Storing Up What Treasures?

some thoughts on where we find our sense of self-worth

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21

At first glance, it seems like Jesus is talking about money here. After all, in the book of James, James, possibly drawing from the Sermon on the Mount, warns rich men that their precious garments would be moth eaten and their gold and silver would rust because of their mistreatment of the poor (James 5:1-3).

And Jesus does end up talking about money and wealth immediately after this.

But the Sermon on the Mount is a carefully crafted sermon in which there are often several things going on at one time. Jesus is constantly building up the audience to receive a deeper truth that may not even hit them until the end of the sermon or maybe years later.

So when we see something that seems so straightforward, that might be a hint that there is something else going on.

So let’s go back through the Sermon up to this point to pick up on what Jesus is doing here.

From the Inside Out

In Matthew 5, Jesus began his sermon by subverting his audience’s expectations of what the kingdom of heaven is like. Instead of painting a picture of a kingdom that depends on strength, violence, and might, he invited them to participate in a kingdom in which being humble, being persecuted, and mourning are the real strengths.

This topsy turvy view of the kingdom prepared his audience to expect the unexpected.

So when Jesus said that their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, they knew that this could only be done by redefining what righteousness is—because nobody could beat the scribes and Pharisees at their own game.

And that’s what Jesus does.

“You have heard that it has been said [by the Law as interpreted by the scribes and Pharisees]…”

In each of these examples, Jesus invites his audience from an external, performative morality to an internal, transformative life.

For example, most people can say they have never intentionally taken the life of an innocent human being (that is, murder), but who among us hasn't been angry with our brother or sister? Since Jesus considers anger and hatred to be just as serious as murder, who are we to judge anyone else?

Unfortunately, a lot of people know what it’s like to be the victim or perpetrator of adultery, and it would be really easy for those of us who haven’t cheated on our spouses to judge those who have, but who can honestly say that they haven’t lusted after someone before? Since Jesus considers lust to be just as serious as adultery, who are we to judge anyone else?

Then, Jesus brings up a command that everyone felt was one of the most important ones: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

What could Jesus possibly to do change that?

You can imagine what it would have been like to listen to this sermon preached for the first time. After hearing how he redefined righteousness in all of these other examples, what could he possibly do to what was considered the greatest command on par with loving God with all of one’s heart?

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:44–45

Why should we love our enemies? Because that’s what God does. God sends agricultural blessings upon the righteous and unrighteousness.

Now, remember how Jesus said that our righteousness should pass the scribes and Pharisees? Here Jesus lets us know that God isn’t even really keeping score in the way we are because God loves and blesses everyone. But what God does do is notice when people aren’t transformed by this Love, especially when they pretend to be righteous.

So then Jesus says,

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Matthew 5:46–47

Notice the word “reward.” Jesus is setting us up here for what is about to happen in chapter 6.

Before that, though, watch how Jesus changes the goal from having a righteousness that surpasses the scribes and Pharisees to something else:

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48

The word “perfect” here may imply someone who dots every “i” and crosses every “t,” but the word can mean someone who is whole and mature, and that means someone who admits their mistakes, makes things right with their brother, and, yes, still has “enemies.”

But what makes this person whole is not sinless perfection; it is a radical love that extends to everyone. Because Love fulfills the Law, not a meticulous observance of traditions and laws.

Now that Jesus has set our sights on God instead of the “reward” that comes with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, let’s see how Jesus takes this idea of transformation that leads to a more Abba-like morality and applies it to worship.

You Have Your Reward

The word “reward” is used ten times in the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5:12, 46; 6:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 16, 18. As you can see, most of these are in chapter 6, but they all have to do with differentiating two kinds of rewards.

For the people who perform outward righteousness in order to receive praise from human beings, then the praise they receive is their reward.

But for the people who perform righteous acts for the purpose of serving God, then their reward is eternal.

To sum it all up, Jesus said,

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1

It is within this context that Jesus said,

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21

As Coach Bennet of the Nike Run Club might say, this is about money; this is not about money.

What Jesus could be getting at here is something like this:

When you get all of your comfort, peace, joy, affirmation, and worth from human beings, you are putting your faith into something that may not always be there. When you fail, when you can’t perform, when you don’t serve some sort of purpose for them, these humans will drop you without thinking twice.

But when you get all of your comfort, peace, joy, affirmation, and worth from God, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. You can fall, and God is still there. You can succeed, and God is still there. You can be at your worst or best, and God is still there. Because God is the kind of God who sends rain and sunshine on the just and the unjust, and since we are supposed to be mature and whole like God, then we should extend this same grace towards each other at our best and worst.

When we look to God for our affirmation and support, then our heart will be in the right place, but when we look to humans as our chief cheerleaders, then that security may not last.

Seek First

This is why Jesus said,

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Seek God’s reign and justice in every corner of your life. Don’t seek your own righteousness or anyone else’s version of righteousness. God’s righteousness is a quiet, selfless, but radical love.

In this way, our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. When we emphasize love, then everything else falls into place.

Jesus said, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

This is the Law and the Prophets.

Why would I want to mess that up by adding so much to it?

Just treat people with dignity, respect, and love.

If you’d like to listen to my sermon on the Sermon on the Mount, you can watch it here:

Credits

Special thanks to Corri Johnson and Jordan Winkert for reading and editing what I write and for all of you who pitch in through liking, sharing, and otherwise contributing to the community here.