Perhaps you have heard the phrase, “money talks!” So do one’s treasures! In Matthew 6:19‑24, Jesus speaks to disciples about their treasures . . . along with their hearts, their spiritual vision, and their devotion. It’s a tale of two treasures.

Jesus admonishes His disciples: “lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” (v. 19). “Earthly treasures” represent the things people count valuable on earth—lavish and expensive clothing, money, precious metals, land, houses, etc.

“To lay up” earthly treasures suggests that one seeks to amass these things, hoard them, and place them in reserve. One amasses and hoards because he loves things and trusts in them.

A Vow of Poverty?

When Jesus said, “lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth,” He was not teaching that to be a faithful disciple one must take a “vow of poverty,” be ascetic toward the good things of life, or never give thought to any future earthly need. Neither was Jesus condemning all who are rich. The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that one should “enjoy the good of all his labour . . . for it is his portion” (5:18). Solomon and Agur taught that the ant was wise to work through the summer and store up food for the winter (Prov. 6:6; 30:25). Furthermore, Jesus admits that while it may be hard for a rich man to enter heaven, it is certainly possible with the help of God (Matt. 19:23‑26).

Jesus’ admonition is a warning against “the love of money” (1 Tim. 6:10), covetousness (Luke 12:15), a misplaced trust (1 Tim. 6:17), and a lack of trust in God (Matt. 6:25‑34). He is condemning any who “lay up treasures for him/herself and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Hence, He continued: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20).

Heavenly treasures are one’s works and labors of love done in God’s name for which God will bless and reward (Luke 14:13‑14). One way to “lay up heavenly treasures” is to “make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9). Jesus told the rich young ruler, “go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven . . .” (Matt. 19:21). Jesus is not concerned with the amount of wealth one has; He is concerned with one’s attitude toward wealth and how one uses it. Don’t hoard riches while here on earth; invest them in Heaven.

A Glaring Difference

Jesus’ words alert us to glaring differences between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures. Earthly treasures are unsecured—“moth and rust” can corrupt them and thieves can steal them (Matt. 6:19); they can be consumed, tarnished, destroyed, and taken away. Heavenly treasures are secure—they are untouched by moths, rust, and thieves (v. 20); they cannot be consumed, tarnished, destroyed, or stolen from one by men. Earthly treasures are earthly, hence temporal. Heavenly treasures are eternal. Only what is done for Christ will last!

One’s heart is not unaffected by one’s treasures. Jesus plainly said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (v. 21). If one lays up earthly treasures, it means one’s heart is set on things on the earth. If one lays up heavenly treasures, it means one’s affections are rightly set on things above (Col. 3:2).

If you choose to “lay up earthly treasures” instead of “heavenly treasures,” it means your spiritual perception is darkened or distorted, and you are blinded by the god of this world (2 Cor. 10:4). How could anyone whose mind’s eye can see clearly choose that which is earthly over the heavenly, or the temporal instead of the eternal? Hence Jesus instructs, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (v. 22). We need to keep our spiritual eye “single,” or sound and focused on Heaven.

Exclusive Devotion

One’s treasures declare his master, too—God or riches. Some mistakenly think they can lay up earthly treasures for themselves and at the same time lay up heavenly treasures; they can’t! Jesus affirmed, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (v. 24). One must lay up heavenly treasures and be exclusively devoted to God.

Choose your treasures carefully—your heart, eyes, and allegiance are there also.