Where Is Your Treasure?
The heart of a disciple of the Lord Jesus should be in heaven, and laying up treasures there will bring precious spiritual blessings as a reward of obedience.
George Mueller emphasizes that the heart of a disciple of Jesus should be focused on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. He explains that our true calling, inheritance, and citizenship are in heaven, and that accumulating treasures on earth diverts our hearts from this truth. While believers may not openly sin, the habit of seeking earthly treasures can lead to spiritual decline, whereas laying up treasures in heaven strengthens our divine nature and spiritual faculties. Ultimately, prioritizing heavenly treasures results in spiritual blessings and a heart aligned with God's kingdom.
Text
"Where should the heart of the disciple of the Lord Jesus be, but in heaven? Our calling is a heavenly calling, our inheritance is a heavenly inheritance, and reserved for us in heaven; our citizenship is in heaven; but if we believers in the Lord Jesus lay up treasures on earth, the necessary result of it is, that our hearts will be upon earth; nay, the very fact of our doing so proves that they are there!
Nor will it be otherwise, till there be a ceasing to lay up treasures upon earth.
The believer who lays up treasures upon earth may, at first, not live openly in sin, he in a measure may yet bring some honor to the Lord in certain things; but the injurious tendencies of this habit will show themselves more and more, whilst the habit of laying up treasures in heaven would draw the heart more and more heavenward; would be continually strengthening his new, his divine nature, his spiritual faculties, because it would call his spiritual faculties into use, and thus they would be strengthened; and he would more and more, whilst yet in the body, have his heart in heaven, and set upon heavenly things; and thus the laying up treasures in heaven would bring along with it, even in this life, precious spiritual blessings as a reward of obedience to the commandment of our Lord." - George Muller
Sermon Outline
- The Heart of the Disciple
- A heavenly calling, inheritance, and citizenship
- The consequences of laying up treasures on earth
- The benefits of laying up treasures in heaven
Key Quotes
“The believer who lays up treasures upon earth may, at first, not live openly in sin, he in a measure may yet bring some honor to the Lord in certain things;” — George Mueller
Application Points
- We should prioritize laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth.
- Laying up treasures in heaven will strengthen our spiritual faculties and draw our hearts heavenward.
- Obedience to the Lord's commandment to lay up treasures in heaven brings precious spiritual blessings.