Daily Treasure

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Though this verse needs little explanation, these words from John MacArthur add insight: “Jesus goes on to point out that a person’s cherished possessions and his deepest motives and desires are inseparable, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  They will either both be earthly or both be heavenly.  It is impossible to have one on earth and the other in heaven (James 4:4).  As always, the heart must be right first.  In fact, if the heart is right, everything else in life falls into its proper place. The person right with the Lord will be generous and happy in his giving to the Lord’s work. By the same token, a person who is covetous, self-indulgent, and stingy has good reason to question his relationship with the Lord.”

If every thing you treasure is in a bank or vault somewhere, you will always been thinking about that place.  However, if you are “laying up treasures in Heaven”,  you will always be thinking about Heaven.  Where is your treasure and heart today?

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Praise God; count your blessings.

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:15-21).

Most of us are familiar with the story of the rich fool. Basically we could sum his story up as one who was greedy, covetous,  and had “I” trouble. He had amassed great wealth  When he no longer had places to store his treasure, he had a little talk with himself. He would build bigger places to store his wealth. He is planning an early retirement.  God had something else in mind for this one whom He called a fool. The rich man was going to die. What good were all the treasures he worked so hard to obtain?  They would be left for others to fight over and not appreciate.

The rich fool devoted his whole life gathering wealth and left God out of the equation. God had blessed him tremendously, yet he hoarded his material possessions, keeping them all to himself. In one of the many commentaries I poured over I found this statement: “…if we honor God with what He has given us, He will bless with more so that we can honor Him with more.”  If only the rich fool could have come to terms with that.

When you are tempted to focus more on what you have than what you can give away, think on the following quotes.

“When a man dies he clutches in his hands only that which he has given away in his lifetime.” —Jean-Jacques Rousseau

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” —Jim Elliott

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: How did God’s Word speak to you today? Were you obedient? Pray for continued growth a a follower of Christ.

NOTE: September marks the premiere issue of Treasure, WNAC’s new study guide. In preparation, this week’s daily devotionals focus on Scripture passages concerning treasure. We pray that you will treasure God’s Word and hope you will enjoy this new publication.
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(If you’re a current TWG subscriber, you will automatically receive the Fall 2011 issue of Treasure.)

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal”  (Matthew 6:19-20).

As we embark  on a new adventure in Bible study through Treasure, let us look this week at this word.  The world looks at treasure  as “wealth or riches stored or accumulated.”  Our materialistic world defines treasure as precious metals, money, or other possessions which are temporal. I choose another definition.  As I see it, it is “any thing or person greatly valued or prized.”  The child of God should views treasure with eternity in mind.  When we value material treasure more than God—this poses a problem. God will one day look at what we’ve done with what He entrusted us to have and use.

Today’s verses, written in red, admonish us not to so tightly grasp earthly treasures that we forget to be good stewards of what we possess.  Having great wealth and possessions is not wrong.  However, when life is over, we can’t take it with us. How we use our treasures, in service to God, is what we are “laying up” or sending on before we reach Heaven.

Noted preacher C.H. Spurgeon said,  “Let our desires and efforts go after heavenly things.  These are not liable to any decay within themselves, nor can they be taken from us by force or fraud.  Does not wisdom bid us seek such sure possessions?  Out of our earthly possessions that which is used for God is laid up in heaven.  What is given to the poor and to the Lord’s cause is deposited in the Bank of Eternity.  To heaven we are going, let us send our treasures before us.  There they will be safe from decay, and robbery: but in no other place may we reckon them to be secure.  I will at once remember the Church and its Missions, orphans, aged saints, and poor brethren: these are my treasury boxes, and I will bank my money there.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for prisoners in local jails today. Visit if at all possible.

“I will steady him and I will make him strong.  His enemies will not get the best of him, nor will the wicked overpower him”  (Psalm 89:21-22 NLT).

Lord, I really needed that this morning.

I needed to be reassured that You’re on my side, You’re fighting my battles and You are completely aware of my weaknesses—each and every one of them!

I’m feeling a little beaten and defeated this morning, so the thoughts of facing another day without Your protection and Your power scare me to death.

My inabilities assure me of the fact that in You rests any hope I might have of making it in this tough world.

Thanks for placing those words in the Bible.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: Make Psalm 139:23-24 your heartfelt prayer today.

“The people whom you have resettled in the towns of Israel do not know how to worship the God of the land…”  (2 Kings 17:26 NLT).

I’ve figured it out.  I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately, and I’ve finally come to an understanding of the problem—and quite possibly a solution.

What’s caused the downfall of our culture, the dysfunctionality of our families and the darkness of evil to fall over our land, our churches and our homes?  I’m glad you asked…

“The people whom you have resettled in the towns of Israel do not know how to worship the God of the land…”  2 Kings 17:26 NLT

Oh, I’m sure you disagree on some level.  You may want to argue that each and everyone of us knows how to worship; you might point to an innate predisposition to lift our hands to our Creator or that God-shaped hole that is in us all.  You could even bring up Scripture that states our purpose in life is to worship the Sovereign Lord.

So I’ll state my case as mildly as I can:  If we know how, if it’s in us to do it, if worship is what we’ve been made for—could it just be that we’re choosing not to?  Or would you rather see in print that we’re not valuing the privilege of worship to the degree that we deem it necessary to pass on to our children?

Personally, I do believe it’s a matter of not knowing how.  Not knowing how to put aside all others and worship the One.  Not knowing how to push aside self-admiration to admit our powerlessness and His majesty.  Not knowing how to throw aside burdens, sins and appearance issues to be able to worship in Spirit and in Truth.

I’ll stand on my final answer, we’re a culture that just doesn’t know how to worship–and what’s even sadder…we don’t care to learn.

Malinda Edgell
Illinois

PRAY TOGETHER: As you prepare for worship, remember the goal is pleasing God—not entertainment.

“But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:21).

As we draw our Shine! studies to a close, I couldn’t help but choose today’s verse. I thought it especially appropriate. Keep on shining. As you do, you will reflect the true God.  You will no longer walk in darkness to hide your deeds. You will brilliantly shine to those still in darkness.  Those around you will truly know what you are doing is of God.  Shine on!

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray today for leaders/teachers at our Bible colleges.

“….and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20b).

Christ gave us the truths of His Word and His example to follow so we could carry out our mission on earth.  At times, you may feel scared or overwhelmed by the task.  Could you even imagine carrying out God’s command without His presence to comfort and guide you?  Well, thank God, you don’t have to.  He has promised to be with you always as you do His will.  God is faithful to keep all His promises.  That’s a truth we can bank on as we shine in truth.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Continue praying for family members who remain unsaved or away from the Lord. “Be not weary in well doing…”