What do you treasure?

Written by Kingsley Tsonyake.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 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 nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (KJV) Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus addressed a variety of issues in His Sermon on the Mount. He, however, shifted the focus of the sermon from hypocrisy in religious practices to the values we hold in life (Matthew 6:19-21). He explained that worldly values are as dangerous as religious hypocrisy. For unless the object of our lives; our treasures, are based on eternal realities, we stand the risk of losing everything.

In Matthew 6: 25-34, we can deduce that Christ’s message was directed to an audience that were relatively poor in their society. Jesus had to urge them not to worry because many of them didn't know where their next meal will come from or where they will get clothing and shelter. Despite their vital human needs, Christ directed His message about “treasures” to these poor people. The implication is that everyone has some treasures, even the poor. Treasures consist more in the affections of the heart than in what we can hold in our hands. Thus, every human being, regardless of our age, status, gender, race, educational background, etc. considers some things as very treasured.

When we think of “treasures” many of us limit it to material wealth such cars, houses and money. Consequently, we perceive only the rich and famous to have treasures. But treasures may be tangible or intangible; it is that which we value above other things. In Joshua 7, we learned that Achan valued a Babylonian garment, silver and gold above the commands of God, and he ended up losing all. In Acts 5, Ananias and Saphira treasured honour before men more than having the approval of God and in the end they lost all of it including their lives. Therefore, our treasure may be our attitude toward our possessions. It may be whatever we most eagerly strive to attain. It is that which we most fear to lose. What do you treasure?

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