The True Wealth
The true wealth of the believer is their faith in God and their treasure in heaven, which brings perfect peace and comfort.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the importance of placing our true treasure in heaven rather than on earthly possessions, which are subject to decay and theft. He illustrates that while worldly wealth can be lost, faith in God remains a secure and eternal treasure. Believers should view their earthly possessions as God's and use them for His purposes, understanding that losing them does not equate to true loss. Spurgeon encourages a mindset focused on God, assuring that those who trust in Him will find perfect peace. Ultimately, our joy and hope should be anchored in the eternal rather than the temporal.
Text
Let us be careful to place our chief treasure in heaven, for, as old Swinnock says, "A worldling's wealth lieth in the earth, therefore, like wares laid in low damp cellars, it corrupts and moulders; but the godly man's treasure is in heaven, and, like commodities laid up in high rooms, it continues sound and safe." Treasure in the skies is treasure indeed. Where moth and rust and thief can reach is no fit place for us to store our treasures in. Let us commit our all to the custody of God, who is our all in all. Such a blessed thing is faith in God that if the believer should lose everything he possesses here below he would have small cause for sorrow so long as he kept his faith. If a great landed proprietor in walking down the street were robbed of his handkerchief, he would not lie down in despair, nor even make a great noise over his loss. "Ah," says he, "they could only steal a mere trifle, they could not rob me of. my parks and farms, and yearly incomings."
Believers invest their true wealth in a bank which never breaks, and as for their earthly substance it is not theirs at all, but their Lord's, and they desire only to employ it for his cause; so that if he takes it away they are bound to look upon themselves as no losers, but as in some measure released from responsibility, and they may thank their Lord for such relief. Be sure thou use this world as not abusing it, and fix all thy joy and love and hope and trust in the eternal God, and then, happen what may, thou wilt be safe. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee."
From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled "Sudden Sorrow," delivered July 8, 1877.
Sermon Outline
- The True Wealth of the Believer
- Faith in God as a Source of Comfort
- Using the World Wisely
- Not Abusing the World
- Fixing Joy and Hope in God
Key Quotes
“A worldling's wealth lieth in the earth, therefore, like wares laid in low damp cellars, it corrupts and moulders; but the godly man's treasure is in heaven, and, like commodities laid up in high rooms, it continues sound and safe.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should commit our all to the custody of God, who is our all in all.
- We should not be sorrowful if we lose our earthly possessions, as we have our faith in God, which is our true wealth.
- We should use the world wisely, not abusing it, and fix our joy and hope in God.