The World’s Rusty, Shaky Treasure Box

(Matthew 6:19 DKJV) “Do not treasure up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust ruin them, and where thieves break in and steal them.”

Jesus says that treasure kept in the world and its system is in a place of great vulnerability—where metaphorical “moths,” “rust,” and “thieves” can get at it. This is not surprising, since the controller of that system is absolutely evil, and he is inherently opposed to God; and he particularly resists any transfer of power from his system into God’s hands. This especially includes the transfer of money from his kingdom to God’s kingdom via genuine born again, Holy Spirit led believers. The enemy encourages and empowers the thieves and destroyers to keep money and treasure away from God. If you are in Satan’s kingdom, he may not fight your financial endeavours; but if you are trying to take money and wealth from his control to bring it under God’s control, he will fight you—fiercely.

Thankfully, the Bible also says that the ruler of this world has already been judged, and that his kingdom and system is ending. Putting your trust in that system would be like investing in the Titanic—after it had hit the iceberg. Not to mention that over recent years, stock market volatility has seen its value rise and fall several percent in a day, or overnight while you sleep, because God has been shaking it:

(Hebrews 12:26–28 emtv) Whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying: “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” (27) Now the phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removal of the things being shaken, as having been made, so that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (28) Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

With this in mind, having your heart anchored in the devil’s world system is looking less and less attractive. It bears repeating that where your treasure is will determine where your heart focuses, and where it anchors its security.

For example, if your treasure is in the stock market, your waking thoughts may be of how the international markets fared overnight. You may find yourself reaching for the newspaper, your smart phone, or grabbing the TV remote to find out. On the other hand, if you have entrusted all your treasures into God’s hands, your first thoughts will be on hearing from God. This is especially true when it comes time to withdraw some of your treasure from your heavenly account. In that case, you will reach for the Bible or turn on an anointed preacher—anything that will position you to hear from God.

Putting your treasure, and therefore your heart—your hopes, aspirations, and emotions—in the world’s system will run you ragged. This is because it is under the control of someone who is both evil and deceptive; God says it is. Therefore, the world’s experts cannot know what they are doing; their expertise is not at all clever in comparison with God. This is especially true when God says in his word that he is “shaking” everything—including the world economy, financial institutions, and all markets. No matter how astute and experienced the world’s experts are, they can neither predict nor prevent what God does through his shaking:

(Hebrews 12:26–27 CSB) His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. (27) This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain.

God is shaking everything right now. But thankfully, not even God’s shaking can dislodge or destroy that which has its foundation solidly built upon his eternal, unshakeable word. If we build our lives, our dreams, our businesses, and our ministries one hundred percent on God’s word, they will sail through the shaking without harm. But whatever is not built on that solid foundation will shake, and it will shake to pieces. That is what we have seen happening all around us in these days; the GFC was a financial shake-up that affected the whole world. We have seen other shakings in the sports world and sovereign insolvency, etc. We have seen the shaking of Brexit, the pandemic, and war, but more are coming.

The list of what is shaking seems endless, but God’s purpose is to weaken Satan’s kingdom, and to transfer its power—including its wealth—into his kingdom. God especially wants people to be shaken up to the point that they review the wisdom of where they have their hope and security anchored. God obviously wants his creation to have its hope and security anchored with him. This is how he puts it:

(Hebrews 6:19 nlt) This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

This is where we should anchor our hope and security—with God in his inner sanctuary, in the secret place with him. The first step to doing this is to entrust our treasure to him—founding our lives on what he says. Jesus said that if we build our lives, our decisions, and our actions on his word, they will survive all afflictions—God’s shaking as well as everything the enemy throws at us:

(Matthew 7:24–27 dkjv) “Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and does them, he will be like a wise man who built his house on the solid rock: (25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, for it had its foundation on the solid rock. (26) And every one that hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: (27) and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell; and great was its downfall.”

In short, Jesus is saying not to anchor your heart in the world and its system; that will lead to stress, worry, loss, and heartbreak. Anchor your heart in heaven by placing your treasure there. It will lead to seeking God, his righteousness, and his kingdom; and it will help you stay on the path to life.

We note here that this doesn’t mean that you should not be involved in business or putting money to work in the world—if that is how God leads you. However, if your heart is tied to what you invest, and if it is what you treasure deep inside, then it could become a problem. This is not because the investment itself is sin, but because it could distract you, and anchor your heart in the wrong place. Over time, that could lead you away from where you need to be in God.

Today, I encourage you to continue the wise disciplines of giving, supporting the gospel, and regular investment in the local church and ministries (or online ministries, etc.). This keeps your focus on heaven and your heart anchored in God and his promises. Mostly, this will keep you safe when doing business in the world. But remember, if you find your eyes focused outside heaven and/or your heart anchored in the world and its system; start giving, sowing, and investing in what God values. And make sure you do it in Jesus’s covert ways; and ensure that you have what you treasure with him.

(Psalm 121:2–3 NKJV) My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. (3) He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.