Your True Treasure: God or Money? - Pastor Dave Klassen
In Matthew 6, Jesus draws a sharp line between the pursuit of earthly wealth and the pursuit of God, making it clear that no one can serve two masters. The heart of the matter is not about whether we possess money or resources, but about the orientation of our hearts—what we treasure most. God is not against us having possessions, providing for our families, or enjoying what He gives. Rather, He challenges us to examine our motives and attitudes: Are we clinging to our wealth as our security and identity, or are we using what we have to honor God and serve others?
Jesus warns against the seductive pull of materialism and the illusion that accumulating more will bring fulfillment. He exposes the myth that success is measured by wealth, reminding us that in God’s eyes, true riches are found in generosity, humility, and a heart set on eternal things. The statistics about global wealth distribution serve as a sobering reminder of our responsibility to the poor and the danger of self-centeredness. Even as we enjoy abundance, we are called to genuine gratitude and to invest in treasures that last—acts of love, service, and faith that echo into eternity.
The teaching about the eye as the lamp of the body points to the power of our focus. What we fix our gaze on shapes our desires and ultimately our character. If our hearts are set on God, our lives will be filled with light; if we are consumed by selfish ambition, darkness will take root. Jesus insists that divided loyalty is impossible: we cannot love both God and wealth. Attempting to do so leads to spiritual compromise and, inevitably, to anxiety and unrest.
Instead, Jesus invites us to seek first the kingdom of God, trusting that our Father knows our needs and will provide. Worry is exposed as both futile and faithless, robbing us of peace and distracting us from our true calling. The challenge is to honestly assess what we treasure, to surrender our idols, and to let God reign in our hearts. In doing so, we find freedom, purpose, and the promise of eternal reward.