Your True Treasure: God or Money?

Devotional

Day 1: You Cannot Serve Two Masters

The heart of our devotion is revealed by what we treasure most—God or wealth. Jesus makes it clear that it is impossible to serve both; our loyalty will inevitably be divided, leading us to love one and despise the other. This is not just about outward actions, but about the deep affections and priorities of our hearts. When we try to split our devotion, we find ourselves restless, dissatisfied, and spiritually compromised. God desires our undivided loyalty, not a heart shared with the world’s fleeting riches. Consider honestly: is your heart fully surrendered to God, or is it pulled by the allure of material things? [00:27]

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 area of your life do you sense a divided loyalty between God and something else? What practical step can you take today to put God first in that area?

Day 2: Storing Up Heavenly Treasure

True treasure is not found in accumulating possessions or wealth on earth, but in investing in what lasts for eternity. Earthly treasures are vulnerable to decay and loss, but heavenly treasures endure forever. Jesus calls us to examine where our heart is by looking at what we value and pursue. When our focus is on eternal things—serving others, generosity, and honoring God—our hearts are aligned with His purposes, and we experience a deeper, lasting joy. What you treasure shapes your heart and your destiny; choose to invest in what cannot be taken away. [03:10]

Matthew 6:19-21 (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.”

Reflection: What is one way you can invest in heavenly treasure today—through generosity, service, or sharing your faith?

Day 3: The Eye as the Lamp of the Body

What we focus on shapes the condition of our hearts and the direction of our lives. Jesus teaches that the eye is the lamp of the body; if our vision is clear and focused on God, our whole being is filled with light. But if our eyes are drawn to selfish desires or worldly things, darkness fills our hearts. Spiritual blindness leads to moral confusion, restlessness, and a lack of true significance. Ask yourself: what are you looking at, longing for, and allowing to fill your heart? Only by treasuring God above all can your life be filled with His light. [16:29]

Matthew 6:22-23 (ESV)
“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!”

Reflection: What is one thing you regularly look at or focus on that draws your heart away from God? How can you redirect your attention toward what honors Him?

Day 4: Seek First the Kingdom and Trust God’s Provision

Worry and anxiety are the natural results of focusing on earthly needs and treasures, but Jesus invites us to a life of faith and peace by seeking first the kingdom of God. God knows our needs and promises to provide for us as we prioritize His purposes. When we trust Him, we are freed from the endless cycle of worry and the pressure to secure our own future. Instead, we can rest in His care, knowing that He values us and will meet our needs. Let go of anxiety and choose to trust God with both today and tomorrow. [28:00]

Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Reflection: What is one specific worry you can surrender to God today, trusting Him to provide as you seek His kingdom first?

Day 5: Generosity and Gratefulness Over Greed

A heart set on God is marked by generosity and genuine gratefulness, not by greed or a sense of entitlement. We are called to enjoy God’s blessings, provide for our needs, and share with those in need, recognizing that all we have is from Him. When we hold our possessions loosely and give freely, we reflect God’s heart and invest in what truly matters. Gratefulness guards us from discontent and comparison, while generosity opens our lives to God’s greater purposes. Ask God to reveal any idols or attachments in your heart, and to give you the grace to choose Him above all. [05:34]

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (ESV)
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”

Reflection: Who is one person or group you can bless with generosity this week, and how can you express genuine gratitude to God for what you have?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew 6, Jesus draws a sharp line between the pursuit of earthly wealth and the pursuit of God, making it clear that no one can serve two masters. The heart of the matter is not about whether we possess money or resources, but about the orientation of our hearts—what we treasure most. God is not against us having possessions, providing for our families, or enjoying what He gives. Rather, He challenges us to examine our motives and attitudes: Are we clinging to our wealth as our security and identity, or are we using what we have to honor God and serve others?

Jesus warns against the seductive pull of materialism and the illusion that accumulating more will bring fulfillment. He exposes the myth that success is measured by wealth, reminding us that in God’s eyes, true riches are found in generosity, humility, and a heart set on eternal things. The statistics about global wealth distribution serve as a sobering reminder of our responsibility to the poor and the danger of self-centeredness. Even as we enjoy abundance, we are called to genuine gratitude and to invest in treasures that last—acts of love, service, and faith that echo into eternity.

The teaching about the eye as the lamp of the body points to the power of our focus. What we fix our gaze on shapes our desires and ultimately our character. If our hearts are set on God, our lives will be filled with light; if we are consumed by selfish ambition, darkness will take root. Jesus insists that divided loyalty is impossible: we cannot love both God and wealth. Attempting to do so leads to spiritual compromise and, inevitably, to anxiety and unrest.

Instead, Jesus invites us to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that our Father knows our needs and will provide. Worry is exposed as both futile and faithless, robbing us of peace and distracting us from our true calling. The challenge is to honestly assess what we treasure, to surrender our idols, and to let God reign in our hearts. In doing so, we find freedom, purpose, and the promise of eternal reward.

Key Takeaways

1. The true issue is not wealth itself, but the allegiance of our hearts. God calls us to examine whether our security and identity are rooted in Him or in our possessions. When our hearts are set on earthly treasures, we become vulnerable to pride, entitlement, and spiritual blindness. Only by treasuring God above all can we experience the fullness of life He intends. [05:34]
2. Generosity and gratitude are marks of a heart aligned with God’s kingdom. We are not called to asceticism or to despise what God provides, but to hold our resources with open hands. Recognizing the abundance we enjoy, especially in comparison to much of the world, should move us to compassion and sacrificial giving, not self-indulgence. [10:47]
3. Our focus determines our spiritual health. Just as the eye brings light or darkness to the body, what we set our attention on shapes our desires and character. If we are captivated by temporary things, our lives will be marked by restlessness and dissatisfaction; if we fix our gaze on Christ and His purposes, we will be filled with light and purpose. [20:45]
4. Divided loyalty is impossible in the kingdom of God. Attempting to serve both God and wealth leads to compromise, hypocrisy, and ultimately spiritual emptiness. God demands and deserves our undivided devotion; He will not share His glory or our hearts with any rival. [25:29]
5. Trust in God’s provision frees us from anxiety and worry. When we seek first His kingdom, we are released from the tyranny of “what ifs” and the endless pursuit of more. Faith in God’s care allows us to live generously, serve others, and invest in treasures that will never fade. [28:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - You Cannot Serve Two Masters
[01:27] - Attitudes in Giving, Prayer, and Fasting
[02:17] - What Is True Treasure?
[03:39] - God’s Heart on Possessions
[05:34] - The Heart Behind Wealth
[06:35] - The Danger of Entitlement
[08:08] - Global Wealth and Our Responsibility
[10:47] - Gratefulness and the Example of Job
[13:19] - Heavenly Treasure vs. Earthly Treasure
[16:29] - What We Take to Heaven
[19:47] - The Eye as the Lamp of the Body
[21:42] - The Impossibility of Divided Loyalty
[26:48] - Worry, Faith, and God’s Provision
[30:44] - Our Responsibility to Others
[33:59] - Examining Our Hearts and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19-34 (ESV) — 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys 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. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 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!
24 “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.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 6, what is the connection between where we store our treasure and the condition of our heart?
What does Jesus mean when he says, “The eye is the lamp of the body”? How does this relate to our spiritual health?
In the sermon, what examples were given to show that God is not against us having possessions or enjoying what He provides?
What does Jesus say about worry and anxiety in relation to God’s provision?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says the real issue is not wealth itself, but the allegiance of our hearts. How does someone know if their security or identity is rooted in possessions rather than in God?
Jesus warns against the “seductive pull of materialism.” What are some ways materialism can subtly influence a believer’s life, even if they don’t consider themselves wealthy?
The teaching about the eye as the lamp of the body points to the power of our focus. What are some practical ways our focus can bring either light or darkness into our lives?
The sermon says that divided loyalty is impossible in the kingdom of God. What are some signs that a person might be trying to serve both God and wealth?

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine what we treasure most. If you’re honest, what is one thing (possession, status, comfort, etc.) that competes with God for your heart? What would it look like to surrender that to God?
The statistics about global wealth were shared as a “sobering reminder” of our responsibility to the poor. In light of this, what is one practical way you could be more generous or compassionate this month?
The sermon says that gratitude is a mark of a heart aligned with God’s kingdom. What is one area of your life where you struggle to be genuinely grateful? How could you practice gratitude in that area this week?
Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” What is one specific way you could shift your focus from temporary things to eternal things in your daily routine?
The sermon warns that worry is both “futile and faithless.” What is one worry or anxiety you need to entrust to God right now? How can the group support you in this?
The message says that generosity and gratitude are not about asceticism, but about holding resources with open hands. Is there something you are holding onto too tightly? What would it look like to “hold it with open hands” before God?
The sermon ends with a call to honestly assess our hearts and let God reign. What is one step you can take this week to let God have first place in your heart and decisions?

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Your True Treasure: God or Money? - Pastor Dave Klassen