Day 10: Wealth

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth”. When I was a broke, married, college student, I was more obedient to this command than I wanted to be. I wasn’t raking in the dough with my part-time, on-campus job. But Jesus’ words appear to be less about numbers or net worth than they are about the condition of our hearts.

Jesus’ original listeners lived in a culture where “treasure” wouldn’t have evoked mental images of online bank statements or even eye-patched pirates cracking open an ancient, wooden chest on a sandy beach. Treasure was simply the stuff you stored up: your possessions. Your wealth was measured by what you owned and how much you owned. Here, Jesus calls his listeners to embrace a better way of investing their efforts and viewing their wealth. My wealth and sense of worth may rooted in what I have, but what I have on earth won’t last. In Jesus’ culture, your wealth, or possessions, would eventually be weathered by the passing of time and be destroyed by pests. My car will eventually get rusty… or rustier. My home will eventually be demolished or just a dilapidated, abandoned structure in an overgrown yard. The little digits on my banking app will be meaningless when some other digits are etched on my tombstone. If I spend my life building temporary wealth, it's a bad investment.

Jesus calls our attention to the coming kingdom that is not of this world and commands us to live with its eternality in mind. In God’s kingdom, our wealth is measured by its eternal significance. Jesus uses the metaphorical imagery of “the eye” to suggest that generosity, or lack thereof, is one of the primary indicators of a person’s spiritual health and eternal perspective. Then, in verse 24, the true nature of this topic is revealed. How we view wealth and what we do with what we have is an indicator of spiritual health and allegiance. What we do with what we have indicates who we serve.

The word for “master” in verse 24, is a Greek word used frequently to describe Jesus as “Lord”. It’s a word that describes a person’s authority over another’s life. It’s possible to crown worldly wealth and the spiritual force behind it as the “Lord” or ruler of our lives. Once again, we are faced with the all-encompassing nature of God’s kingdom. If we accept God’s invitation to become citizens in His kingdom, we’re not merely staking our claim on a vacation home in heaven. We’re submitting to the leadership and lordship of Jesus over every aspect of our existence. But Jesus is not a micro-managing, power-hungry dictator to be feared. He is a wise and gracious king, gentle and humble in heart, who relentlessly pursues what is best for us. In this instance, Jesus deeply desires that we don’t waste our lives on eternally insignificant matters but enjoy life in his kingdom “where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Discussion Questions

• Icebreaker: Have you ever considered giving your vehicle a personal name? If so, what would the name be? (For example, my wife and I have driven “Indy the Impala”, and “Frank Sonata”)
• How do you know if you are storing up treasure on earth or in heaven? What does it look like practically?
• What’s the connection between our treasure and our hearts described in verse 21? Where do you see that connection in your own life?
• How would generosity or stinginess impact the rest of your life?
• Is there anyone in your life who you’ve seen manage wealth in a godly way? Who and how?
• In what way is it impossible to serve both God and money? How are those two ventures incompatible?