Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be

Today, we gathered as a family—young and old—to celebrate the goodness of God and to be reminded of the power of generosity, both in spirit and in action. We began by inviting our children to lead us in memorizing Scripture, not just as a practice for the young, but as a challenge for every generation. This is more than a ritual; it’s a way to keep God’s Word alive in our hearts and on our lips, building a culture where faith is shared and lived out together.

We rejoiced in the overwhelming generosity shown at our recent cake auction for the Instruments of Shining Hope cancer ministry, where over $11,000 was raised. This outpouring is a testament to the heart of this church—a people who understand that giving is not just about money, but about aligning our hearts with God’s purposes. Generosity, I reminded us, sets the tone of the heart and opens the door for God to move in miraculous ways, as seen in the testimonies of healing and answered prayer among us.

Turning to Matthew 6, we explored Jesus’ teaching on treasure, vision, and mastery. Jesus calls us beyond outward religion to a deep, intimate relationship with Him—a relationship that is revealed in how we handle what He’s entrusted to us. The heart and treasure are inseparable; where our treasure is, our heart will follow. The issue is not wealth itself, but where we place our trust and what we allow to master us. Earthly treasures are fleeting, but heavenly treasures are secure and eternal.

We examined the dangers of possessions possessing us, and the subtle ways greed can blind our spiritual vision. Jesus warns that we cannot serve two masters; our loyalty must be undivided. Generosity is not about subtraction, but about alignment—aligning our hearts with God’s heart, our vision with His purposes, and our worship with His worthiness. When we give, we are not just meeting needs; we are investing in eternity, breaking the chains of greed, and discovering a freedom and joy that this world cannot offer.

Finally, I invited all to respond—whether by surrendering their lives to Christ for the first time or by choosing afresh to live with open hands and open hearts. The greatest act of generosity was God giving His Son for us. Our response is to give Him our lives, our worship, and our trust.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Generosity Aligns the Heart with Heaven True generosity is not measured by the amount given, but by the degree to which our hearts are surrendered to God. When we invest in God’s purposes, our affections and priorities shift from the temporary to the eternal. This alignment brings joy and freedom, as our hearts follow where our treasure is placed. [58:27]
• 2. Possessions Can Possess Us It’s not wrong to have possessions, but it is dangerous when possessions have us. The subtle grip of materialism can create a spirit of entitlement and rob us of spiritual vitality. Only by holding our resources loosely and stewarding them for God’s glory can we avoid being mastered by what we own. [64:35]
• 3. Spiritual Vision Determines Generosity A generous outlook is the result of a healthy, undivided spiritual vision. When our eyes are fixed on God and His kingdom, light floods our soul, enabling us to see needs and respond with compassion. Greed, on the other hand, clouds our vision and hardens our hearts, making us blind to the opportunities for blessing others. [74:33]
• 4. The Master We Serve Defines Our Freedom We cannot serve both God and money; each demands total allegiance. When we trust in wealth, we become enslaved by anxiety and the need for control. But when we serve God alone, we experience true freedom—freedom to give, to love, and to live with open hands, knowing all we have belongs to Him. [85:11]
• 5. Generosity is Worship, Not Just Duty Giving is not merely a financial transaction; it is an act of worship that reflects what we value most. When we give joyfully and consistently, we declare God’s worth and break the power of greed in our lives. This kind of worship brings strength, joy, and a legacy of faith for generations to come. [94:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:35] - Memory Verse with Madison
• [07:27] - Opening Prayer & Announcements
• [08:10] - Instruments of Shining Hope Update
• [09:50] - Expectancy in Worship
• [20:30] - God Turns Bitter to Sweet
• [21:59] - Testimonies of Healing & Generosity
• [49:04] - The Reality of God’s Presence
• [50:33] - From Religion to Relationship
• [55:21] - Heart and Treasure: Inseparable
• [59:39] - Shifting from Earthly to Eternal
• [61:40] - Storing Up Treasures in Heaven
• [74:33] - The Eye: Lamp of the Body
• [85:11] - Serving God or Mammon
• [94:52] - Generosity as Worship
• [100:57] - Invitation and Response
• [111:13] - Closing & Dismissal

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19-24 (NIV) — 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 6:21, what is the relationship between our treasure and our heart?
2. In the sermon, what example was given to show how generosity can set the tone of the heart in a church community? [[08:52]]
3. What does Jesus mean when He says, “The eye is the lamp of the body”? How does this relate to generosity? [[01:14:33]]
4. What warning does Jesus give about serving two masters, and what are the two “masters” He mentions? [[01:25:11]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus focus on the location of our treasure rather than the amount we have? How does this challenge common views about wealth? [[55:21]]
2. The sermon says, “Possessions like to possess.” What does this mean, and how can it affect our spiritual lives? [[01:04:35]]
3. How does having a “healthy eye” or a generous outlook affect the way we see and respond to the needs around us? [[01:14:33]]
4. What does it look like in real life to serve God instead of money? How does this bring freedom, according to the sermon? [[01:25:11]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged every generation to memorize Scripture together, not just the kids. How could you make God’s Word more present in your daily life or family routines? [[05:10]]
2. The church recently raised over $11,000 for a cancer ministry. When was the last time you gave sacrificially—of your money, time, or talents? How did it affect your heart? [[08:52]]
3. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If someone looked at your bank statement or calendar, what would they say you value most? Is there anything you want to change? [[58:27]]
4. The sermon warns that “possessions like to possess.” Is there something you own or desire that might be taking too much of your attention or affection? What would it look like to “hold it loosely”? [[01:04:35]]
5. The pastor said, “Generosity is not about subtraction, but about alignment.” In what area of your life do you need to realign your priorities with God’s purposes? [[01:39:50]]
6. The message described generosity as an act of worship, not just a duty. How can you make your giving—whether money, time, or service—more of a joyful act of worship this week? [[01:34:52]]
7. The greatest act of generosity was God giving His Son for us. What is one specific way you can respond to God’s generosity this week—either by trusting Him more, giving more, or serving someone in need? [[01:41:46]]