Treasuring Your Treasures

bout one year ago, a man very enthusiastically told me about his collection of watches. He had many watches from different countries and manufacturers. Most of them were very expensive. Every day he wore a different watch. He knew more about watches than many people. He knew their history, their movements, their crystals, and the best manufacturers. His watches were very interesting, and it was clear that they were one of his treasures in life.

Most of us have treasures or things in this life which we highly value. For some, our treasures may be a collection of movies, a library of books, a vintage car, prized trophies, or our position in life. For men and women their life’s treasure can be their children, a business, a military rank, medals of honor, a famous name, a stack of DVDs, a home, sexual fantasies, a coin collection, an exclusive address in a wealthy neighborhood, or money - coins, bills, and stocks.

Do you have any treasures? One of the signs that you have a treasure is that you devote a lot of time to it or you do not want to give it away. Some steal, lie, cheat, and do almost anything in order to obtain more of their treasure or to keep it. I remember stealing some treasure when I was about six years of age. I stole some money - a penny. I had already learned that money was a treasure. Other children stole marbles, pencils, balls, or food from another’s lunch. Whether young or old, everyone has treasure. What are your treasures?

Jesus and Treasure. Our next study in the Life of Christ is about treasure. It is something that Jesus talked about while He lived among us. In the Sermon on the Mount, His first words about treasure were a warning.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NASB) Matt. 6:19-21

The Greek word that Jesus used for treasure is THESAUROS. The word was used in ancient times to refer to “treasure chamber, a treasure box, a storeroom, or treasure.” Temples often had treasure chambers where gifts and taxes were stored. Jesus used the word to refer to anything that you highly value and, therefore, keep, safeguard, store up, or protect. The Greek word translated as “store-up” in the English actually means “to treasure.” So Jesus did not tell His listeners to “store up” their treasures, He commanded them to stop “treasuring up their treasures.”

Earthly treasures were not safe in Jesus’ day, and they are not safe today. In Jesus’ day moths would eat clothing. Humidity could result in a chemical reaction called rust that would damage coins and other metal objects. What the moths and rust did not destroy, thieves could “break in” and finish the job. The Greek word for “break in” literally means “to dig through.” Thieves in ancient days would actually dig through mud walls of buildings in order to plunder valuables.

Today, we have mothballs and synthetic clothing to prevent damage by moths. Our coins contain alloy compounds to prevent rust and corrosive destruction. We may not be concerned about moths and rust, but we are still concerned about modern thieves. So we have insurance to protect our treasures against theft and damage from various elements. If Jesus were here on earth today, His illustrations would be different. Our treasures are still not safe. The watch collector understood this truth. A woman by the name of Hetty Green also understood.

Hetty Green was a miser. She died in 1915, leaving an estate valued at over one million dollars, but always ate cold oatmeal because she believed it cost too much to heat it. Her son had to suffer through a leg amputation unnecessarily because Hetty wasted too much time looking for a free medical clinic. Hetty Green was wealthy, but she chose to live like a pauper. Eccentric? Yes. Crazy? Perhaps! She was so foolish that she hastened her own death when she suffered a stroke by becoming too excited over a discussion about the cost of drinking skimmed milk. (Green, Michael P. illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Baker Book House. 1989. p. 393)

Hetty had a treasure in this life. It is called money. Hetty’s heart was devoted to her treasure. Jesus was correct. Our heart will be devoted to what we treasure.

Therefore, Jesus challenges us to store our treasure some place other than here in this life. He encourages us to place our treasures in heaven. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 echoes Jesus’ words and tells us how to store treasure in heaven.

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (NASB) 1 Tim. 6:17-19

While this passage is directed to those who are rich, we must not forget that everyone in this life has treasures, and there is always someone who is poorer.

In this passage, God first commands us to treasure Him and not the “uncertainty of riches” That is the first step to storing treasure in heaven. We are to fix our hope on Him because He supplies every good thing to enjoy. The second step to storing treasure in heaven is “to do good,” “to do good works,” and “to be generous.”

The phrase “to do good” refers to noble acts that we do for others, and “good works” includes support for one’s family (1 Tim. 5:8), care for widows (1 Tim. 5:4), hospitality for strangers and prisoners (Heb. 13:2-3), visiting orphans (James 1:27), helping fellow Christians (Gal. 6:10), and raising children (1 Tim. 5:10).