Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. We gather here today in the presence of our Lord, not just to share in fellowship, but to open our hearts and minds to the wisdom and guidance that His word provides. Today, we turn our attention to a topic that touches each of our lives in profound ways: our relationship with our possessions.

The renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "You say, 'If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.' You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled." This sentiment, so powerfully expressed, is a guiding light for our discussion today. It invites us to question, not the amount, but the significance we attach to our possessions.

Our scripture today is from the book of Matthew, chapter 6, verses 19 through 21. It reads:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

These verses challenge us to gain a new perspective on possessions, to embrace generosity as a godly principle, and to guard against the pitfalls of materialism. They invite us to reconsider where we place our treasure and, more importantly, our hearts.

As we prepare to delve into this scripture, let us pause for a moment of prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we meditate on the scripture today, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to understand and receive Your truth. Grant us the wisdom to discern Your will, and the courage to live it out in our daily lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, dear friends, let's ask ourselves: Where is our treasure? Where is our heart? As we seek to answer these questions, may we be guided by the Holy Spirit and grounded in the truth of God's word.

Gaining Perspective on Possessions

When we think about our possessions, we often consider them in terms of their monetary value or their usefulness. We think about how much we paid for them, how much we could sell them for, or how they make our lives easier or more enjoyable. But the scripture we read today invites us to consider our possessions in a different light. It asks us to think about them not in terms of their earthly value, but in terms of their eternal significance.

This shift in perspective can be challenging: We live in a world that constantly tells us that our worth is tied to our wealth, that success is measured in dollars and cents. But the Bible tells us something different. It tells us that our true worth is found not in what we own, but in who we are in Christ. It tells us that true success is not about accumulating wealth, but about living a life of faithfulness to God.

This is not to say that possessions are inherently bad: The Bible does not condemn wealth or the owning of things. What it does condemn is the love of money, the obsession with possessions, the placing of things above God in our lives. When we allow our possessions to become our treasure, to become the focus of our hearts, we are in danger of losing sight of what truly matters.

So how do we gain this new perspective on possessions? How do we shift our focus from the earthly to the eternal? The scripture gives us some guidance.

First: We must recognize the transient nature of earthly possessions. The scripture warns us not to store up treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. This is a reminder that all earthly possessions are temporary. They can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. They cannot be taken with us when we leave this world. Recognizing this can help us to loosen our grip on our possessions, to hold them lightly, to see them as tools to be used for God's purposes rather than treasures to be hoarded for our own benefit.

Second: We must learn to value eternal treasures more highly than earthly ones. The scripture encourages us to store up treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. This is a call to invest in things of eternal significance, things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the true treasures, the things that will last, the things that will bring us lasting joy and satisfaction.

Third: We must understand that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This is a profound truth. Our hearts follow our treasure. If our treasure is in earthly possessions, our hearts will be tied to this world. But if our treasure is in heavenly things, our hearts will be tied to heaven. This is why it is so important to shift our perspective on possessions. Because where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Fourth: We must remember that our possessions are not our own. Everything we have is a gift from God, given to us to steward for His purposes. When we see our possessions in this light, it changes how we view them. It changes how we use them. It changes how we feel about them. Instead of seeing them as things to be hoarded, we see them as tools to be used for God's glory and the good of others.

Generosity as a Godly Principle

As we reflect on the words of Matthew, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of two distinct paths ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO