PDF at the end. Other posts in the series: INTRO | GAZE ON JESUS | WASH IN THE WORD | DISCONNECT FROM UNGODLY COUNSEL
Divorce the World: Pick Your Treasure
The idea of picking your treasure comes from the sermon on the mount. Jesus says,
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
If we are serious about being in the world but not of the world (Romans 12), picking kingdom treasures over earthly ones will be part of our lives. I see this in two ways: Distinguishing temporary from eternal treasures AND being willing to leave the temporary behind in pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. This is being a disciple, a follower of Jesus.
- Divorcing the world values eternal treasures more than earthly treasures. It’s okay to love the things you have and to have money to buy the things you love. The point is, treasures that can be taken from us, that are fading and corruptible, bow to kingdom, eternal treasures.
- Divorcing the world embraces the idea of leaving every other treasure behind to follow Jesus, the only one found worthy. When the merchant saw a treasure in the field, he went in joy to sell everything he had to buy the field (Matthew 13:44).
The big question is, have our treasures become idols that obstruct our view of God and cause us to resist following him? If yes, they have to go. We have to smash our attachment to them.
Practical Application
We already covered three ways to pick kingdom treasures in the first three posts: gazing on Jesus, washing in the Word, and fleeing from ungodly counsel. If we are already in a good habit of those three things, then we are in a good habit of laying up treasures in heaven. But let’s look at a few more.
Laying up treasures in heaven can look like
- Making time to spend with Jesus (gazing on him and washing in the word)
- Letting the Holy Spirit search us and convict of us sin and righteousness
- Trusting God’s word, the truth of God’s word, over our own will and thoughts
- Smashing idols—anything we trust instead of trusting God—and following the Good Shepherd
- Choosing communion with the body of Christ. We need each other. The church is God’s design, and he is coming back for a unified bride
- Serving others and/or letting our light shine
I’m certain there are more. What would add? What is the Spirit showing you?
Psalm 119
I hope you’re enjoying this Psalm as much as I do. Delight in these promises, declarations, and intercessions about picking treasures!
Declaration — I store your word like a treasure
I have stored your word in my heart that I might not sin against you 119:11
Intercession — Lead me in your word
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word…Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it 119:16, 35
Declaration — You counsel me
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors 119:24
Intercession — Enlarge my heart
I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart 119:31-32
Declaration — I delight in your commandments
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I found my delight in your commandments, which I love 119:46-47
Declaration — Your way blesses my life
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember your name in the night. This blessing has fallen on me, that I have kept your precepts 119:54-56
Intercession — I choose you, Jesus!
The LORD is my portion 119:57
Intercession — Comfort me with you love
Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight 119:76-77
Promise — There is life in your law
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me 119:92-94
Promise — I have an inheritance in your testimonies, God.
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end 119:111-112
Declaration — You’re better than gold!
Therefore, I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold 119:127
Declaration — My ways are before you, you are my hope
I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I do your commandments. My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly…all my ways are before you 119:166-168
Other Verses
Psalm 16:5-8
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel…I have set the the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 73:25-28
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you perish. For me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of your world.
Psalm 91:14-16
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show my salvation.
Matthew 13:45-46 (see also Mark 10:17-31)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant is search of a fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Hosea 6:3
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.
Lamentations 3:24
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Brave Sparrow 