Jesus said a great deal about money, and one of his most memorable teachings comes in the Sermon on the Mount. It is brief, direct, and surprisingly practical.
The teaching
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, KJV)
Jesus contrasts two kinds of treasure. The first is vulnerable. Moth and rust refer to decay, thieves to loss. Everything we gather on earth is temporary, subject to wear, theft, and change. The second kind is secure because it lies beyond the reach of decay and loss.
Not a ban on saving
Reading this passage as a prohibition on saving or owning things would overlook the rest of Scripture, which praises planning and wise provision. Jesus is not telling people to be irresponsible. He is addressing where we place our ultimate trust and affection. A person can have a savings account and a house and still treasure God above them. Another person can have almost nothing and be consumed by the desire for more.
The heart follows the treasure
The key sentence is the last one: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Many of us assume that our heart leads and our money follows. Jesus says it works in the other direction as well. Where you put your treasure, your heart tends to move. If you invest your money and energy in something, you begin to care about it, check on it, and worry about it.
This is why generosity can be so powerful. When you give to a cause or a person, your heart becomes more connected to them. And it is why anxious accumulation can be so confining: the more you hoard, the more of your heart is tied up in guarding it.
What does it mean to store up treasure in heaven?
Jesus does not define it precisely in this passage, but the rest of the Bible gives a picture. Treasure in heaven includes acts of generosity and mercy, faithful service, investing in people and in God’s work, and a character shaped by love. Another passage says that those who are generous to the poor are, in effect, lending to God (Proverbs 19:17). The common thread is that these investments last beyond this life.
A related warning from Jesus puts it bluntly.
“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15, KJV)
A heart audit you can do this week
One of the most practical ways to apply this teaching is to let your bank statements show you where your treasure has been. Here is a simple exercise.
Gather your last three months of statements, whether bank accounts or cards. Sort your spending into broad categories: housing, food, transportation, debt, entertainment, dining out, shopping, saving, and giving. Total each category. Then look at the picture honestly.
Where your money points
Suppose that over three months a household discovers it spent $600 on dining out, $450 on streaming and subscriptions, and $150 on giving. The giving is one quarter of the dining-out total ($150 compared with $600). That does not mean the family did something wrong. Dining out can be a good part of life, and perhaps the family was in a tight season. But the numbers invite a conversation. Does this match what we say we value? Would we like to shift anything?
Perhaps they decide to cut back on two subscriptions they barely use, saving $30 a month and redirecting that money to giving or paying down debt. The goal is not guilt. It is alignment between what we say matters and what we do with our money.
Questions to ask
As you review, ask yourself a few things. If someone looked only at my finances, what would they conclude about my priorities? Which expenses give me lasting joy, and which fade quickly? Where am I investing in people, relationships, and the things of God? Is there a category that I have been avoiding looking at? What is one change I could make this month?
Simple ways to invest in what lasts
You do not need a huge budget to begin. You can give regularly to your local church or a ministry you trust. You can spend time and money building up people: mentoring a young person, hosting a meal, supporting a friend in need. You can use your skills to serve. And you can choose, deliberately, to enjoy and give thanks for what God has given you without clinging to it.
Your heart’s address
If you looked honestly at your last three months of spending, what would it say about what you treasure? What is one small shift you would like to make?
Lord, you know where my treasure is, and you know what my heart loves. Realign both with you. Show me where I have invested too much in things that fade, and lead me toward what lasts. Give me a generous, grateful, undivided heart. Amen.
If this topic is on your mind: What Does “The Love of Money Is the Root of All Evil” Really Mean?, What the Bible Says About Giving: A Practical Guide to Generosity, Contentment in Philippians 4: Learning to Be Content With What You Have, and Is Investing Biblical? Understanding the Parable of the Talents.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). This article is for education and inspiration and is not personalized financial advice.