Reign Without Rival

shelly8053
Aug 18
3 min read

Pastor: Jeff Love

Living With Kingdom Purpose: Investing in What Lasts

Matthew 6:19–24

Jesus never shied away from calling people to live differently. In the Sermon on the Mount, He spoke about giving, prayer, and now—how we view our money and possessions. His message is clear: our investments reveal our heart.

Everything Belongs to God

Before diving into Jesus’ teaching, we need to establish some foundational truths about “stuff”:

Everything belongs to God.“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof…” (Psalm 24:1)
We are managers, not owners.“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
God knows our needs.“Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:32)
Stuff isn’t the problem—loving it is.“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

Earthly Investments Fade Away

Jesus begins with a warning:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19)

Earthly possessions don’t last. Cars break down, houses wear out, and even the stock market fluctuates.
Physics tells us the same truth: everything naturally moves from order to disorder (entropy).
No matter how shiny or valuable today, earthly stuff eventually fades.

Heavenly Investments Last Forever

By contrast, Jesus calls us to a better investment:

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Investing in God’s Kingdom never loses value.
Giving to the church, supporting missions, and meeting needs creates an eternal return.
A hundred years from now, only what we invested in God’s Kingdom will matter.

Where Is Your Heart?

Jesus makes the connection:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

It’s not about how much we have—it’s about where our heart is.

Test of Priority: What do you do first with God’s money? (Proverbs 3:9–10)
Test of Contentment: When was the last time you said “no” to yourself so you could say “yes” to God? (1 Timothy 6:6–8)

Our spending and giving reveal what matters most.

A Godly Perspective Brings Light

Jesus shifts from the heart to the eye:

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6:22)

A “good eye” means we view money and possessions through God’s perspective.
When our priorities are right, our lives are filled with light.
When our perspective is selfish, darkness creeps in (Matthew 6:23).

You Can’t Serve Two Masters

Jesus ends with a sobering truth:

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

Stuff is God’s greatest competition for our hearts.
We cannot straddle the fence—it’s either God or money.
God calls us to live with Him as our unrivaled Lord.

The Bottom Line

God owns everything.
We manage His resources.
Earthly treasures fade, but heavenly treasures last forever.
Our investments reveal our heart.
We can only serve one Master.

“For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

When we invest in God’s Kingdom, we live with Kingdom purpose—laying up treasure in heaven, honoring the Lord with our resources, and finding joy in knowing our giving makes an eternal difference.