Eternal Investments

Happy Sunday! As we continue in our study of The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is talking about priorities. His words are just as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. Today Jesus is talking about what really matters most to us.

Let me read to you from verses 19 of 21 of Matthew 6. Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves Treasures on Earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

In those three verses, Jesus is talking about eternal Investments. He's telling those who would listen that they have two choices: make this world a priority, or make the next World your priority. The first two verses of Colossians 3 put it like this: "So if you've been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth."

Now you may argue, "I have to make a living. I, I have to take care of my family. What about retirement? Out of want to starve to death." You would be right. Jesus is not saying here not to save and not to have a financial plan. He's saying that our faith should matter more than our stuff.

The Bible is filled with great financial advice. 1 Timothy 5'8 says, "Those who won't care for their relatives, for their family, especially for those in their own household, have denied the true Faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers." God expects us to work hard and to provide for our families.

When we have enough, we're encouraged to share. 1 Timothy 61718 and 19 says, "Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this, they'll be storing up treasure as a good foundation for the future, so that they may experience true life."

As Jesus talked about treasure, he let the crowd know that it is temporary. Thieves can take it; rust or moth can destroy it. It's likely that many of you watching or listening today have been stolen from. I have been.

I read not too long ago about a man who lost his password to his hard drive that contained over 7,000 shares of Bitcoin. If he guesses wrongly two more times, he'll be locked out, and it'll be gone forever. It's worth over $350 million. Even if he finds the password and claims his treasure, he won't take it with him when he dies.

I love that Jesus talks about treasure in heaven. How do we get that? How does it work? I think it's fairly simple: do the things God says to do. Love, give, tithe, share, forgive, encourage, live a life that stands up to scripture. The greatest treasure that I can think of is heaven. In heaven is that others will be there because I lived.

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you won the lottery? Not too long ago the prize was around $1 billion. Here's a good test: do you wonder what you could get or what you could give with the money? Givers changed the world. Their hearts are in the right place.

A few years back, I did a funeral of a man who was without faith. This one stands out because they had his Lamborghini sports car parked out front of the funeral home for everybody to see. The message was sad but clear: his treasures were in this world. He did not take his car with him. I never saw a hers with a luggage rack.

I love making Eternal Investments. I hope you do too. They are really the only kind that ultimately matter.

Pray with me. God, help us to guard our hearts, to make sure our treasure is in our faith, on things that are Eternal, not things that just can disappear, be stolen, rust away. But while we're here, help us to be good stewards with what you give us, so we can take care of the ones we love, so we can share, so we can give, so we can make a difference. But most of all, let us make an eternal difference. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

God bless. Thanks for joining me today.