Aligning Our Hearts: Treasures of Heaven vs. Earth

Devotional

Day 1: Money and Possessions Are Temporary

Jesus teaches that earthly treasures are fleeting and vulnerable, urging us not to build our lives around accumulating things that will ultimately decay or be lost. Instead, we are called to recognize the impermanence of material wealth and to resist the urge to hoard or treasure possessions, understanding that true security and value are found elsewhere. The allure of wealth can subtly take hold of our hearts, but Jesus commands us to lay up treasures in heaven, where nothing can destroy or steal them. This perspective challenges us to evaluate what we are truly investing in and to consider whether our priorities align with God’s eternal purposes. [54:41]

Matthew 6:19-20 (ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Reflection: What is one possession or financial goal you’ve been clinging to that you sense God inviting you to hold more loosely or even release today?

Day 2: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be

Our relationship with money and what we value most reveals the true condition of our hearts, serving as a spiritual diagnostic tool. Jesus makes it clear that our treasures—what we pursue, protect, and prioritize—shape our affections, decisions, and direction in life. If our hearts are set on material things, our lives will reflect anxiety, divided loyalties, and spiritual blindness; but if our hearts are set on Christ, generosity and joy will flow from us. The call is to guard our hearts diligently, knowing that what we treasure most will inevitably shape who we become and how we live. [56:42]

Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Reflection: If someone looked at your calendar and bank statement, what would they say you treasure most—and how might you realign your heart toward Christ this week?

Day 3: You Cannot Serve Both God and Money

Jesus warns that it is impossible to serve two masters; our devotion will always be divided if we try to serve both God and money, leading to spiritual exhaustion and misplaced priorities. The pursuit of wealth can become an addiction, promising security and happiness it cannot deliver, and ultimately crowding out space in our hearts for God. True freedom and peace come when we recognize Jesus as our only King, surrendering our allegiance to Him and allowing Him to direct our lives and resources. This is not just a matter of obedience, but of worship and trust, believing that Jesus and His ways are far greater than anything money can offer. [01:05:53]

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Reflection: In what practical way can you demonstrate today that Jesus—not money—is your true master?

Day 4: The Call to Surrender and Daily Discipleship

Following Jesus is a daily decision to say “yes” to Him, surrendering every area of our lives—including our finances, relationships, and ambitions—into His hands. Conversion is not the end but the beginning of a lifelong journey of yielding more and more ground to Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal areas we have yet to fully devote. This surrender is not meant to be private or isolated; we are called to walk in community, encouraging one another to trust, obey, and treasure Jesus above all else. As we do, we experience the rhythms of grace, finding strength and joy in God’s presence and provision. [01:10:52]

Romans 12:1 (ESV)
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life you sense God asking you to surrender more fully to Him today, and how can you take a concrete step of obedience?

Day 5: The Gift of Grace and the Invitation to New Life

The good news of the gospel is that our deepest problems are first vertical—between us and God—and only then horizontal, and that Jesus offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and new life to all who call on Him. No matter our past or present struggles with money, possessions, or misplaced priorities, God’s grace is available, inviting us to turn from lesser treasures and receive the gift of salvation through Christ. This invitation is not just for a moment but for a lifetime, as we continually respond to God’s love by trusting, repenting, and following Jesus with courage and joy. [01:14:14]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Reflection: If you have never called out to Jesus for salvation, what is holding you back from receiving His gift of grace today? If you have, how can you freshly celebrate and share that gift with someone else this week?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the profound truth that money is a window into our hearts. We began by acknowledging that everything we have—our gifts, talents, time, and resources—are entrusted to us by God, not for our own comfort or status, but for His kingdom’s work. We confessed how easily our hearts are drawn to earthly treasures and divided loyalties, and we asked God to align our hearts with His priorities, to help us love Him more than possessions, control, or even ourselves.

We explored Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:19-24, where He commands us not to lay up treasures on earth, but to store up treasures in heaven. Earthly treasures are temporary, vulnerable to decay and theft, and ultimately unsatisfying. Jesus teaches that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Our relationship with money reveals the true condition of our souls. If we are honest, many of us struggle with a love of money, and this struggle is not just a financial issue—it is a spiritual one. Money can become a functional god, promising security and happiness it cannot deliver, and demanding our devotion in return.

Jesus uses the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body to illustrate how what we focus on shapes our entire being. If our eyes—our focus—are healthy and fixed on generosity and the things of God, our whole lives will be full of light. But if our eyes are bad, consumed with greed and materialism, our lives will be filled with darkness. The call is not simply to “do better,” but to examine ourselves honestly, to assess where our true treasure lies, and to recalibrate our hearts toward Christ.

We are reminded that it is impossible to serve two masters. Divided allegiances will wear out our souls. Jesus alone is worthy of our ultimate devotion. Generosity should flow naturally from a heart that treasures Christ above all else. We are called to believe that Jesus and His ways are greater than anything the world offers, and to pursue the rhythms of grace—trusting that God will empower us to live generously and faithfully. Our problems are first vertical—between us and God—and only then horizontal. The invitation is open: to surrender fully to Jesus, to be reconciled to God, and to walk in the freedom and joy of a life devoted to Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Money Reveals the Heart’s True Allegiance The way we handle money is not just a practical matter, but a spiritual one. Our spending, saving, and giving habits are a window into what we truly value and where our deepest loyalties lie. If money has a grip on our hearts, it exposes areas where we have not fully surrendered to Christ. [49:15]
2. Earthly Treasures Are Temporary, but Kingdom Investments Last Jesus warns us not to treasure treasures—accumulating possessions for their own sake—because everything on earth is subject to decay and loss. The pursuit of material wealth is ultimately futile, as it cannot provide lasting security or fulfillment. True wisdom is found in investing in what is eternal, aligning our resources with God’s purposes. [54:41]
3. What We Focus On Shapes Who We Become Jesus’ metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body teaches that our focus determines the health of our whole being. If we fix our gaze on generosity, Christ, and His kingdom, our lives will be filled with light and purpose. But if we are consumed by greed and self-indulgence, our spiritual vision becomes clouded, and our lives drift into darkness. [60:37]
4. Divided Allegiances Lead to Spiritual Exhaustion Attempting to serve both God and money is not only impossible, but it will also wear out our souls. Money makes promises it cannot keep, and when we allow it to become our master, it leads to anxiety, restlessness, and spiritual emptiness. Only by making Jesus our singular King can we find true rest and freedom. [65:53]
5. Transformation Begins with Surrender and Community Real change starts when we recognize that our deepest problems are vertical—between us and God. Surrendering to Jesus is a personal decision, but it is never meant to be private. We are called to walk together in community, encouraging one another to treasure Christ above all and to live out the rhythms of grace in every area of life. [70:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:05] - Confession and Prayer for Generosity
[37:04] - The Joy of Yielding to Jesus
[41:52] - Spiritual Blindness and Taking Ground
[45:22] - Public Reading: Matthew 6:19-24
[47:04] - Money as a Window into the Soul
[49:15] - The Love Problem Behind Money Anxiety
[50:53] - Addiction to Money and Its Consequences
[53:16] - Jesus’ Diagnosis: The Rich Young Ruler
[54:41] - The Temporary Nature of Earthly Wealth
[56:42] - Treasure as a Spiritual Assessment
[59:06] - Guarding the Heart and the Power of Focus
[60:37] - The Eye as the Lamp: What Are You Beholding?
[65:01] - The Danger of Divided Allegiances
[67:35] - The Undervaluing of Jesus and Everyday Grace
[70:52] - Surrender, Community, and the Call to Respond
[74:14] - The Gospel Invitation and Prayer for Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19-24 (ESV) — “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21, what are the differences between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven?
What does Jesus mean when He says, “The eye is the lamp of the body”? How does this relate to the rest of the passage?
In verse 24, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters.” What are the two masters He mentions, and what does He say about trying to serve both?
The sermon described money as a “window into your heart.” What examples did the pastor give to show how our relationship with money reveals what we truly value? [[47:04]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus connects our treasure (what we value) so closely with our hearts? What does this reveal about the spiritual nature of money and possessions? [[49:15]]
The pastor said that money can become a “functional god” in our lives, promising security and happiness it cannot deliver. In what ways might people look to money for things only God can provide? [[49:15]]
How does the metaphor of the eye as the lamp of the body help us understand the impact of our focus—whether on generosity or materialism—on our whole lives? [[01:00:37]]
The sermon emphasized that divided allegiances (trying to serve both God and money) lead to spiritual exhaustion. Why is it impossible to serve both, and what are some signs that someone might be trying to do so? [[01:05:01]]

Application Questions

The pastor confessed that even as a Christian leader, he sometimes struggles with a love of money. In what ways do you see the love of money or possessions showing up in your own life? Are there specific habits or attitudes you want to surrender to God? [[49:15]]
Jesus commands us not to “lay up treasures on earth.” What are some practical ways you can invest more in “treasures in heaven” this week? What might need to change in your spending, saving, or giving habits? [[54:41]]
The sermon talked about how what we focus on shapes who we become. Is there something you are currently “beholding” (focusing on) that is pulling your heart away from Christ? What would it look like to shift your focus toward generosity and God’s kingdom? [[01:00:37]]
Have you ever experienced spiritual exhaustion or anxiety because of divided loyalties between God and money? What steps could you take to make Jesus your singular King in this area? [[01:05:53]]
The pastor said that transformation begins with surrender and community. Who in your life can help you stay accountable in this area? How can your small group encourage one another to treasure Christ above all else? [[01:10:52]]
The sermon reminded us that our deepest problems are first vertical (between us and God) before they are horizontal (with others or circumstances). Is there a specific area where you need to seek reconciliation with God before trying to fix external issues? [[01:12:40]]
Generosity should flow naturally from a heart that treasures Christ. What is one act of generosity you feel led to do this week, and how can you make it a regular rhythm in your life? [[01:07:35]]

Sermon Clips

There needs to be a moment in your life. Sometimes you remember that moment. Other times you're like, it was years ago, it was decades ago, but there needs to be a moment where you go from being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into Colossians 1, verse 15, into the kingdom, the rule and the reign of Jesus. That's what it means to be a believer. You were transferred, your eyes were awakened, your heart was changed, not by what you did, but by what has happened in the person of Christ, and you believe and trust in that. [00:43:34] (26 seconds) #KingdomTransferMoment

The world has an understanding of money. They love money and their heart is in the consumption and pursuit of money. And Jesus says it should not be like you. That's not the way that we should live. We should be a people who understand that our heart and our treasure should be with Jesus. And we should be distinct from the world. Money is a window into your heart. [00:48:41] (23 seconds) #HeartTreasureNotWorldlyWealth

Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Young people, guard your heart. Don't be connected to something or someone that is gonna pull your heart. Median age people, is that me 45 and my median age? Median age people, guard your heart for it's the wellspring of life. I'm not gonna say older people, I'm gonna say wise people. Guard your heart. What's Jesus saying in Proverbs four? And what's he saying in Matthew six? Guard the inner part of who you are because if you don't guard it, it's gonna come out in your life. [00:59:35] (33 seconds) #EyesShapeYourSoul

Be careful what you look at. Be careful what you behold. Because what you look at and behold is what you become. You become like that stuff. He's saying your eyes affect your whole body. He's referring to the inner condition of your soul, your personhood, your humanity. If your eye is right and good and healthy, if it's looking at right things. And in this context, in this context, Jesus is saying, if the eyes of your body, if you're looking and you're being a person who's generous, then your whole life is gonna be healthy. [01:00:48] (35 seconds) #EvilEyeSkewsLife

If you're a Christian, you understand that's not my reality. I am not meant to treasure the things of this earth. I'm not meant to have my heart wrapped up in all this stuff and possessions and money. That's not being true to my identity and my calling. I have a greater inheritance than anything this world can offer. And rest for your soul and peace for your soul over against anxiety and worry. [01:03:18] (29 seconds) #LoveForWorldLeadsToHell

When you love the things of the world more than you love Jesus, when you serve God. Jesus is called to be our king, and yet so many times in our life, money makes promises of security, happiness, recognition that it cannot fulfill, and money bosses us around, and we're only meant to have one boss, one king, and that is Jesus. [01:05:49] (23 seconds) #UndervaluingJesusImpact

You know, one way to describe you following Christ and the life of discipleship is you seeing how much value is in Jesus. And when you see how valuable and awesome and majestic and compelling and beautiful and sovereign and kind and loving, and when you see all those things about Jesus, the things of the world just don't grip your heart as much as they used to. Because you were created to know him, to find deep fulfillment. And all the stuff of this world, all the many gifts are a shadow of the great gift that's found in him. Don't undervalue Jesus. [01:09:09] (34 seconds) #GraceEmpowersObedience

The message of the Bible is unwaveringly this truth, that our problems first are vertical and then horizontal. You cannot fix your money problems and relationship problems and parenting problems and marriage problems. You can't fix all the stuff if you don't first work on your relationship with God in Jesus. Our problems are first vertical, then horizontal. [01:13:01] (26 seconds) #ForgivenessThroughJesusTrust

``The good news is that God and his love for you, God and his amazing, supernatural, eternity -altering love for you provides a way in which we can be forgiven. Jesus came and lived a perfect life, died the death that you and I deserve to die. That should feel weighty for us. Was buried in a borrowed tomb. He only needed it three days. He resurrected three days later. And our response to the good news of Jesus is, I want to turn away for my sin. I don't want to treasure these things, this person. I want to treasure Jesus and I want to believe, trust. [01:13:57] (34 seconds)

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