Where Your Treasure Is

By Dale Babinsky
    In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a challenge to the human heart. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19–20). These verses are not merely a warning against materialism—they are a call to consider the affections and desires of the heart.Earthly Wealth Fades Away    Jesus begins with a contrast. Earthly treasures are vulnerable because moths can consume, rust will corrode, and thieves break in and steal. In a world where possessions can vanish overnight, the pursuit of security through material wealth is extremely hazardous. But the deeper issue is not the treasure itself—it’s the heart’s attachment to it. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). The location of our treasure reveals the focus of our hearts.The Eye as the Lamp    Jesus then uses another metaphor to explain, saying, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” A healthy eye—generous, clear in purpose—fills the whole body with light. But an unhealthy eye—stingy, clouded by greed—plunges the soul into darkness. This imagery suggests that our spiritual vision, our way of seeing material things, determines whether we walk in light or darkness. The Greek word for healthy here implies generosity, while the word for unhealthy implies selfishness.We Must Choose    Jesus concludes with a stark reality: “No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). The word translated as mammon is money or wealth, a term that personifies wealth as a rival deity (the almighty dollar, if you will). Divided loyalty is impossible. Our heart/mind will inevitably choose one master over the other.    This passage invites us to examine not just our bank accounts, but also our desires, our focus, and our allegiance. What do we treasure? What fills our vision? Whom do we serve? In a culture that prizes accumulation and wealth as a sign of success, Jesus’ words are countercultural. They call for us to invest in that which is eternal—acts of mercy, love, obedience, and faith. These are the treasures that neither moth nor rust can corrupt.

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/