Lay Not Up Treasures on Earth, Part 1

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on Matthew 6:19-20, Martin defines 'lay up' as selfishly accumulating and hoarding, and 'treasure' as anything of value to the possessor, emphasizing its flexible and…

The man in Luke 12:21 who built bigger barns to store his abundant crop illustrates selfishly 'treasuring up' for this life without regard for God.

He says who are heaping up treasures for the last days. It's the same word used in Luke 12, 21 about that man who had an abundant crop and he said well I'm going to tear down my old barns and build new ones and store up my whole crop and I'm going to say eat, drink. And live many days for you've got it made. The Lord said such is the man who is rich toward this life but has not treasured up things toward God.

17:56 - 18:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Focusing on Matthew 6:19-20, Martin defines 'lay up' as selfishly accumulating and hoarding, and 'treasure' as anything of value to the possessor, emphasizing its flexible and…

Missionaries' curios of money from different tribes (Boom, Chile) illustrate that what is 'treasure' is subjective and varies by culture, emphasizing that treasure is anything of value to the possessor.

Anything that is thus gathered which is of value to the person possessing it is a treasure. Now on that table that was at the rear when the missionaries had their curios you saw some of the money from some of the tribes in the boom. And some of the folk down in Chile. Now a man who is covetous and wants to heap up monetary treasure he'd get as much of that money there in the boom as he could.

18:59 - 19:28 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies that Christ's command is not a blanket prohibition against saving money, planning for the future, or wealth itself, citing biblical examples of wise saving and…

The ant gathering food in good weather for winter illustrates intelligent forethought and saving, showing that Christ's command is not against all saving.

Well we read in 2 Corinthians 12, 14 where the Apostle Paul says the children ought not to lay up it's the same word used in the original the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents should lay up for the children. Here Paul puts his seal of approval upon a parent who thinks ahead in terms of the needs of his child and lays aside regularly something that may be used for that child's education. Our Lord is not forbidding this. In fact we're told by the writer to the Proverbs go to the ant thou sluggard.

20:59 - 21:35 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin clarifies that Christ's command is not a blanket prohibition against saving money, planning for the future, or wealth itself, citing biblical examples of wise saving and…

Squirrels comically hiding nuts for later use further illustrates proper forethought and planning, distinguishing it from sinful hoarding.

The ant doesn't scurry around in the middle of winter saying uh oh no food out in the ground now what am I going to do for my wife and my kitties. No he says the ant has enough foresight to realize in the times when the weather's good to gather up enough for the time when the weather's poor. You watch the squirrels I love to see them go around here taking some of the nuts and they look like they're trying to hide them it's almost comical it's like a kid who's trying to hide his hands where he's gotten into the chocolate cake and hides it behind him and doesn't realize he's got it all over his ...

21:35 - 22:09 Read in full sermon

The point: Beware of seeking position or prestige as an earthly treasure, especially for those in ministry.

The example of 'junior executives' who value position and outward appearance (briefcases, attaché cases) over higher pay illustrates how position can be an earthly treasure.

I'm not using the occasion of the pulpit ministry to single out individuals. And if this has individual application, beloved before God, hear His voice today. For the Lord wants to spare you. Piercing yourself through with many sorrows. Lay not up treasure. Some of you freeze deep and say, well, that's not me. Well, it could be position. You see, position is more important to some people than money. I meet a lot of these fellows that like to play junior executives. We meet them on airplanes all the time. Mr. Retch will bear this out. Some guy that just loves to carry a briefcase in one hand an...

33:57 - 34:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine if temporal, earthy, sensual pleasures are what you are accumulating and giving your life to.

The sad story of Demas, who forsook Paul because he 'loved this present world,' illustrates how pleasure or prestige can become an earthly treasure that severs spiritual relationships.

Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this precious and word, and is departed unto Thessalonica. One of the saddest verses in all the world. A man who labored with the apostle Paul. When Paul says in Romans 9, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. I'm sure this man Demas had times on his knees when he heard this mighty apostle with tears and strong crying, pleading with God for the salvation of souls. He saw him stand and preach under the demonstration of the Spirit. He stood in the synagogues and reasoned with sinners. He prayed in private.

37:07 - 37:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Remember you are a pilgrim in this world, using its things but not accumulating them; travel light.

The analogy of a pilgrim traveling through a land, only accumulating what is necessary for the journey, illustrates how Christians should live in this world without excess baggage.

He's going to talk about that. But He says, don't ever think that you're here to accumulate. No. What does a pilgrim do? He passes through a given land and he only accumulates that which is necessary to continue his journey to his destination. That's all. Anything else is excess baggage that will hold him back in his purpose, right? He has to travel light. The Lord's saying to us as Christians, travel light. Travel light. Travel light. Some of you fellas at camp this summer, I don't think any of you took the camping, camp craft course.

44:28 - 45:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Remember you are a pilgrim in this world, using its things but not accumulating them; travel light.

The specific example of a hiker needing an extra-light, condensed sleeping bag, unlike a 'city slicker' with a bulky one, further emphasizes the need for Christians to 'travel light' as pilgrims.

I hope you do next year. You'll feel up to it. But you know, you even have a special kind of sleeping bag when you're taking a long hike. Extra light.

45:04 - 45:14 Read in full sermon