Kingdom Living: Treasures in Heaven (Ep 123)

Introduction and Welcome

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Jason: Thank you for listening, and welcome to the podcast. I'm your host, Jason McConnell.

What we treasure reveals the posture of our heart. That's the starting point of today's message, one that cuts right to the core of our faith journey. When Jesus spoke about treasures in Matthew chapter six, he wasn't launching a financial seminar.

He wasn revealing something so much deeper, the condition of our trust. Matthew six verse 21. Jesus says, for where your treasure is there, your heart will also be. That one verse is both a mirror and a magnifying glass. It forces us to take a look inward and ask, what am I truly trusting for my security?

Is it a bank account, a job title, a relationship? Is it the illusion of control? We try to maintain in an uncertain world. Jesus knew the gravitational pull of material things. He knew how subtly our hearts could be drawn away from God, not necessarily by evil desires, but by misplaced trust. He isn't condemning possessions.

He's challenging priorities because when our treasure is anchored in heaven, our hearts follow. And when our trust is in the Father, our lives begin to reflect the peace, freedom, and generosity of the kingdom. So as we open up Matthew six today, let's not just ask where our money goes. Let's ask where's our heart pointed?

What do we clinging to when we fear creeps in? What do we believe will sustain us when life feels shaky? Let's step into this conversation with honesty and a willingness to be changed because Jesus isn't after our wallets, he's after our trust.

Earthly vs. Heavenly Treasures

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Jason: I think we can all agree that Jesus doesn't pull any punches and, and it's no different when it comes to the issue of earthly treasures.

In Matthew six verses 19 and 20, he teaches us, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin destroy it, and where the thieves break in and steal, but store up yourself treasures in heaven where the Moz and vermin do not destroy, and where the thieves do not break in and steal.

Uh, that's a pretty sobering warning, right? Earthly treasures, things like. Money, possessions, status, even comfort. These all have a shelf life. They're vulnerable. Jesus uses vivid imagery here. Moz eating away, vermin, corrupting thieves, breaking in. Why? Why does he do that? Because no matter how much we accumulate, no matter how secure we think we are, everything on this earth is susceptible to loss, decay, and theft.

But Jesus isn't talking about financial assets. He's addressing the way we orient our entire lives. When our hearts chase after things that are fleeting, uh, our peace becomes fragile. Our joy becomes circumstantial and our purpose becomes shallow. I mean, let's take a moment to think about what that looks like in real life.

We, we upgrades our, we upgrade our phones, uh, we pursue promotions, chase experience, sometimes even compromise our values for a sense of success. I. Behind the glimmer of success is often a, a soul quietly starving. The more we focus on accumulating stuff, the less we think about what we're becoming, and Jesus is pointing us back to the big picture.

Are we living for a temporary comfort or an eternal purpose? Luke 12 verse 15 reinforces this. Jesus says, watch out. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not consist of an abundance of possessions. I mean, we definitely need to hear that again today, right? Life isn't about what you own.

It's not measured in likes square footage or the size of your retirement fund. It's not a life that's a distraction from life. Here's the deeper danger. Earthly treasures don't just decay. It distracts. It steals our focus from the eternal. When we start building our own little kingdoms, we often forget about the kingdom of God.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly our priorities shift from your will be done to my comfort, be preserved and listen, we're this isn't a call to poverty. It's a call to perspective. Jesus isn't saying we can't have nice things. He's saying, don't let things have you. He's teaching us that true security isn't found in what we possess.

Who possesses our heart. Think of it this way. If everything you value could be taken away in a moment, your career, your car, your savings, your health, what would remain? What would be left? And that's the test of whether our treasure is in heaven or on earth. So what does it mean to store up our treasures in heaven?

Well, it means investing in what lasts, relationships, acts of compassion, obedience to God's calling and the daily pursuit of Christ-likeness. I. These things can't be stolen. They aren't subject to rust. They won't lose value with time. In fact, they echo into eternity. If you're feeling anxious, burdened, or disillusioned with what you've been chasing, maybe Jesus is inviting you to loosen your grip on these temporary treasures and take, take hold of that eternal.

Remember, earthly treasures may sparkle, but they fade. Kingdom treasures may seem invisible, but they endure.

The Eye as the Lamp of the Body

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Jason: Let's live like we believe that Jesus continues his teaching with a, a powerful but often overlooked metaphor. The eye there, there's a pun there, often overlooked the eye Anyways, in Matthew 6 22 and 23, he says, the eye is the lamp of the body.

If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within your is you is darkness, how great is that darkness? This is more than a lesson about vision care. Jesus is teaching us about focus in scripture.

The eye often represented perception, understanding, and desire. So when Jesus speaks of a healthy or unhealthy eye, he's talking about the lens through which we view life and where our attention is, is aimed at a healthy eye, is clear, undistracted, and focused on God. It fills your life with light, meaning, clarity, truth, and spiritual vitality.

But unhealthy eyes clouded by greed, envy, and worldly distractions will darken the soul. It's like looking through a shattered lens. Everything gets distorted. So here's the heart of it. What you focus on will shape what you become. The world is truly full of distractions, social media, entertainment, ambition, anxiety, comparison, keeping up with the Joneses.

I mean, the list goes on. These aren't always evil in themselves, but when they consume our gaze, they dim the light within us. And that's why Psalm one 19, verse 37 is, is kind of a fitting prayer. Turn my eyes away from the worthless things, preserve my life according to your word. I wanna pause here and make that personal for a moment that what's, what is drawing your attention from God right now?

I want you to think about that. Is it this endless scrolling on your phone? Are you doing it right now while you're listening to this? Is it the fear of missing out, the pursuit of success or approval? Is your mind consistently pulled to what's next while your heart drifts further from the presence of God?

Jesus knew that whatever captures your focus will ultimately shape your direction. If you're fixated on wealth, your life will be driven by anxiety and comparison. If your eyes are locked on a status, your decision will bend towards pride, but if your eyes are fixed on Jesus, your whole life will be filled with light.

Hebrews 12 verse two, urges us, fix your eyes on Jesus. The pioneer and perfecter of faith, because when our spiritual vision is clear, our whole body moves in the right direction. So here's a challenge. Take inventory of your vision. What are your eyes drawn to this day? What do you consume? Where, where does your attention dwell?

What? What are you thinking about right now? Because where your eyes go, your heart will follow. And Jesus is inviting us to a better focus, a clearer lens, a heart anchored in the eternal, not the fleeting. I hope we can have the courage to pray like the psalmist Lord, turn my eyes from worthless things.

Then refocus on the one who truly brings light into our lives.

Serving One Master

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Jason: Now, Jesus ends this particular section of the Sermon on the Mount with a bold, uncompromising truth in Matthew six verse 24. No one can serve to masters. Either you'll hate the one and love the other, or you'll be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and money. I wanna let that verse sit heavy for a moment. Jesus doesn't say it's difficult to serve both God and money. He says it's impossible. There's no middle ground, no gray area, no spiritual balancing hack. Our hearts were made to serve one master at a time. In this context, money isn't just about currency.

The Greek word here is mammon. A term that refers to wealth, materialism, and the power of possessions. It represents anything we trust for our provision, our identity, and our sense of control. Apart from God, Jesus is exposing a spiritual tension that still exists in every believer's heart. Even today, who or what has your devotion?

This is more than just a financial issue. It is a worship issue. It is a spiritual and eternal issue. When we begin to love money, chase it, fear losing it, and make decisions based solely on it. Word not managing resources. We're surrendering. Loyalty, and loyalty is exactly what Jesus is after full devotion, undivided allegiance, because just like a servant in a household.

Can't serve two masters without eventually favoring one. We too will always lean into the one we trust the most if we love God, but we're constantly led by the voice of money. We'll live in a constant state of conflict. This truth is echoed by Paul in one Timothy six verse 10, where he writes. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

Some people eager from money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Now, I want you to focus in on that. I wanna see if you count that it's the love of money, not money itself that causes destruction. The issue isn't how much we have, but how tightly we grip it and how much it grips us.

So here's the challenge. Take stock of your decisions and your desires. What drives your choices? What gets the final say in your priorities? What shapes your sense of security or worth? Are you giving generously trusting God to provide? Or are you clinging tightly afraid there won't be enough? Are you seeking first the kingdom or seeking first your next paycheck?

Next possession, next promotion. God doesn't wanna be part of your financial plan. He wants to be Lord of everything. When we serve him fully, money becomes a tool, not a master, a servant, not another God. And here's the freedom in what Jesus is saying. When we escape the tyranny of money or material possessions, we gain so much more than wealth.

We gain peace, we gain purpose, we gain eternal impact. And the joy of knowing that our hearts are fully his. So today, ask yourself. Not just with your lips, but with your lifestyle. Who is my master? Because you can't serve both, but when you choose God, you'll discover he is more than enough.

Trusting God Over Worry

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Jason: So after addressing our treasure, our vision, and our loyalty, Jesus shifts gears sort of in Matthew six verses 25 through 30.

He moves from talking about money to talking about worry, but this really isn't a change of subject. It's a continuation of the same heart issue, which is trust. So Jesus says in verse 25, therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or about your body, what you'll wear.

It's is not life more than food and the body more than clothes. So notice how he begins with. Therefore, he uses this to connect this teaching directly to what came before our trust in God versus our trust in money or more broadly material things. Worry in the sense isn't just a psychological condition, it is a, it's a spiritual indicator, a sign, a signal light on the dashboard of our souls revealing where we've placed our trust.

And here's a little tip for you listeners, if you weren't already aware, worry often exposes the areas where we trust God the least. Think about that for a minute. Now, understand, Jesus isn't ignoring our needs. He knows we get hungry. We need clothes, we have bills. He's challenging the way we respond to those needs.

He's asking us, do you trust your Heavenly Father to provide or are you carrying that burden on your own entirely? Let's look at a couple examples he gives Verse 26. Jesus says, look at the birds in the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds him. Are you not much more valuable than they are?

Interesting. Okay, what about verse 28? See how the flowers in the field grow? They do not labor or spin yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. So Jesus is pointing out that the natural, he's pointing to the natural world to reveal a spiritual truth. He's saying, if God takes care of the birds and the flowers, don't you think he'll take care of you two his child?

Here's the thing, worry doesn't just question God's provision. It questions his goodness. We worry, we're often saying, I don't believe you see me, or I don't. Or if you do, I don't believe that you'll come through for me. And that kind of thinking drains us. It steals our peace. Clouds are judgment, judgment and distracts us from kingdom living.

And that's why Paul gives us this beautiful encouragement in Philippians four, verse six through seven. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, be prayer or petition. With Thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

That's not the first time I've read that verse, guys, peace is the product of trust. It doesn't come from having all the answers. It comes from bringing everything to the one who does. But I want to get real for a minute. What are your current stress points? Where do you feel the weight pressing in? Is it your job, your finances, the relationship, your future?

And beneath that stress, what fear is driving it? What control are you clinging to? Jesus invites us to reflect on those worries, not with shame, but with surrender. He's saying, let's let go of this. Let look at the birds. Look at the flowers. Trust your father. He knows he sees, and he will provide. I. This doesn't mean we become passive.

It means we stop panicking. We, we still show up, we still work, we still plan. We still look for a job. We still save our money and budget and be careful with it. But we do it with the confidence that God is in control, not us. So if worry has been dominating your thoughts, let this moment be it a turning point.

Exchange your anxiety for his peace exchange, your fear for trust exchange, your striving for stillness. In the Kingdom of God, worry doesn't have the final word faith does. Now, here's the thing. Jesus knows. It's simply telling us not to worry. Is it enough? We can't just sub subtract anxiety, we have to replace it with something greater, something eternal.

And that's why after warning us about the futility of worry, Jesus gives us a new focus, Matthew 6 33. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. This may be one of the more powerful but statements of scripture. Jesus doesn't just say, stop chasing security.

Stop worrying about provision. Stop stressing over what you'll eat or drink or wear. He says instead, chase after something better. Seek first the kingdom. And this word seek isn't passive. It's not a half-hearted glance or a Sunday morning nod toward heaven. It's a daily intentional pursuit, a reordering of our priorities.

It means God's agenda becomes our agenda, his righteousness, his way of life becomes our mission. This verse is Jesus giving us a compass. He's saying, you want peace, you want provision, you want clarity in a chaotic world, stop chasing everything else first and chase me first. And when we do, what does he promise?

All these things will be given to you as well. Now, understand he's not saying he'll, you'll get everything you want, he's saying. That we'll receive everything we need when we align our lives with God's purpose. He takes responsibility for all the rest. He doesn't abandon his secrets he provides for them.

This teaching echoes the wisdom found in Proverbs three verses five and six. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and Lee not on your own understanding and all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. I love this verse. In fact, I love it so much. I did a whole episode of around it.

So if you wanna learn more, please go to episode one 14 entitled, divine Direction, how to Trust God with All Your Heart. So maybe listen to that one next. Now, when we stop leaning on our own limited view, our own understanding and submit our plans, our dreams, and even our fears to God, he begins to direct our steps.

That's Kingdom living. Not just believing in God, but building your entire life around him, building your foundation around him. Consider this. What does seek first the kingdom look like in your life right now? Is your day centered on God or is he kind of an afterthought? Do, do your decisions reflect his righteousness or your own ambition?

Are your priorities shaped by eternal purpose or immediate pressure? It might mean waking up a little earlier to spend some time in scripture. It might mean rethinking how you spend your money. It might mean saying no to some, something good in order to say yes to something God has called you to do. It might look like praying first, instead of worrying first, whatever it is.

The challenging part is this reorienting your life so that God's kingdom comes first, not not your comfort, not your image, not your plans, his kingdom, his righteousness. It's just gonna take time. Here's the beauty of it. When we seek him first, we stop striving for everything else, the piece we've been searching for, the guidance, we've been desperate for the provision.

We've been working ourselves to death to get it all flows from him. So what will you seek first tomorrow? What will you choose to prioritize when the stress kicks in or the demand starts to pile up? Let today be the day you stop living in survival mode and start living by kingdom purpose. Seek him first and watch everything else.

Find its place. It'll take a minute, but it'll happen.

Daily Trust and Provision

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Jason: Now if you thought all of that was hard, here comes the really hard part when we have to trust God with the uncertain times. It's really easy to trust God when everything is going right, when we land that new job, when our kids graduate from school, when the bills are paid and nothing needs an expensive repair.

But what about when you can't see beyond the bad things closing in on you? Jesus closes this part of his teachings on worry and trust with a final word of reassurance in Matthew six verse 34. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own Look, this isn't a denial difficulty.

Jesus knows our life can be hard. He acknowledges that every day brings its own challenges, uncertainties and decisions. But here's the heart of what he's saying. Don't borrow tomorrow's trouble. Trust God with today, this invitation to trust God. It's not some, it's not abstract or idealistic. It's actually deeply practical.

Trust doesn't just happen in our quiet times or during Sunday sermons. It happens when the bills are due and the bank is low. It happens when the diagnosis comes back. Unclear or not good when the job interview didn't go well, when the future of a relationship feels shaky. That's where faith gets real.

Jesus isn't asking us to pretend there's no pain. He's asking us to shift our focus Again. It's all about focus. We're not called to carry tomorrow's burdens today. We can barely do today's burdens. Instead, we are called to surrender today's fears into God's capable hands and rest in his faithfulness one day at a time.

Remember when the Israelites wandered into the wilderness after leaving Egypt? They were free, but they were hungry, unsure, and surrounded by uncertainty. And what did God do? He sent manna bread from heaven every morning, just enough for that day, not a week's worth, not a month's worth daily. In Exodus 16, verse four, God said, I will rain down bread from heaven for you.

The people are to get out each day and gather enough for that day. If they tried to store it up, what happened? It's spoiled. Why? Because God wasn't just feeding their bodies, he was forming their faith. He was teaching them and us that his provision is daily. His grace is fresh, and his presence is enough.

Just like the Israelites woke up every morning and had to trust that manna would be there again. We're called to wake up every day and believe that God's mercies. We'll be new again. Just as Lamentations three verses 23 Promises. Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness and he is faithful New mercy every morning. That means no matter how uncertain your future feels right now, God has already prepared the grace you'll need when you get there. The wilderness. It was uncomfortable, it was uncertain, but it became a classroom where they learned to rely on God, not for a lifetime's worth of security, but for that day worth of bread.

And Jesus teaches us the exact same thing in the Lord's Prayer that we talked about in our last Kingdom Living episode. Give us today our daily bread, Matthew six, verse 11. Again, it's not weekly, not monthly, today, daily. Here's the truth. God is faithful today and he will be faithful tomorrow and he'll be faithful the day after that.

So if you're in a wilderness season, if you're feeling like you don't know what's coming next, remember you don't need to. You just need to trust the one who does. He will give you today's manna. Tomorrows will come when you get there and, and it's gonna be enough. God provides over and over again. Maybe you've seen that in your own life.

A job came through when you. Just absolutely most needed it a check in the mail. You weren't expecting a friend who called you right when, where you were about to break down and, and fall apart. A word of scripture that came to you, that encouraged you to take the next steps. These moments aren't coincidences.

They are God's fingerprints in your life. And if he's done it before, he'll do it again. What worries about tomorrow are weighing you down today? Take a moment. Name them. Maybe even write them down and then prayerfully surrender them to God who sees what you need and who knows what your, what your face looks like, and who promises to walk with you through every high and every single low.

You are never meant to carry it all. Jesus says, don't worry about tomorrow. Why? Because he'll be there when you get to tomorrow. So today, just today, trust him, lean on his love, receive his mercy, and believe deeply in your soul that great is his faithfulness.

Conclusion and Final Encouragement

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Jason: Now as we bring today's message to close, I wanna speak straight to your heart.

Jesus never asked for part of you. He's asking for all of you, not just your tithe, not just your Sunday mornings. He wants your trust. Every day, every moment, because where your treasure is there, your heart will be, and Jesus is after your heart. He's not calling you into a life of fear, scarcity, or anxious, striving.

He's calling you into a life of freedom. Freedom that comes from trusting your heavenly Father with everything, your finances, your future, your fears, everything. This week, I'd like you to think about one area in your life where you need to stop striving and start seeking. Is it money, control, approval, security, whatever it is, lay it at his feet.

Let go of the illusion that you have to carry it all, or that you can carry it all and invite the king of Kings to rule in that space. Let Hebrews 13, five be the final word over your life today. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Because God has said, never will I leave you.

Never will I forsake you. He's enough. He's with you and he's worthy of your trust. Seek him first and everything else will follow. Until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily and may the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace. Take care of God bless, and I'll see you in the next episode.

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