May 30, 2025; Matthew 6:19-34

Daily Dose of Hope

May 30, 2025

Day 5 of Week 8

 

Scripture – Matthew 6:19-34

 

Prayer:  Holy God, We rejoice in your name today.  You are almighty and wise, the Alpha and the Omega.  You are the one who was, and is, and is to come.  We give you all the glory and praise.  Help us now, Lord, gather our scattered thoughts and focus on you.  In these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers...  In Your Name, Amen.

 

Welcome back, everyone, to the Daily Dose of Hope, a Deep Dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Happy Friday! 

 

Today, we are finishing up Matthew 6, as we continue to work through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  He is continuing to preach on the importance of not just our outward actions, but our heart.  He begins by talking about fasting.  Don’t be like the hypocrites when they fast because they let everyone know how miserable they are.  Again, a warning about being hypocritical.  Between yesterday and today, we are definitely seeing a theme.  Don’t be the kind of person who does one thing but your heart is far from God.  Those who are fasting to honor God will do so discreetly, so that no one will know.  Fasting is between you and God.  It isn’t something to gloat about.  It’s about increasing our dependence and focus on God, seeking his will, or interceding on behalf of others in prayer.  It’s not about attention and others’ approval.  God always knows our hearts.

 

Then, Jesus moves onto treasures in heaven.  Don’t store up things here on earth because earthly things simply do not last.  Besides, all of our stuff has a way of tethering our heart to earth.  Material things get a hold of us.  And there is always more stuff to get.  Whether we are rich or poor, there is always something else to buy.

 

It may seem like these earthly things are substantial and important and lasting, but they will eventually go away.  But there is treasure that cannot be lost…that which is stored up in heaven.  What does Jesus mean here?  To store up treasure in heaven is to invest in those things which will have lasting effects for eternity, things that make a different for the Kingdom.   While earthly treasure depreciates in value, heavenly treasure appreciates.  We invest in Kingdom things and God takes that investment and multiplies it. Remember, God’s economy is different..css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}