Choose Your Treasure
Matthew 6:16–34
In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus dives into the heart issues that drive our spiritual practices and everyday choices. He’s not interested in mere rule-keeping or religious performance; He wants to transform our priorities so that God is our ultimate treasure. Let’s walk through how He shifts us from public applause to private devotion, from earthly wealth to eternal riches, and from anxious worry to peaceful trust.
1) Practice in Private (Matthew 6:16–18)
Key Phrase: “You can’t feed on both praise and presence.”
Jesus begins by addressing fasting—a discipline the Pharisees often turned into a spectacle. They’d fast on certain days but make sure everyone knew it by looking disfigured or acting miserable in public. Instead of condemning fasting itself, Jesus confronts their motive: Were they focusing on God or on gathering attention?
Anoint Your Head, Wash Your Face: Rather than parading your discomfort, keep it private. Fasting is about denying yourself something—commonly food—to give undivided attention to God, not to impress onlookers.
Heart Discipline: Fasting isn’t a hunger strike to force God’s hand. It’s a chance to quiet the noise of our worldly appetites and tune in to God’s voice. By giving up a comfort, we create more space for Him.
Question: If you fasted from one specific thing—food, social media, your phone—how might that help you connect with God?
God notices the devotion you show in private because that’s where your true motivation is revealed.
2) The Treasure Test (Matthew 6:19–21)
Key Phrase: “Where your treasure is, your trust follows.”
Next, Jesus switches from the topic of fasting to talk about storing treasures, but it’s all connected by the idea of hidden motives. He challenges us: Are you collecting earthly goods or investing in things that last forever?
Earthly Treasure Is Fragile: Whether it’s money, status, or stuff, it can rust, decay, or be stolen. Even if it lasts your lifetime, it won’t go with you into eternity.
Heavenly Treasure Is Permanent: When we give, serve, or love for God’s glory, we’re laying up treasure in heaven—spiritual riches that can’t be taken away. Think of these as eternal “investments” that pay dividends far beyond this life.
Question: Glance at your bank transactions or planner—what do they reveal about what you treasure most? Is there a gap between what you say is important and how you actually spend your resources?
Our resources and time can be used as an investment into heaven. The real question is: Which treasure are you working hardest to secure?
3) The Eye Determines Direction (Matthew 6:22–23)
Key Phrase: “Your focus forms your future.”
Jesus calls the eye the lamp of the body. If your eye (or your focus) is healthy, it floods your life with light. But if it’s unhealthy—greedy, jealous, or constantly comparing—darkness creeps in.
Healthy Eye = Clear Perspective: A single-minded devotion to God brightens every part of your life. You see people less as obstacles and more as souls to love.
Unhealthy Eye = Greedy Outlook: If you’re always looking for what you can gain, what you might lose, or how you compare to others, that lens darkens your spirit. Jealousy, greed, and bitterness settle in.
Phones, social media, and advertising flood us with images that can warp our priorities. Not all that glitters is from God; sometimes it’s a trap to hook our attention.
Question: When you catch yourself scrolling or daydreaming, does it ignite gratitude and kindness or spark envy and dissatisfaction?
The content you absorb each day is quietly shaping who you become—so guard your “eye.”
4) Master Check (Matthew 6:24)
Key Phrase: “You can’t worship two things at once.”
Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money.” “Money” here (mammon) includes more than just cash—it’s materialism, status, or anything we prioritize above God.
Divided Allegiance: Picture trying to obey two bosses who give conflicting orders. Eventually, you’ll choose one over the other. The same goes for your heart’s loyalty—God won’t share the throne with greed or self-interest.
All or Nothing: This isn’t a call to poverty; it’s a call to put God first. A wealthy person can humbly serve God, but if wealth becomes the ultimate goal, it takes God’s place.
The rich young ruler walked away from Jesus, not because riches are evil, but because he was ruled by them. It’s a heart posture issue.
You’re always serving something—make sure it’s the One who truly satisfies.
5) Freedom from Fear (Matthew 6:25–34)
Key Phrase: “Worry is worship in the wrong direction.”
Jesus transitions from our possessions to our anxieties. If He’s really our treasure and master, He says we don’t need to live in fear over daily needs like food or clothing because He is able to provide the provision we need.
Look at the Birds and Lilies: They aren’t stressed, yet God provides. We’re more precious to Him than they are, so worry wastes our energy without adding a single hour to our lives.
Faith vs. Anxiety: Worry reveals where we’re afraid God won’t come through. But Jesus reaffirms that if we seek first God’s kingdom, all other needs get sorted out in His timing and we come aligned with Gods will no matter what it may be.
Question: If you find yourself frequently anxious, have you taken a moment to pray honestly, acknowledging where you’re struggling to trust God’s provision and protection?
When God is your anchor, your peace doesn’t hinge on circumstances—it rests in His faithful care.
Takeaway
Private Spiritual Habits
Try a fast—food, Netflix, social media. Use the time you’d normally spend consuming those things to pray or meditate on Scripture. Keep it low-profile.
Treasure Check
Assess your spending, your calendar, your daily phone usage. Does it align with seeking God’s kingdom or your own comfort?
Guard Your Gaze
Unfollow accounts or cut out content that fuels envy, material obsession or lust. Replace it with things that inspire gratitude and godly perspective.
Pick Your Master
If you’re sensing a clash between serving God and something else—recognize that tension and choose who’s boss in your life.
Trade Worry for Worship
Whenever you feel anxiety creeping in, voice a quick prayer: “God, I trust You,” and practice gratitude for what He’s already provided.
Thank You for Reading Jesus doesn’t just tweak our behaviors; He aims at our values. Is your faith a hidden treasure, or a show for likes? Are your eyes locked on earthly gains, or seeking a kingdom that lasts forever? It’s time to choose your treasure—because where your treasure is, your heart follows. May we all walk away from temporary applause and anxiety, stepping into the freedom of trusting God’s loving provision.
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