difficult to not be consumed by possessions.
To avoid this danger, rich Christians must be characterized by generosity in giving and meticulous
stewardship in using money for the Lord’s work. For perspective, let’s realize that all of us living in the
west would probably be characterized as “having many possessions.” This Scripture assume that the
treasures are hoarded; they are prized for their own sake, not put to work in blessing the world around
us and making it more like the Kingdom of God.
Big Question: We all instinctively know that we are supposed to store up treasures in heaven. In fact,
some of us are feeling guilty right now because we know that in many areas of our life, we value “stuff”
over the things of God. How do we move beyond this place? How do we move beyond just agreeing
with the fact that we often care more about storing up temporal treasures on Earth?
[Use the Tim Keller sermon (found next to this study on the website) as a helpful way to conclude.]
Cue audio to 29:30 Tim Keller speaks about “How to find Treasure in Heaven”
Questions to ask after listen to Tim Keller speak about seeking real treasure:
Where does your mind naturally go when you take the solitude test?
(you might choose to ask the following question as a rhetorical question)
State: Most of us would probably say that we have made “a decision to follow Jesus.” However, is it
possible that we have never fully transferred our “heart’s emotional wealth” to Him, the true treasure?
Maybe we accepted Christ into our life to get things from God, instead of simply to get God.
According to Keller, what is the answer to how we can store up (or seek) true treasure?



Keller would say that we won’t stop seeking temporal treasures until our heart has first shifted
our emotional wealth to Jesus and His Kingdom.
The simple answer is that at the core of our heart, we need to fully believe the Gospel. What
does this mean? It means we need to continually be reminded that Jesus gave away
EVERYTHING so that we could have true treasure. He is the medicine to our sickness. If our heart
really believes this, then the default position of our heart becomes: “Christ has given
EVERYTHING for me. How could I not live a life that gives everything to Him? How could I not
give to others in need? I no longer give out of duty to win acceptance from God or meet his
requirement for giving. I give because that’s exactly what he did for me.
If you find yourself still unable to let go of your preoccupation with “earthly treasures,” it
demonstrates that your heart does not fully understand the Gospel. As Keller reminds us, when
people met Jesus, they didn’t respond moderately. They either wanted to kill him, run from him,
or bow down and give him EVERYTHING.