Your Greatest Affection?

Your Greatest Affection?

Matthew 6:19–21 (NIV)

When I hear these words from Jesus, my thoughts tend to jump to money... treasure and money do kinda go hand and glove... and Jesus certainly does expand his words to include money... saying “no one can serve two masters. They’ll love one and hate the other, no one can serve both God and money (mammon).” But money’s not the foundation of what Jesus is talking about here.

He’s talking about affections. As in your affections... and my affections... the things we value, and love the most... and how those affections are accurately revealed in the things we treasure.

Of course, the fact is, whatever it is that we value most, that thing (or things) has the most impact on our living. Our affections shape how we act, how we think, and ultimately, they determine who & Whose we are.

The truth is there’s a real danger in over-valuing the things of this life at the expense of our souls. So-much-so that Jesus took great pains to point out the vanity of fixating on the temporal things of life, over-and-above eternal things.

Of course, Jesus began with an imperative/command. “DO NOT” - “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…” The context of Jesus’ words carry the idea of ceasing an ongoing behavior (remember… Jesus was preaching an actual sermon to actual people in real time). He was saying, “Stop storing up treasures in this life.”

But it’s also important to know what Jesus was NOT saying. He wasn’t saying that earthly treasures are necessarily sinful in themselves. God’s Word does not condemn honest work, responsible stewardship, or wise provision for one’s family. In fact, the Bible tells us such things are good, and beneficial, and necessary! “Those who don’t work, don’t eat!” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)… Anyone who doesn’t take care of his family is worse than an “infidel.” (1Timothy 5:8)

The problem’s not that we have treasure, or that we work for treasure... but rather, the motivation... the purpose... the intent behind our strivings.

The problem is allowing worldly possessions to possess us!

So Jesus spells-out three reasons why earthly treasure shouldn’t be our primary affection.

First of all; worldly treasure doesn’t last… it decays... “moths and vermin destroy…” Nothing in this life ultimately resists deteriorating!

Buildings crumble, technology fails, bodies weaken. The things of this world simply do not last.

Secondly, Jesus says, the things of this world can disappear suddenly and unexpectedly: “thieves break in and steal.”

Earthly security is fragile, at best. Economic collapse, disaster, theft, illness, or death can strip away our possessions overnight. It can all be gone in an instant.

The rich fool in Luke 12 stored up wealth for himself, yet God said: “This very night your life will be demanded from you.” It’s astonishing just how quickly earthly treasure slips away.

Of course, the 3rd reason Jesus gives, and ultimately the most important, is that the things of this world cannot satisfy the soul. So “store up treasure in Heaven.”

Our hearts and lives were created for God; for His honor and glory. And nothing in this life can satisfy the place God has reserved for Himself.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that worldly pursuits are “meaningless” - everything is vanity - apart from God. Solomon tried everything, he withheld nothing life could offer, and nothing satisfied. His heart remained restless… causing him to realize the whole duty of man is to glorify God, and keep His commandments.

God’s Word could not be more clear: the world, and nothing in it, can redeem or satisfy our souls. Yet we keep trying... time and again... to make the temporal fill a space that only the eternal can occupy! Sin deceives us into believing that somehow, someway, created things can give ultimate meaning.

But the fact is created things make a terrible savior. God will not share his glory with us! (Isaiah 42:8). He will be first, or nothing. And listen: I know that’s difficult to work out… mainly because we tend to linear thinking; to “ABC or 123” or First, Second, Third. But what God actually seems to want is the center, or the foundation, of our lives… whereby everything we are, and everything we ever hope to be flows from Him.

I think that’s the only way we can honestly keep Christ first! Otherwise we get frustrated… and end up making idols we never meant to create. Money, comfort, and success (all good things) can easily become idols that compete with God when they’re made the center. That’s why Jesus said:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The heart always follows the treasure.

Maybe, as God’s People, and Followers of Christ, we should regularly ask ourselves:

What consumes my thoughts?

What controls my anxieties?

What excites me most?

What am I unwilling to lose?

One day every bank account, possession, achievement, and earthly success will pass away. Only what is done for Christ will remain.

If this world holds your greatest affection, you’ll remain bound to things that perish.

But if Christ is your greatest treasure... you’ll desire to know Him more, and serve Him more... as your heart and life increasingly finds joy and fulfillment in Him.

May God, by His grace, turn the desire of our hearts and lives from temporary affections to eternal glory; so that we’ll testify along side the Apostle Paul: “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8

Amen.