Kingdom Living: Preoccupation with Money/Possessions (Matthew 6:19-24)
Thoughts about God rewarding piety flows into teaching about our attitude towards possessions.
1. Two Treasures (vs. 19-21)
a) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures”- Stop/do not be in the habit of treasuring/gathering/storing up treasures/material possessions on earth. Morris on treasure “that which one values above all else.”
b) They can be taken away: moths can destroy expensive clothing; “rust” = “eating”, could be the corrosion of rust, devouring pests, or mildew which destroys; “thieves” could “dig through/break in” (mud/clay houses) to your houses and steal. No riches on earth are totally secure & lasting. Beyond this you cannot take anything with you at death (Job 1:21, I Timothy 6:7). INVESTING IN A BANKRUPT BANK
c) “but lay/treasure up your treasures in heaven” Moths, rust & thieves cannot touch treasures stored in heaven. We do this by using our wealth, resources and abilities to serve God. One sees this life as an opportunity to prepare for our eternal home.
d) There is a direct connection with your treasure (singular) & your heart (the center of your being). Your accumulation of treasure on earth or heaven shows where your heart is and where it will stay.
e) Indicators of your treasure: what you day dream about, what dominates your conversation, how you spend your spare time, what motivates & excites you, your dreams and goals.
2. Two Eye Conditions (vs. 22-23)
a) The eye is likened to a lamp that gives light & direction for our entire body (apart from it the body has no light to guide). The eye is controlled by the heart (vs. 21). Where the eye is focused, your life will follow.
b) “If/clear”- simple, single, wholehearted, good, healthy, generous” then your whole body is full of light. One is moving in a direction, which pleases God; in a way, He wants you to use your wealth.
c) “If/eye”- bad, evil, unhealthy, greedy then your whole body is full of darkness. Your life/body is given over to living as though this life on earth is all there. This is moving away from God’s way & you end up with nothing.
d) “If/light in you is darkness how great is the darkness”- Seeing falsely is worse than blindness. This person’s sense of direction is continually into darkness away from storing up treasure in heaven. They deceive themselves thinking they are walking in light, but are in total darkness.
3. Two Masters (vs. 24)
a) God created material things for us to enjoy (Proverbs 10:22, I Tim. 4:3, 6:17), but not be owned by them. A slave/servant cannot serve two masters at the same time. As far as our money/wealth/possessions go, we can serve God, or mammon. To want both, is to choose mammon.
b) Mammon means wealthy/riches. Here it is personified as a Lord/god. In a comparative sense, you will love one and hate the other; or hold/cling to the one & despise/ look down on/ treat the other with contempt. One will get your supreme allegiance.
c) Both masters demand your allegiance & both offer rewards. The wise approach is to use money to serve/worship God.

Where are you storing up treasure? Is your eye letting in light or darkness? Who is your master?