Michael continues from the
last post by asking: How do you mend the brokenness of our culture? As
Christians and People of God, the question is, "What do you value
most?" According to Matthew 6:19-21, "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.”
That Verse 19 has a unique
construction in the Greek language “treasures” The word
"treasure" is used both as a verb and a noun. This verse says,
"treasure not for yourselves, treasures upon the earth." Treasure
signifies value. For instance, people and cultures use that which they consider
valuable to fix that which is broken. However, earthly valuables cannot repair a
world that is spiritually broken. Earthly treasures are only temporary ... they
will come to naught ... they will take wings and fly away – so to speak.
That which is of earthly value cannot reconcile our hearts to the true
treasures of righteousness. True and lasting treasure is treasure in
heaven. According to verses 19 and 20, therefore, treasure treasures in
heaven for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Either
you treasure that which is of the material world or that which is in
heaven. You cannot treasure both. Why not? You cannot serve two
masters.
2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “But
we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may
be of God and not of ourselves."
The treasure is the Holy Spirit of life in Christ.
According to 2
Corinthians 4:16-18: “For
which cause we faint not; but though our outward man (our earthen vessels) perish, yet the inward man (our spirit
aligned with the Holy Spirit of Christ in us) is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Valuing “the things of the
earth” results in “the wisdom of the world”. According to the Apostle James,
the wisdom of this world is earthly, sensual, and devilish. However, when
we treasure treasures in heaven with awe, the wisdom that is from above is peaceable,
easy to be in treated, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Hebrews 12:25 says, See
that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we
turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then
shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake
not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates
the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are
made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since
we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which
we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our
God is a consuming fire.
What is it that you value
most? That which can be shaken will be shaken. That which is shaken
loose will be burned. That which cannot be shaken shall remain. Therefore
let us treasure treasures in heaven where there is no corruption ... where
Christ sits on the right hand of the throne of God.
May we ever live to the
praise of the glory of his grace,
Your brother in Christ, Michael
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