Lay Not Up Treasures on Earth, Part 2

Driving home: It's the final phrase, the Father seeth. That's the key to the first 18 verses of Matthew chapter 6. The Father seeth. That's all that matters.

Martin uses prayer, giving, and fasting as examples of religious duties where the key issue is 'the Father seeth,' emphasizing that internal heart condition matters more than external performance.

If there's one thing I must remember above all others when I pray, what is it? If there's one thing I must remember above all others when I give, what is it? If there's one thing I must remember above all else when I fast, what is it? Then it's the liturgy.

0:50 - 1:05 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains Christ's first reason for the command: earthly treasures are subject to decay, corruption (moth and rust), and theft. He argues that common observation reveals the…

He illustrates the decay of earthly treasures by noting that silver and gold tarnish if left alone or wear away if used, showing that even physical wealth cannot be preserved intact.

Here is something that arises from the very nature of the treasure itself. You take silver and gold. If you leave them alone and shut them up in a closet, they tarnish. If you use them, they will not tarnish, but they wear away.

8:47 - 9:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains Christ's first reason for the command: earthly treasures are subject to decay, corruption (moth and rust), and theft. He argues that common observation reveals the…

Martin uses the example of a wedding band, which shines with use but wears away, or tarnishes if stored, to demonstrate the inevitable decay or corruption of all earthly treasures.

So in either case, you can't even preserve a treasure like silver and gold intact. To use it to keep it from being cankered is to have it worn away. Look at the wedding band that you have. It is not cankered and rust or tarnished.

9:03 - 9:19 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains Christ's first reason for the command: earthly treasures are subject to decay, corruption (moth and rust), and theft. He argues that common observation reveals the…

He illustrates how a good reputation, if made a treasure, is exposed to corruption from without, easily marred by gossip, leading to an outcast status.

It shines, but there is not quite as much of it as there was at least in mine nine years ago. And so to preserve it, I will take it off and put it on the shelf while I come back in six months and it is tarnished. What is true of gold is true of every single earthly treasure. Reputation, it is exposed to corruption and decay from without.

9:19 - 9:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Isn't it amazing how foolish and blinded is the human heart that it will fly into the face of facts that are disclosed by common observation by all humanity and yet live as though it were not true.

Martin uses inflation, devalued currency, thievery, and tragedy/sickness sweeping away life savings as examples of how physical riches are exposed to corruption and violence.

Now common observation tells us that any earthly treasure is exposed to these two things. Physical riches exposed to the moth of inflation. To the rust of a devalued dollar. Physical riches exposed to actual thievery.

11:10 - 11:28 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Isn't it amazing how foolish and blinded is the human heart that it will fly into the face of facts that are disclosed by common observation by all humanity and yet live as though it were not true.

He illustrates the decay of popularity by describing how physical beauty fades with age, making one an 'old relic,' and how new beauty can 'steal' popularity from another.

The moth of age. The rust of the lines that steal across the face of the one who once enhanced everyone with his or her beauty suddenly passed by as just an old relic of humanity. Beauty and the popularity that it brings exposed to rust. To decay.

11:55 - 12:17 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Isn't it amazing how foolish and blinded is the human heart that it will fly into the face of facts that are disclosed by common observation by all humanity and yet live as though it were not true.

Martin uses the example of parents sacrificing their children's souls for parental ambition, leading to broken hearts, to illustrate the folly of laying up earthly treasures.

Your treasure is marks in school, the approval of your friends, popularity, physical pleasure and common observation tells you that these things are exposed to decay and yet you'll still set your heart upon them. There's no explanation for this but that sin has been so devastating in its effects upon humanity that we don't even use our good common sense to our own advantage but we allow ourselves to be destroyed in the very face of facts that cry out from common observation. Isn't it true? Others of you as parents, you see the absolute folly of other parents

13:32 - 14:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Lord says no. Until a man's a Christian, he doesn't even use his reason rightly. His reason's his worst enemy.

He uses the fading of drapes as an analogy for the corruptible nature of earthly things, contrasting it with the incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven.

There is no corruption there. Our Lord said just plain good horse sense should make a man be occupied with laying up treasures in heaven. We read in 1 Peter 1 and verse 4 that we have been called unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for us. It won't be long before these drapes will begin to droop and fade.

14:57 - 15:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The Lord says no. Until a man's a Christian, he doesn't even use his reason rightly. His reason's his worst enemy.

Martin recounts Moses' decision to suffer with God's people rather than enjoy Egypt's treasures, citing it as the best New Testament commentary on laying up heavenly treasure, even speculating on Moses' potential for the Egyptian throne.

His reason's his worst enemy. But the Scripture says after that, in the wisdom of the world, the world by its wisdom knew not God. But it's the Christian, one who's been illuminated in his mind and heart by the Spirit, who's been regenerated by the mighty work of God, who sees the proper perspective and says like Moses, and I think this is the best commentary in the New Testament on this, in Hebrews chapter 11, it tells us that Moses made a choice regarding the treasures of Egypt or some other treasures that he couldn't see and touch at the time. Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 26,

16:13 - 16:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine what you have laid up that is absolutely moth-proof, untouched by decay, death, or changing circumstances.

He uses the analogy of a cleaning establishment offering 'moth-proof' garment storage to ask what listeners have laid up that is truly 'moth-proof' in the spiritual sense, immune to decay and change.

We go by a certain cleaning establishment and they say we moth-proof garments and store them. What have you laid up that is absolutely moth-proof? In the sense that our Lord is saying. What have you and what are you laying up that is not exposed to the decay and the moth and corruption of time, of death, of change in circumstances?

18:57 - 19:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Consider what you are investing in that cannot be touched by depressions, bombs, disfigurement, demotion, sickness, accident, or death.

Martin uses the hypothetical loss of loved ones (girlfriend, spouse, children) or possessions (home, car), like Job's experience, to challenge listeners about what they possess that cannot be touched by tragedy.

What are you laying up that tragedy can't touch? If God should take the darling of your heart from you, be it girlfriend, or fiance, or husband, or wife. If God should take the darlings of your heart, your children. If God should take your most precious earthly possessions, home, car.

19:25 - 19:44 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He explains that 'where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,' using the analogy of magnets. If one's treasure is earthly, the heart will be drawn to earthly things…

He uses the analogy of magnets with opposite polarities to explain how the human heart is drawn to its treasure, whether earthly or heavenly, like a sunflower to the sun.

Either your treasure is an earthy one or it's a heavenly one and wherever the treasure is with its negative polarity magnetic wise and the human heart having a positive polarity. So wherever the treasure is with its negative polarity the heart will be drawn in the same direction. Some of you fellows and girls you've played with magnets and when you get those two polarities opposites wherever you turn the one the other will move. You can move a magnet right around the earth and the other will move a magnet right around

24:46 - 25:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin interprets the 'eye' as the mind, arguing that if one's mind (eye) is 'single' (fixed on heavenly treasure), it will make right judgments. Conversely, an 'evil' (darkened)…

Martin uses the analogy of a healthy eye seeing things rightly versus an evil/distorted eye seeing with double or blurred vision, to explain how the mind's focus on earthly or heavenly treasure affects judgment.

given to the verse the light of the body is the eye if therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light if thine eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness if therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is the darkness the illustration is clear. If I have one little member called the eye if I have a healthy eye I see everything in its right relationship I see your shining countenance and your pretty hat or little veil or I see the pretty drapes if the eye is functioning properly then I see things as they are but if my eye is evil if it's distorted if ...

27:08 - 27:52 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin interprets the 'eye' as the mind, arguing that if one's mind (eye) is 'single' (fixed on heavenly treasure), it will make right judgments. Conversely, an 'evil' (darkened)…

He illustrates how a mind fixed on earthly treasure (money, position) will make wrong judgments, like cutting corners in business, because its 'eye is dark' to what is truly right.

be single if your mind is set on earth upon heavenly treasure then you'll see everything in its proper light illustration yes somebody comes along to someone and says now look all's fair in love and war and in business I know you're one of these religious fellows but look if we'll just cut a corner here it'll mean this and this and this in terms of your own position in terms of promotion now just forget your religion for a moment now if you're a man whose heart is set on earthly possessions position and the money it brings what'll happen because your eye is dark because your mind

30:04 - 30:49 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin interprets the 'eye' as the mind, arguing that if one's mind (eye) is 'single' (fixed on heavenly treasure), it will make right judgments. Conversely, an 'evil' (darkened)…

Martin uses the example of a young person compromising their Christian convictions at school or on a date to maintain popularity or social acceptance, showing how an earthly treasure (popularity) darkens judgment.

is not fixed upon heavenly treasure but earthly treasure you'll make a wrong judgment and you'll cut corners on what your mind ought to see in its true light and your mind will be an inaccurate conveyor of what you ought to do in that instance here's the young person who's faced with the issue if I take a clear cut stand on this thing at school it'll mean I'll lose some friends I won't be as popular if I take a clear cut stand on my date with this fella who's begun to make his intentions known and I say look these are my Christian convictions I know what'll happen I'll perhaps lose my Friday n...

30:49 - 31:33 Read in full sermon

The point: When faced with clear issues at school or work, choose to speak out boldly for Christ, even if it means losing reputation, rather than remaining silent to keep human respect.

He uses Peter's denial of Christ as an example of a Christian temporarily bowing to Mammon, as Peter's treasure at that moment was his own 'skin' (self-preservation) rather than his Lord.

As a Christian, it's possible that in a given area we can bow down to mammon. Peter did. His treasure at the moment when the young woman came and said aren't you one of them? Your speech betrays you and he cursed and denied saying I know not the man.

40:29 - 40:44 Read in full sermon