Storing Treasures in
Heaven
November 14, 2004
Lesson Aims
After this lesson students should be able to:
1. Tell what Jesus said in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount about our treasures
and our priorities.
2. Contrast Jesus’ teaching about these matters with the world’s perspective on
material wealth.
3. Pinpoint an area of their lives where trust in God needs to replace worry, and
commit that area to Him.
Introduction
One of the most memorable events of my childhood was our rural community’s bank
failure. In the language of the townspeople, the bank “went broke.” Most of the farmers
had recently deposited their returns from the wheat and barley harvests, and now they
couldn’t get a cent of their money. They had to survive the rest of the summer on the
produce of their own farms. They all had chickens for eggs and cows for milk, and most
had some fruits and vegetables as well.
Ultimately the farmers were able to get back most of what they had deposited in the
bank. Until then there was considerable discussion of what to do with one’s money if and
when it became available. Put it in the other bank? That one might go broke, too. Keep it
at home? You couldn’t sit there all day with a shotgun to guard it. Some of the farmers
devised hiding places under floors or in walls where thieves would never find their
savings. But what if the house burned down?
B. Lesson Background
Today’s study is the third of four lessons drawn from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Jesus was teaching His disciples on a hill in Galilee, and a large crowd was listening
(Matthew 5:1, 2).
Conclusion
A. When to “Take Some Thought”
We have noted that “take no thought” in the King James Version means “don’t
worry.” It would be easy (but wrong) to interpret either phrase to mean that we are to be
totally oblivious to all that is around us. Sometimes without thinking we slip into the
mistake of worrying about material concerns such as food and clothing and other
treasures on earth.
We ought not to worry about treasure in Heaven either, but we ought to “take some
thought,” as the word thought is more commonly used. Even the King James Version uses
the word think in the way we usually do today. It urges us to do some thinking about
matters that are quite in harmony with laying up treasures in Heaven. Here are a few
examples.
Think about good things. Fill your mind with them (Philippians 4:8). Shut out evil
thoughts (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5).
Think about Jesus. Think of what a glorious Savior He is (Hebrews 3:1–3). Think
how much He endured for you (Hebrews 12:3, 4).
Think about yourself. Don’t be conceited, but make a fair estimate (Romans 12:3).
Watch yourself lest you be tempted (Galatians 6:1).
Think about your fellow Christians. Consider ways to stir them up to love one another
and to do good (Hebrews 10:24).
Think about your Christian leaders. Think about the outcome of their way of life, and
imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).
C. Prayer
Dear Father, gracious Father, loving Father, we do want to please You in all our
thinking and talking and doing. Help us, we pray, in our efforts to do so. In Jesus’ name,
amen.
D. Thought to Remember
My mind is made up.
LEARNING GOALS
After this lesson students will be able to:
1. Tell what Jesus said in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount about our treasures
and our priorities.
2. Contrast Jesus’ teaching about these matters with the world’s perspective on
material wealth.
3. Pinpoint an area of their lives where trust in God needs to replace worry, and
commit that area to Him.
INTO LIFE
Jesus addresses a common characteristic of people: worry. Prior to class, prepare a
handout and an overhead transparency entitled, “The World of Worry.” Have two
columns on this handout, one column for “Non-Christians” and the other for “Christians.”
Ask the class to move back into the groups of three, and give this assignment: “In each of
your groups, have someone write down for the respective headings the worries that
concern the non-Christian and the areas of life that concern the Christian.”
Give several minutes for the groups to generate answers. Then ask for the answers to
be reported to the class. As answers are given, write them on an overhead transparency so
the class can see the answers. (Possible answers: money, clothes, paying bills,
possessions, safety, personal appearance, health, travel safety, and broken relationships.)
Say: “As you can see, Christians and non-Christians often worry about many of the same
things. But what does Jesus teach about worry?” (Worry does not change anything, v. 27;
worry indicates little faith, v. 30; worry is unnecessary, v. 32.) Summarize: “If worry is
something that Jesus does not want us to do, what does He teach we should do? We must
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust Him to provide those
things that we need.”
Note that some of us worry about many of these same items in our own lives. Tell the
students, “Select one item wherein trust in God needs to replace worry. After you select
it, write a prayer to God committing yourself to trust Him to take care of you.”
SUBJECTS OF WORRY
NON-CHRISTIANS
CHRISTIANS
What differences do you see? What differences should you see?
Conclusion
A. When to “Take Some Thought”
Think about good things. Fill your mind with them (Philippians 4:8). Shut out evil
thoughts (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5).
Think about Jesus. Think of what a glorious Savior He is (Hebrews 3:1–3). Think
how much He endured for you (Hebrews 12:3, 4).
Think about yourself. Don’t be conceited, but make a fair estimate (Romans 12:3).
Watch yourself lest you be tempted (Galatians 6:1).
Think about your fellow Christians. Consider ways to stir them up to love one another
and to do good (Hebrews 10:24).
Think about your Christian leaders. Think about the outcome of their way of life, and
imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7).
B. Make Up Your Mind
C. Prayer
D. Thought to Remember