Matthew 6:19 commands ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.’

When God lived among us He said, ‘do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth.’ We need to read that again slowly, thinking carefully about His words. God said, ‘do not store up treasures on earth.’

Yet most of us ignore Him. We are like the Israelites we read about in the Bible who constantly ignore God’s commands so we find ourselves shaking our heads at their disobedience and subsequent negative consequences.

What will be the negative consequences for us who ignore God’s command to not store up treasure for ourselves on earth?

All of our work, all of our worry, all of our best time and talent is focused upon gaining treasure to store up for ourselves on earth so that we may retire earlier and better while living as comfortably and pleasurably as possible today.

Whoa to us who disregard God Who says, ‘do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth.’

This same God does command that we store up treasure for ourselves in heaven.

Pursuing treasure is inherent to our nature but inherent to our sinful nature is the pursuit of earthly treasure for our own security and pleasure whereas our spiritual nature seeks treasure that glorifies God and expands His influence in the world.

The true treasure we are to pursue is that prize for which God paid the most to obtain: the restoration of humanity through the blood of Jesus the Savior. It is only as we give our best time, talent and worldly treasure to the will of God being done on earth as it is in heaven that we begin to accumulate heavenly treasure.

God commands, ‘store up treasure in heaven.’ He wants us to pursue treasure but it is the things He treasures and not the things we treasure.

Whom will we obey, ourselves or God? We cannot serve both God and money!