Where Your Treasure Is: Shaping Hearts and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be

The things we treasure most—what we store up, protect, and rely on for our well-being—ultimately shape our hearts and our character. Jesus warns that if we invest our hope and security in earthly treasures, our hearts will be formed by those things, often leading us to act out of fear and self-preservation. But if we store up treasures in heaven, our hearts are shaped by God’s love and purposes, making us more like Christ. Consider what you are gathering and protecting most closely; these are the things that will mold who you become. [02:33]

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.”

Reflection: What is one thing you are currently storing up or protecting because you believe it will secure your future? How might shifting your trust from that thing to God change your heart and actions today?

Day 2: The Kingdom of God vs. the Kingdom of the World

There is a fundamental difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world: the former is built on a sanctified relationship with God, while the latter relies on human strength, systems, and self-reliance. The world’s solutions to chaos and injustice often look heroic and noble, but without God at the center, they are ultimately driven by fear and self-preservation. The kingdom of God calls us to reflect God’s image and trust in His ways, not our own. [10:14]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to trust in worldly systems or your own strength to bring about change, rather than relying on God’s kingdom and His ways?

Day 3: Fear Forms Us When We Treasure the World

When our treasures are rooted in the things of this world—money, politics, security, or even good causes—fear becomes the driving force behind our actions. This fear leads us to justify almost anything to protect what we value, even to the point of harming others or becoming hardened in our hearts. Only a heart rooted in Christ and His kingdom can be free from this cycle, allowing us to love even those we disagree with or consider enemies. [16:24]

1 John 4:18 (ESV)
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

Reflection: Is there a fear that is shaping your decisions or relationships right now? How can you invite God’s perfect love to replace that fear today?

Day 4: We Are Formed by What We Hope In

Whatever we place our hope in—be it money, politics, or our own abilities—will shape our hearts, our character, and our actions. If our hope is in anything other than God, we become vulnerable to lies, paranoia, and division, even within the church. But when our hope is in God and His kingdom, we are formed into His image: loving, gracious, and restorative, able to be a true blessing to the world. [26:16]

Romans 12:2 (ESV)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Reflection: What is one practical way you can shift your hope from something earthly to God today, allowing Him to transform your mind and heart?

Day 5: Only Through Christ Can We Bring True Justice

True justice and lasting change in the world can only come through people who are justified and sanctified in Christ. Acts of social justice, charity, and reform are good, but without being rooted in a relationship with Jesus, they will either run out or become distorted by fear and self-interest. As kingdom people, our allegiance is to King Jesus alone, and only through Him can we be agents of true justice, healing, and blessing in the world. [27:20]

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Reflection: Where are you seeking to bring justice or change in your community? How can you ensure that your actions are rooted in Christ and not just in your own strength or ideals?

Sermon Summary

In Matthew 6:19-24, Jesus calls us to examine what we treasure and where we place our hope. The things we store up—whether money, possessions, influence, or even our opinions—are not just indicators of what we value, but are formative forces that shape our hearts and lives. Treasures, as Jesus describes, are not simply things we like, but things we hoard and protect because we believe they are necessary for our survival and well-being. This instinct to store up and safeguard is deeply human, but it can lead us to place our trust in the wrong things—earthly systems, wealth, politics, or even our own abilities.

Jesus contrasts the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. The world tells us that order and justice come from human effort, from heroes who rise up and fix what is broken. While the desire to make the world better is good, the methods of the world are often rooted in fear and self-preservation. We see this in the way societies structure themselves, in economic systems, and in the ways we respond to evil—sometimes even justifying violence or division in the name of protecting what we treasure.

But the kingdom of God is different. It is not built on fear, but on a sanctified relationship with God, where our hope and security are found in Him alone. When our treasure is in heaven, our hearts are formed by love for God and neighbor, not by fear or the need to protect ourselves at all costs. The things we treasure most deeply will shape us—if we treasure money, economics will mold us; if we treasure politics, our hearts will be shaped by partisanship. But if we treasure God and His kingdom, we are formed into the image of Christ, able to love even our enemies and to work for justice in a way that is truly just.

Ultimately, where we place our hope determines who we become. If our hope is in ourselves or in the things of this world, we are shaped by fear and become vulnerable to paranoia and division. But if our hope is in God, we are shaped by His love and become a blessing to the world, able to address real injustices with the heart and mind of Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The treasures we store up are not just reflections of what we value, but are formative—they shape our hearts and our character over time. What we hoard and protect becomes the thing that molds us, often without us realizing it. This is why Jesus warns that where our treasure is, our heart will be also, pointing to the future-shaping power of our deepest investments. [22:28]
2. The difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world is not just in their goals, but in their methods and motivations. The world seeks justice and order through human effort, often rooted in fear and self-preservation, while the kingdom of God is built on a sanctified relationship with God that produces love, humility, and true justice. Our allegiance must be to Christ, not to the systems or heroes of this world. [13:08]
3. Fear is a powerful motivator that can lead us to justify almost anything in the name of protecting our treasures. When our hope is in earthly things—money, politics, security—we become susceptible to paranoia, division, and even violence, believing that any threat to our treasure must be eliminated. Only a heart rooted in God’s love can resist this cycle and respond to others, even enemies, with grace. [16:24]
4. The things we believe are necessary for our well-being—our “treasures”—will demand our protection and ultimately form us into their image. If we believe money, politics, or power are essential, we will be shaped by those things, often becoming what we once opposed. Only by intentionally placing our hope and treasure in God can we be formed into the image of Christ and become agents of true blessing in the world. [20:35]
5. True social justice and transformation are only possible when our hope and identity are rooted in Christ. Acts of justice or charity, no matter how well-intentioned, will either run out or become corrupted if they are not grounded in a sanctified relationship with God. Only as people formed by the kingdom of God can we address the real needs of the world with lasting, restorative impact. [27:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:04] - Opening and Humor
[01:50] - Reading Matthew 6:19-24
[02:56] - Familiarity and Misuse of the Passage
[04:35] - Rethinking “Treasure”
[06:21] - Hoarding and Survival Instincts
[08:07] - The Church as Hoarder
[09:31] - Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures
[10:25] - The Kingdom of God at Hand
[11:48] - The World’s Hero Narrative
[13:08] - The True Source of Justice
[16:24] - Fear and the Protection of Treasure
[18:27] - Love vs. Fear in Shaping the Heart
[20:35] - How Treasure Forms Us
[23:32] - The Delusion of Earthly Security
[25:37] - Becoming What We Treasure
[26:16] - Hope in God, Not Ourselves
[27:20] - True Justice Through Christ
[27:44] - Closing and Call to Action

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 6:19-24, what are the differences between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven?
How does Jesus describe the relationship between our treasure and our heart?
What does Jesus mean when he says, “No one can serve two masters”?
In the sermon, what examples were given of things people “hoard” or store up as treasures for survival or well-being? ([06:21])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon explains that treasures are not just things we like, but things we hoard and protect because we believe they are necessary for our survival. How does this understanding change the way we read Jesus’ words about treasure? ([06:21])
The pastor said that the things we treasure most deeply will shape us—if we treasure money, economics will mold us; if we treasure politics, our hearts will be shaped by partisanship. What does it look like for someone’s heart to be formed by their treasure? ([20:35])
The sermon contrasts the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world, especially in how they seek justice and order. What are the key differences in their methods and motivations? ([13:08])
The pastor mentioned that fear is a powerful motivator that can lead us to justify almost anything in the name of protecting our treasures. How does fear influence the way we treat others, especially those we disagree with? ([16:24])

Application Questions

The sermon said that what we hoard and protect becomes the thing that molds us, often without us realizing it. What is something in your life that you tend to “hoard” or protect because you believe it’s necessary for your well-being? How do you see it shaping your heart or actions? ([06:21])
Think about a time when you felt threatened or afraid of losing something important to you (money, reputation, influence, etc.). How did that fear affect your decisions or relationships? ([16:24])
The pastor warned that if we treasure politics or money, we can become shaped by those things—even becoming what we once opposed. Are there areas in your life where you see yourself being shaped more by earthly treasures than by God? What would it look like to shift your hope to God in those areas? ([20:35])
The sermon said that only a heart rooted in God’s love can resist the cycle of fear and respond to others, even enemies, with grace. Is there someone in your life you find hard to love or see as an “enemy”? What would it look like to respond to them with the heart and mind of Christ? ([18:27])
The pastor challenged us to intentionally place our hope and treasure in God so we can be formed into the image of Christ. What is one practical step you can take this week to “store up treasure in heaven” instead of on earth? ([22:28])
The sermon said that true social justice and transformation are only possible when our hope and identity are rooted in Christ. How can you participate in acts of justice or charity in a way that is grounded in your relationship with God, rather than just human effort? ([27:20])
The pastor mentioned that the world’s methods are often rooted in fear and self-preservation, but the kingdom of God is built on love, humility, and true justice. How can you tell when your actions are motivated by fear versus love? What helps you make that shift? ([13:08])

Sermon Clips

Altruistic acts without a sanctified relationship with God will either run out or they will become more forms of evil every single time. And one of the primary reasons is because without a sanctified relationship with God, I am only led by fear. And fear will lead us again every single time to justify protecting our treasures by any means possible. [00:15:50] (49 seconds) #FormedByOurTreasures

So when a person has an opinion that challenges our opinion, we quickly conclude, well, they're a threat to our treasure and our treasure must be protected. And a person whose treasure is of this world will climb onto the roof and take the life of another human being. But if I store my treasure in the kingdom of God in heaven, then I cannot be driven by fear. Because instead I am driven by a genuine love for God and a love for my neighbor. Even the neighbor that I disagree with, even the neighbor that I might call my enemy. [00:17:54] (60 seconds) #DelusionsOfWorldlySecurity

If it's government, we should really consider this one because this might be the great plight of America today. Then politics molds my heart. I'm formed by the politics that I believe. I'm formed by the party that I follow. I'm formed by these things. And I allow them to tell me what I should look like. Even to tell the church what the Christian should look like or to say what Jesus should look like. I should be really careful with this one. [00:20:07] (33 seconds) #HopeFormsOurNature

The thing that I think will provide for my well being is the thing that will mold my heart and shape everything, every part of my life. Now I don't think that Jesus is saying, go close your bank accounts, give up your 401k any more than I think he's Telling us to cut off your hand or poke out your eye. But I do believe that Jesus is telling us that the only way to ensure your well being and the well being of all people is to intentionally practice a life liturgy that puts its hope for our well being in God and in God's ways of living. [00:20:39] (53 seconds) #HopeInGodTransforms

Because of how important that treasure is to us. This thing is the thing that we think will protect us. And this thing that we think will protect us will also demand our protection. And so we will allow it to form our hearts into whatever it is needs us to be friends. We're formed by our treasure. Notice Jesus doesn't say that where your treasure is, there your heart is. He says, where your treasure is, there your heart will be. It's a future tense saying, this is formative, this changes you. [00:21:37] (60 seconds) #JusticeThroughChrist

So wherever our treasure is, our hearts will protect it and we'll become whatever our treasure demands us to be. And this can make us weak and it makes us vulnerable. Because the very fact that we're treasuring the things of the world, the very fact that we we treasure and try to protect our politics or economic standards or our money or whatever it is of this world be these created things that we created, the very fact that we put our stock in them shows that we're delusional anyway. [00:23:18] (36 seconds)

If you believe that one political party is actually going to benefit us, you're not in reality if they don't. If you believe that simply having enough money is going to solve all your problems, you're not living in reality because it won't. If you believe just having a big enough army is going to protect this nation and keep you safe, you're delusional because it won't. If you put your stock in any of the things in this world for your well being, you're already acting delusional. [00:23:53] (45 seconds)

``If our hope is in ourselves, if your hope is in you, if your hope is in government, if your hope is in politics, if your hope is in money, if your hope is in anything honestly that we've created as human beings, then you will be formed into and by fear. But if our hope is in God, if our hope is in the kingdom of God, then we will be formed into the image of God. That's a good thing because we will be formed into the loving, gracious, life giving, restorative, blessed image of God. [00:26:16] (49 seconds)

Only then, only when we do that can we be a blessing to the world around us. Only then can we truly deal with the social injustices that do exist in our world. Only then can we deal with the real poverty, the real hunger, the real problems. They exist. But there's only one way to handle that and that is through Christ. And as kingdom people of God, whose allegiance is to King Jesus and King Jesus alone. [00:27:05] (27 seconds)

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