What does it mean to have a treasure? Does it consist of material goods, or intangible heavenly goods?

The definition of treasure is: the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up; a casket, coffer, or other receptacle, in which valuables are kept; a treasury; storehouse, repository, magazine; the things laid up in a treasury, collected treasures. In Matthew 2:11 it reads, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” There are two aspects of the treasure here, the storehouse and what is being stored. These men had a treasury filled with precious treasures, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These were all very precious commodities at the time.

That brings us to Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” We have to be thoughtful and diligent not to place material items at a high and significant place in our hearts. It is ‘easy’ for the worldly treasures to be stolen by thieves, or corrupted by moths or rust. According to Holman’s Bible Dictionary, “What a person treasures and values determines one’s loyalties and priorities.” That is a very thought provoking statement. The real treasures are the Word and spiritual matters. To study the Word and to truly understand it is like finding a precious treasure.

The last point of attention is on Luke 6:45, “A good man of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Whatever it is that you seek will be in your heart. If you study and meditate upon God’s word, that will flow from your heart and out your mouth. However, an evil man treasures evil things, and speaks evil.

The topic of treasures is very deep and this study only scratches the surface. But if we can remember to keep God’s Word as our treasure, we will avoid being stolen from. God’s Word is something that rust cannot corrupt, moths cannot eat, and thieves cannot steal.

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