Investing in Eternal Treasures: A Heartfelt Reflection

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound teaching of Jesus on treasuring what truly matters. Jesus instructs us not to store up treasures on earth, where they are vulnerable to decay and theft, but to store up treasures in heaven, where they are eternal and secure. This teaching challenges us to examine what we truly value and where we place our hearts. We are inherently treasuring creatures, and the things we cherish reveal much about our priorities and desires.

I shared a personal story about my sister's beloved doll, Pandy, to illustrate the nature of treasuring. Despite Pandy's lack of material value, my sister's love for the doll made it precious. This story highlights the difference between a love that seeks value and a love that creates value. The latter is a transformative kind of love that mirrors God's love for us. God treasures us not because of our inherent worth but because His love bestows worth upon us.

Jesus' teaching invites us to consider what we treasure and to be cautious about investing our hearts in things that are temporary. Earthly treasures, like financial wealth, can be alluring, but they are ultimately fleeting. Instead, we are called to invest in eternal treasures, such as relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth. These are the treasures that align with God's kingdom and will endure beyond this life.

We also discussed the power of generosity and prayer as ways to store up heavenly treasures. When we give selflessly and pray for others, we participate in God's work and invest in what truly matters. Our actions, motivated by love and compassion, have eternal significance and reflect the heart of God.

In conclusion, let us be mindful of where we place our treasure, for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. May we seek to treasure what is eternal and align our hearts with God's purposes.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Nature of Treasuring: We are inherently treasuring creatures, and what we cherish reveals our priorities. Jesus teaches us to store up treasures in heaven, where they are secure and eternal, rather than on earth, where they are vulnerable to decay and theft. This calls us to examine what we truly value and where we place our hearts. [00:40]

2. Transformative Love: There is a kind of love that seeks value and a kind that creates value. God's love for us is transformative, bestowing worth upon us not because of our inherent value but because of His love. This challenges us to love others in a way that creates value and reflects God's love. [06:19]

3. Eternal vs. Temporary Treasures: Earthly treasures, like financial wealth, are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. Jesus calls us to invest in eternal treasures, such as relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth, which align with God's kingdom and endure beyond this life. [08:23]

4. The Power of Generosity: Generosity is a way to store up heavenly treasures. When we give selflessly, we participate in God's work and invest in what truly matters. Our actions, motivated by love and compassion, have eternal significance and reflect the heart of God. [11:17]

5. The Role of Prayer: Prayer is another way to invest in eternal treasures. By praying for others, we align our hearts with God's purposes and participate in His work. Our prayers have the power to impact lives and reflect God's love and compassion. [09:30]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:40] - Treasures on Earth vs. Heaven
- [01:15] - The Nature of Treasuring
- [01:33] - A Story of Pandy
- [03:00] - The Measure of Love
- [04:15] - The Value of Treasuring
- [05:18] - Generational Treasuring
- [06:19] - Transformative Love
- [07:07] - Delighting in the Lord
- [08:23] - Eternal vs. Temporary Treasures
- [09:04] - Storing Up Heavenly Treasures
- [09:30] - The Role of Prayer
- [10:26] - Treasuring People
- [11:17] - The Power of Generosity
- [12:46] - Community and Spiritual Growth

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV): "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."

- 1 John 4:10 (NIV): "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

- Psalm 34:4 (NIV): "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus mean by "treasures on earth" and "treasures in heaven" in Matthew 6:19-21? How does this distinction relate to the sermon’s message about what we value? [00:40]

2. In the sermon, a story about a doll named Pandy was shared. What was the significance of this story in illustrating the concept of treasuring? [01:33]

3. How does the sermon describe the difference between a love that seeks value and a love that creates value? [06:19]

4. What role does prayer play in storing up heavenly treasures according to the sermon? [09:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the concept of storing treasures in heaven challenge common societal values about wealth and success? [08:23]

2. The sermon mentions a transformative kind of love that mirrors God's love for us. How does this understanding of love impact our relationships with others? [06:19]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that generosity can be a form of storing up treasures in heaven? How does this align with Jesus' teachings? [11:17]

4. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"? What implications does this have for personal priorities and decision-making? [10:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there any "earthly treasures" you are holding onto that might be hindering your spiritual growth? How can you begin to shift your focus to "heavenly treasures"? [08:23]

2. Think of a relationship in your life where you can practice transformative love. What specific actions can you take to create value in that relationship this week? [06:19]

3. Consider your approach to generosity. Is there a specific area where you feel called to give more selflessly? How can you act on this calling in the coming days? [11:17]

4. Prayer is highlighted as a way to invest in eternal treasures. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer for others into your daily routine? [09:30]

5. The sermon encourages us to delight in the Lord. What practical steps can you take to find your ultimate delight in God this week? [07:07]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt treasured by someone. How did that experience impact you, and how can you replicate that feeling for someone else? [10:26]

7. Identify one temporary treasure you are currently pursuing. What steps can you take to re-evaluate its importance in light of Jesus' teachings on eternal treasures? [08:23]

Devotional

Day 1: Treasures of the Heart
We are inherently treasuring creatures, and what we cherish reveals our priorities. Jesus teaches us to store up treasures in heaven, where they are secure and eternal, rather than on earth, where they are vulnerable to decay and theft. This calls us to examine what we truly value and where we place our hearts. Earthly treasures, such as financial wealth, can be alluring, but they are ultimately fleeting. Instead, we are called to invest in eternal treasures, such as relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth. These are the treasures that align with God's kingdom and will endure beyond this life. [00:40]

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: What is one earthly treasure you find yourself clinging to, and how can you begin to shift your focus towards investing in eternal treasures today?


Day 2: Love That Bestows Worth
There is a kind of love that seeks value and a kind that creates value. God's love for us is transformative, bestowing worth upon us not because of our inherent value but because of His love. This challenges us to love others in a way that creates value and reflects God's love. The story of the beloved doll, Pandy, illustrates this concept beautifully. Despite Pandy's lack of material value, the love bestowed upon her made her precious. Similarly, God's love for us is not based on our worth but on His desire to create worth in us through His love. [06:19]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may feel undervalued. How can you show them a love that creates value today?


Day 3: Investing in the Eternal
Earthly treasures, like financial wealth, are fleeting and ultimately unsatisfying. Jesus calls us to invest in eternal treasures, such as relationships, acts of kindness, and spiritual growth, which align with God's kingdom and endure beyond this life. These investments are not subject to decay or theft and have lasting significance. By focusing on what is eternal, we align our hearts with God's purposes and find true fulfillment. [08:23]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one relationship or spiritual practice you can invest in more deeply this week. What steps will you take to nurture this eternal treasure?


Day 4: Generosity as a Heavenly Investment
Generosity is a way to store up heavenly treasures. When we give selflessly, we participate in God's work and invest in what truly matters. Our actions, motivated by love and compassion, have eternal significance and reflect the heart of God. Generosity is not just about financial giving but also about giving our time, attention, and resources to those in need. This kind of giving aligns us with God's kingdom and brings joy and fulfillment. [11:17]

"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a way you can be generous with your time or resources this week. How can this act of generosity reflect God's love to others?


Day 5: The Transformative Power of Prayer
Prayer is another way to invest in eternal treasures. By praying for others, we align our hearts with God's purposes and participate in His work. Our prayers have the power to impact lives and reflect God's love and compassion. Through prayer, we connect with God and invite His presence into our lives and the lives of others. This spiritual practice is a powerful tool for transformation and aligns us with God's kingdom. [09:30]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Choose one person or situation to pray for consistently this week. How can your prayers invite God's transformative power into this area?

Quotes


So here are the words from the greatest teacher who ever taught the most influential sermon whatever you think about it ever delivered do not store up for yourselves or uh don't lay up Treasures he says uh 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 Verma do not destroy where theves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there your heart will be. [00:00:32]

This is a passage about treasuring we are inevitably treasuring creatures we prize we cherish we hold dear and when you treasure rightly something wonderful something beyond the merely human can happen and so I will tell you one of my favorite stories it was inspired partly by a preaching Professor who I dearly love the init Watson who would often talk about how there is a Kind of Love a kind of treasuring that looks for what's valuable. [00:01:08]

There is a kind of love that creates value and so I will tell you about Pandy Pandy was pretty messed up P's face P's face was pretty messed up Pandy's body was pretty messed up Pandy was my sister Barbie's favorite doll she was not a very attractive doll she actually looked a little bit scary to me um she was not a very valuable doll I doubt that we could have given her away but for reasons nobody could ever quite understand in the way that kids sometimes do my sister cherished that doll. [00:01:58]

The measure of her love for for Pandy was how much he was willing to suffer to keep Pandy well and by her side one time our family it's true story took a vacation from Rockford Illinois where we lived up to Canada and of course Pandy went with us but when we got back home we were almost to Rockford and Barb you realized Pandy had stayed behind she was still in Canada and so no other possibility was uh thinkable we turned that car around and drove all the way from Rockford to Canada to get that doll back. [00:03:00]

There is a kind of love my old teacher Ian used to say there's a kind of love that just looks for value in what is loved what do I think might be able to make me secure what do I think might be able to make me stable what do I think might be able to give me status but then there is a kind of treasuring that creates value in what is loved and Jesus Friend John talks about this when he says um this is love not that we loved God. [00:06:24]

It's no surprise that we should love God to treasure God above all else is the great commandment in the Jud Christian tradition it's interesting in Psalm 34 it says delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart we are to find our ultimate Delight our ultimate treasure ultimate worth in the God because he's The Giver of every good and perfect gift um everything that is good is wrapped up in him he is worthy of being treasured above all else. [00:06:54]

But then we have these things that he calls the desires of the heart uh little dolls like candy and that matters to God and God loves to fulfill that so now Jesus says you are a Treasurer and we all treasure different things and some little odd things and that's kind of a precious thing about us but be very careful what you treasure it is so easy to give your heart to that which cannot last people will often look back on um Financial opportunities and think if only. [00:07:34]

You could buy a share of cocacola when it first went public in 1919 for $40 if you had bought that then do you know what you would be worth today you would be worth nothing today because you would be dead today but that share if you kept letting it get reinvested would be worth over $10 million well you'd be dead and Jesus says it's that way be really careful what you treasure because you can divide everything up into two categories and one is temporary moth and rust and thieves they're going to get it. [00:08:05]

To treasure that is folly or you can treasure what is eternal now this involves our money but it's just not mechanically given money in fact this passage is deeply connected to what we have just been learning about Jesus actually says earlier on in Matthew 6 if when you give you blow the trumpets and you're just doing this to impress other people you have your reward you've given money but really you've only laid up treasure on Earth it was for your reputation storing up treasure in heaven. [00:08:45]

See is just another way of talking about seek first the kingdom of God become this kind of person whose heart has changed who is marked by true goodness from the inside and then you will carry that with you into eternity and when you invest in other people you carry them into eternity that will last forever When you pray for people I'm so grateful we have a prayer team I want to tell you about one of the guys out it his name is Ry and he had lost his wife his heart was broken he asked for prayer. [00:09:05]

And then Tim asked him we got a prayer team would you like to be on it and Ry said yes and quite recently uh when respond when requests for prayer come in Ray will pray for them and then send a response to some I'm praying for you he recently sent out his 1,000th prayer response to somebody who needed prayer and uh we have a whole team of folks that I'm so grateful for you I have felt what it is to be prayed for and I know that sense of I matter to somebody my pain matters to somebody. [00:09:35]

So today you know part of what Jesus says is um where you put your treasure your heart will be so find ways to treasure all the good things of Earth this creation that God has made but especially people because they're treasured by God love me love my ragd dolls Jesus says since God so loved us so treasured us we are a treasure John says not simply God that too but we are a treasure we to love one another think about years ago somebody. [00:10:10]

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Transcript
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Were there any personal stories shared?