The Struggle Between Earthly and Heavenly Priorities
Imagine sorting your life into three categories: rubber, metal, and glass. Tim Sanders, former chief solutions officer at Yahoo! and author of Love Is the Killer App, uses this analogy to explain how we handle life’s ups and downs. Rubber things—like missing a Seahawks game—bounce back with little fuss. Metal things—like missing an important meeting—clang loudly when dropped, causing temporary chaos but nothing irreparable. Then there’s glass—the irreplaceable treasures like your marriage, family, deepest relationships, and spiritual well-being. When glass shatters, no amount of effort can fully restore it.
The challenge is clear: we all know what’s "glass" in our lives. So, what’s our priority? What’s the one thing we should devote ourselves to, the thing that puts everything else into place? Jesus has been teaching about the heart—our desires, beliefs, thoughts, and will. He’s shown us that the condition of our hearts determines whether we’re citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. At the core of that heart must be faithfulness. Without it, we can’t belong to God’s Kingdom. Today’s text, Matthew 6:19-34, brings this truth into sharp focus.
Last week, we saw how Jesus emphasized motivation over mere actions in spiritual disciplines. If we pray, give, or fast to impress others, we’ve already received our reward. But if we do these things to connect with God and honor Him, He blesses us with answered prayer and a place in His Kingdom. That sets the stage for today’s lesson: trusting God completely. Let’s walk through the text together.
Storing Up True Treasure (vv. 19-21)
Jesus begins, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Earthly treasures—money, possessions, status—are temporary. Moths eat them, rust corrodes them, thieves take them. Why spend your life chasing what won’t last? Instead, store up treasures in heaven—love, generosity, kindness, forgiveness—the character traits of Kingdom citizens. These are eternal.
Where your treasure is, Jesus says, there your heart will be. What we value shapes our devotion. Are we truly invested in God’s Kingdom, or are we just paying it lip service? Ask yourself: What’s more important—investments or spiritual maturity?
A Clear or Clouded Vision (vv. 22-23)
Next, Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body.” Our spiritual perception guides our lives. A healthy eye—one focused generously on God—brings light, helping us see what He values and grow in His character. But an unhealthy eye—stingy and fixated on wealth—plunges us into darkness. Greed blinds us to truth and robs us of the life God intends.
What dominates your vision: God’s Kingdom or worldly wealth?
The Danger of Divided Devotion (v. 24)
Here’s the heart of the Sermon on the Mount: “No one can serve two masters.” Jesus pits God against money (or "Mammon"). He’s not saying money itself is evil—only that serving it is idolatry. Devotion to wealth competes with devotion to God. When God is in His rightful place, money and possessions fall into theirs. Jesus forces a choice: we’ll love one and despise the other.
So, who rules your heart—God or materialism?
Overcoming Worry with Trust (vv. 25-32)
Jesus commands, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink.” Worry stems from a lack of trust in God’s provision—the opposite of “Give us today our daily bread.” This doesn’t mean we ignore responsibilities or stop working hard. It means trusting God to provide.
Look at the birds—they don’t fret over food, yet God feeds them. Consider the lilies—they don’t toil, yet God clothes them beautifully. If God cares for them, how much more will He care for us, His children? Worry is futile—it doesn’t add a day to our lives. Worse, it’s what pagans do. Kingdom citizens trust God instead.
Does your worry reveal a heart not fully trusting Him?
The Key to True Security: Seeking God’s Kingdom (vv. 33-34)
“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.” That’s the antidote to worry. Prioritize God’s will—live by faith, trust, holiness, and disciple-making—and He’ll meet your needs, often through His people, the church. Align your life with His purposes, and trust Him daily.
Don’t be consumed by tomorrow—God’s got it covered. Shift your focus: seek God first, and let Him handle the rest.
Who Do You Trust?
Jesus didn’t just teach this—He lived it. He surrendered everything to the Father, even His life on the cross, so we could become Kingdom citizens. We’re called to trust God to mature us, guide us, and provide for us. The Kingdom of Heaven is better than the reality we know now, and God will supply what we need if we stop worrying about the details.
It’s easy to say we trust God, but our focus—what we pursue—and our worries—what we dwell on—reveal the truth. How do we grow in trust? Through spiritual disciplines: prayer, gratitude, and meditating on Scripture.
Here’s the challenge:
Surrender your worries and seek God first. Examine what concerns you, confess it to God, ask Him to build your trust, and then do your part—handle your responsibilities while leaving the rest to Him.
We can’t serve two masters. Citizens of the Kingdom trust God with their treasures, needs, and future because He’s the only Master worth serving.
Prayer
Thank God for Jesus, who made you part of His Kingdom. Ask Him to teach you to trust Him fully. Commit to following the Holy Spirit’s guidance. If God’s calling you to follow Jesus more closely today, don’t wait—take that next step.
