Eternal Treasure

Monday, July 15, 2024

by Dr. Paul Chappell

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

The destruction of the city of Pompeii in 79 AD following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius was one of the worst natural disasters to befall the Roman Empire. For hours ash and rock fell on the seaside town on the Bay of Naples, eventually burying it more than sixteen feet deep. It would not be until the 1800s that the site would be excavated. Among the ruins of the ancient city, more than one thousand bodies were found where the rain that followed the fall of ash formed a kind of cement that made it possible to get a clear picture of what had happened on that fateful day even hundreds of years later. One of the interesting features noted by archaeologists is that a number of the victims perished while they were clutching bags of gold. But no amount of wealth could save them from the disaster.

The world places great value on money and material possessions, but these are things with no lasting value. The treasures of earth cannot be spent in eternity. Only the things that we invest there during our lifetime will endure. Our priority has to be on the next world rather than this one. While the choices we make may not make sense to those around us, and may place us in the minority, God is keeping a different kind of balance sheet than the world does. And He never loses track of what we do for Him. In thanking the church at Philippi for their financial support of his work and ministry Paul wrote, “For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account” (Philippians 4:16-17).

Today's Growth Principle
Every one of us lives either for this world or the next, and that choice determines the rest of our lives.

Old Testament Reading

Psalm 13-15

PSALM 13

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

¹ How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? ² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? ³ Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; ⁴ Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. ⁵ But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. ⁶ I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

PSALM 14

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

¹ The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. ² The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. ³ They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

⁴ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD. ⁵ There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous. ⁶ Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge. ⁷ Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

PSALM 15

A Psalm of David.

¹ LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? ² He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. ³ He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. ⁴ In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. ⁵ He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

New Testament Reading

Acts 19:21-41

²¹ After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. ²² So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. ²³ And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. ²⁴ For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; ²⁵ Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. ²⁶ Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: ²⁷ So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. ²⁸ And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. ²⁹ And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. ³⁰ And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. ³¹ And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. ³² Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. ³³ And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. ³⁴ But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. ³⁵ And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? ³⁶ Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. ³⁷ For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. ³⁸ Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. ³⁹ But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. ⁴⁰ For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. ⁴¹ And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Proverbs Reading

Proverbs 15

¹ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. ² The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. ³ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. ⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. ⁵ A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. ⁶ In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. ⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. ⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness. ¹⁰ Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. ¹¹ Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men? ¹² A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise. ¹³ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. ¹⁴ The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness. ¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. ¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. ¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. ¹⁸ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. ¹⁹ The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain. ²⁰ A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. ²¹ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly. ²² Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. ²³ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! ²⁴ The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. ²⁵ The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow. ²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words. ²⁷ He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. ²⁸ The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. ²⁹ The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. ³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat. ³¹ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. ³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. ³³ The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.