NOTE: This is the second part of a three-part series. The first article can be found here.
In the first part of the series on Heavenly Treasure, we looked at the Bible’s view of where our treasure should be. The Bible revealed that wherever your treasure is, your heart will be there too (Matthew 6:21). As a result, Christians should have treasures that are heavenly and not so much worldly. In the first part of this series, we found that your treasure is found in these ways:
- It is spoken (Matthew 12:34-37)
- It is shared and surrendered (Mark 10:17-21)
- It is shown / spread (2 Corinthians 4:1-7)
Is your treasure pleasing to God?
In this second part of this series, we’ll look ar what the Bible tells us about what our treasure should be. Think about the things you treasure most in life… what types of things are they? Do you fear losing the treasure more than pleasing God? Or, are your treasures pleasing to God and helping you be secure and safe in Him?
By answering these questions, you can get a pretty good picture of what your treasure is… whether it is worldly, carnal and temporary or heavenly, spiritual and eternal.
In Isaiah 33, the prophet gives us God’s view of a heavenly treasure:
5 The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.
In the world’s system, it’s trendy to follow earthly wisdom, to strive after the knowledge of man or to seek salvation on terms different from God’s plan. But all that is nothing but rubbish and is based on a prideful desire for selfish treasures that satisfy the flesh. So what results in ultimate treasure? It’s the fear of the Lord. To fear not pleasing Him, to fear separation from Him and to fear His righteous judgment. It is this fear that causes one to submit to God’s plan, to accept His reconciliation and trust in His salvation through Jesus Christ. It is this fear that compels believers to love God with all their heart, mind and strength and to seek His wisdom and grow in His knowledge.
As an introduction to this topic and as a focus going forward, let’s consider what should make up our treasure… A treasure that pleases God is found in the fear of the Lord. As a result…
My treasure must be pleasing to God!
The following sections describe three types of treasure that will please God.
I. A treasure that is STABLE and SECURE. (Matthew 12:34-37)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
“And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times” – Isaiah 33:6
It’s nothing new to confuse comfort and pleasure with stability and security. That’s been happening since the beginning of time. While it’s true that comfort and pleasure can result in temporary satisfaction, it does not give stability or security. Consider the times we live in… with so much focus on comfort, entertainment, pleasure and prosperity, the world is as unstable as ever or perhaps more unstable than ever. These things are vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11).
1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
A treasure that brings stability is one the comes from the fear of the Lord. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
A stable and secure treasure is one that is based on Godly Wisdom and Knowledge. (see additional scripture: Proverbs 22:4, Job 28:28, Proverbs 1:7, and Psalm 34:8-10)
II. A treasure that is STRONG. (Mark 10:17-21)
A strong treasure is found in the fear of God. It is not a treasure that depends on human condition or accomplishment. It is not a treasure based on worldly systems or schemes.
A strong treasure found in the fear of God is one that Lasts and that Provides. It is not something that fades away, gets rusty or turns to dust. The strong treasure that pleases the Lord is the treasure that endures (Psalm 19:9-11).
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
This treasure is:
- Clean
- Enduring
- Desirable
- Sweet
- Rewarding
A strong treasure found in the fear of God is one that Helps and that Shields. It is not something that burdens, binds, and brings harm to you (Psalm 115:11).
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
A strong treasure found in the fear of God is one that is Reliable and Safe . It is not something that causes worry or anxiety. (Proverbs 14:26)
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
III. A treasure that SAVES.
A saving treasure is always found at the Cross. It depends solely on God’s provision and not on anything that you can do through works, riches, relations, or any other means. A treasure that saves is one that is found in the fear of God’s judgment and the recognition of His love.
A treasure that saves brings Life and Redemption. While worldly treasure often brings you a fountain of sorrows, this saving treasure provides a fountain of life.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
The old hymn, “There is a Fountain” (William Cowper, 1874, public domain), describes the treasure as a fountain of life this way:
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
A treasure that saves brings Satisfaction and Protection. While worldly treasures always leave you wanting for more, this heavenly saving treasure keeps you satisfied and protected from evil.
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
A saving treasure is one that is Available and Preserves. While worldly treasures often seem out of reach and once attained, unfulfilling, a heavenly saving treasure is there when you seek it and it fulfills, lasts and preserves you in its salvation.
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
A saving treasure changes lives, brings light into darkness and it makes all things new.
IV. Summary: Is Your Treasure in Christ?
What is your treasure? Is it the fear of the Lord? Is it the stability, security, strength and salvation that comes through Jesus Christ? When you trust Jesus Christ as Savior, you receive the greatest treasure of all. But, genuine trust in Jesus Christ comes as you are drawn to Him and you accept Him in fear of missing out on what God has called you to – redemption by the blood of His Son. Luke 23 describes this vividly at the scene at Christ’s crucifixion.
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The old hymn, “There is a Fountain,” further describes this precious treasure:
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away
There is only one treasure that brings stability, that provides the strength to survive and that saves to the uttermost. Do you have this treasure and is there evidence of it in your life?
Or, is this treasure missing? – you can receive it today by trusting in a God who loves you beyond any measure humanly fathomable. Receive His love delivered in the fountain that flows from His Son.
Or, have you already received this treasure and is it hidden inside you? – if so, decide today that you will live in a way that pleases God, showing forth His glory through the testimony of His salvation.
