What Do You Treasure?
The other night, I was watching Jeopardy!—and you know me, I always get so excited whenever there’s a Bible question or category—so I was thrilled that the Final Jeopardy! question was actually about Matthew 6:19. But then, the very next morning, I was surprised to find the "Verse of the Day" on my Bible app was Matthew 6:21. What were the chances that these two quotes would show up so close together? I don't believe in coincidences. It really made me stop and wonder: Was the Holy Spirit trying to get my attention?
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
(Matthew 6:19–21)
Everything we feel, every move we make, and everything we go after starts in the heart. When God truly has our heart, the rest of our life just kind of falls into place. But we have to realize that we are constantly being presented with the same "deals" that have been offered since the beginning—the promise of earthly security and world treasure.
The Offer of Every World Treasure
We see this most clearly in the wilderness. After forty days of fasting, Jesus was presented with the ultimate shortcut. The enemy didn't just offer Him a small comfort; he laid out every possible earthly treasure, power, and glory in a single moment. It was an offer to have it all—the wealth of the world—without the sacrifice of the Cross.
"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
(Matthew 4:8–10)
Think about the weight of that offer: "All the kingdoms of the world and their splendor." Every bit of gold, every throne, every ounce of influence was put on the table. It is the same offer we see in our own lives on a different scale—the idea that if we just possess enough, if we just reach a certain level of success or comfort, we will finally be satisfied. But Jesus saw the splendor of the world for what it truly was: a hollow substitute. He rejected the offer of every world treasure because His heart was already fixed on the only Treasure that doesn't fade.
The Morning Reality Check
It really made me think about the first thing we do when we wake up. Are we immediately focused on what we need to do that day? Are we fixated on a problem we have to face? When we wake up and immediately dive into our to-do list, we are essentially looking at the "splendor" of our own small kingdoms. We are making our anxiety and our plans the priority.
Whatever fills our minds, we are making a priority. When we start with thanks, we are intentionally shifting our focus back to Him. We are choosing to let Him fill our hearts and minds before the world has a chance to, acknowledging that He—not our schedule—is our real treasure.
The Lord's Prayer: Depending on the Provider
When Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer, He was giving us a way to re-center our lives on the fact that we depend on God for everything. Think about the line: "Give us this day our daily bread."
Jesus didn't tell us to pray for a month’s supply of bread or a lifetime of security. He specifically said "daily" because He wants us to rely on Him as the Provider every single day. We see this all through Scripture: He sent ravens to feed Elijah by the brook in 1 Kings 17, and after Jesus stood His ground in the wilderness and rejected the offer of earthly kingdoms, the Bible says angels came and attended to Him. God provides when we prioritize Him over the world's treasures.
Solomon and the "Vapor"
I started thinking about King Solomon. He actually had the world treasure that Satan offered Jesus. He had more money, fame, and brains than anyone in history. But in the book of Ecclesiastes, he calls all those earthly things "Hevel." It basically means "vapor" or "smoke." You can see it, but you can’t grab it. He realized that even with every kingdom at his feet, chasing all that stuff is just like "chasing the wind."
Solomon teaches us about the total futility of doing anything if God isn't the center of it. You can be the hardest worker, the most successful person in your field—but if God isn't the core motive, it's ultimately empty. It’s like running a race with no finish line; you’re exhausted at the end, but you haven't actually gone anywhere that lasts.
The Lesson of the Manna and the Widow
We see this play out with the Israelites and the manna. If they tried to stash extra for the next day, it literally rotted. God was using their physical hunger to teach them that having a relationship with the Provider is far more valuable than having a surplus in the pantry. It’s about trust over hoards.
Then you have the poor widow at the temple. She put in two tiny copper coins—everything she had. She wasn't worried about her daily bread because she knew her real treasure wasn't in those coins; it was in the God she was worshiping. Jesus held her up as the ultimate example because her giving was sacrificial. She proved that when God is your treasure, you don't have to live in fear of not having "enough."
The Trap of the Crowd
This even applies to churches. Sometimes the "treasure" becomes church attendance numbers or social media "likes." When the priority shifts from the Truth to the headcount, it’s so easy to start watering down the Word of God. Leaders might avoid the "hard sayings" of Jesus because they don't want to risk losing their "rating." But a church that prioritizes popularity over the Gospel is just building a social club on sinking sand. We have to ask ourselves: are we seeking the splendor of a full room, or the Kingdom of God?
Tomorrow morning, I'm going to try something. No phone, no to-do list for the first few minutes. Just giving thanks. Can you give God 10 minutes of silence and reflection? Do you want to try it with me?
For Your 10 Minutes of Silence
A Verse to Dwell On:
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)
A Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for being my constant Provider. Forgive me for the moments throughout my day when I allow the promise of earthly treasures and my own plans to take priority over You. Help me to surrender my need for earthly security and instead find my true treasure in Your presence. Whether it’s first thing in the morning or in the middle of a busy afternoon, keep my heart centered on You. Let my life be built on what lasts forever, not on the 'vapor' of this world but on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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