Matthew 6:19-24

Our worries often revolve around daily bread issues such as our health, work, peace, family, marriage, food and clothing.  In Matt. 6:19-34 the issues are our treasures (v19), food-drink-clothing (v25), health (v27) and tomorrow (v34).

The Greek term for worry means to divide.  We are divided in our minds about something.  From this come other terms we are familiar with, such as stress or anxiety.  

In this passage, keeping it in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is still confronting us about our righteousness.  It has been true in every age and every society: people are concerned about material things.  The religion of Jesus’ day was quite concerned with money.  The leaders were generally quite wealthy.  The system was set up to require significant amounts of money from the adherents.  Money meant a lot.  

Thus Jesus confronts us here about what we treasure.  What do we value so much that we would go overboard to get it, and will be stressed out if we don’t have it?

He uses this as a prime means of confronting idolatry (v24).  If He had accused the average Jew of idolatry he would have denied it.  They not only did not as a rule adopt the gods of the Romans or Greeks; they were strong to stand against them.  But what is a “god” but something that gets the attention and worship that belongs only to God.  Thus, as with the rich ruler (Luke 18:18-23), so here: Jesus discovers the idolatry in the realm of material treasures.

The fundamental truth is this: where your treasure is, there will your heart be.  Thus Jesus commands an eternal and heavenly fixation rather than one that is temporal and earthly.  We are to lay up treasure in heaven.

Key to this is the guarding of the eyes (v22-23).  The eyes he is ultimately concerned with here are spiritual or heart eyes.  Certainly our senses or physical sight is a key to turning from idolatry.  We must guard them so that we do not focus on those things that will draw our attention away from God.  But we cannot completely shield ourselves from the things of this world.  Thus our spiritual eyes must see correctly.  It is tragic when the light that is in us is not the true light but is in fact darkness.  A false faith is worse than no faith at all.

One must regular think about the matter of trying to serve two masters.  To whom have you granted the authority to be “God” in your life?  Is it your passion for earthly treasure or some other earthly passion?  Can you truthfully say your one Master is the God Who created you?  In other words, are you laying up treasure in heaven?