The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Treasure

  • Have Good Treasure in Your Heart

    “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

    Luke 6:45

    “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). This is a verse that I heard often as I was growing up. However, this verse must be understood in order to appropriate its’ meaning into one’s life. As one reads about the heart in the Bible, it is good to understand that the heart is the seat of one’s emotions, will, intellect, and moral consciousness. The heart is seen as the center of one’s spiritual life, or lack thereof. That is why it is so important to protect it (keep it with all diligence). What goes into the heart is what makes the person, and what comes out of the heart reveals the true nature of that person.

    Remember in the wilderness when Moses was preparing the new generation to enter the Promised Land, he read them the Ten Commandments again. He reminded them that they had not wanted to hear directly from God. Instead, they wanted God to tell Moses, and for Moses to tell them God’s Words. “27. Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it,and do it. 28. And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” (Deuteronomy 5:27-29). Did you notice what God wanted from His people? God wanted His people to fear Him, keep His commandments (so that it would be well with them and their children forever), and He wanted them to have these things in their hearts. If they had had this kind of a heart, they would have obeyed God and saved themselves much grief. The days in the wilderness were a time of proving – to see what was in their hearts. “And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no” (Deuteronomy 8:2). God expected obedience to His Word, for it would be well with them. If you remember, they failed often. The trials they had in the wilderness revealed what was really in their hearts.

    Later, we read much about what David declared about God’s Word in Psalm 119. Notice one specific verse: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). God’s Word in the heart can prevent much sin in one’s life – if one will remember to obey God’s Word! Instead, we tend to put much junk into our hearts today. Proverbs chapter ten is a good one to study to help you know the difference.

    Jesus taught that we can tell much about one by what comes out of their heart. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). A good man has good treasure in his heart, and so he brings good out of his heart. Obviously, the opposite is true of an evil man with evil treasure; for he brings out that which is evil. Now does it make sense as to why we are to “keep our hearts with all diligence”? How many of you had a mother who taught you “What goes in, will come out.” It is true. Jesus taught this.

    The following verses may narrow down exactly what this is referring to as it relates to the things placed in one’s life. “5. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:5-8). We can understand that the description “flesh” and “carnally minded” represents those without Jesus in their hearts, those who are dead and cannot please God (“enmity against God”). On the converse, “Spirit” and “spiritually minded” represents those who have Jesus in their hearts and lives and are able to please God. Do not be a Christian who has remained carnally minded! One living in the flesh cannot please God.

    Understanding these things, what comes out in a Christian’s life should reveal that Jesus is truly in that heart. Once we understand that basic concept, we can then begin to honestly serve the Lord with what He had given us, making a difference in this world for Him.

    Are you spiritually minded, revealing Jesus to the world by what treasure comes out of your heart?

  • Do You Love the Wages of Unrighteousness?

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

    Have you ever encountered one called a Christian, who chooses the ways and riches of this present world instead of walking a Christ-like life? This brings to mind a very real man named Balaam from the book of Numbers in the Old Testament.

    Balak, king of Moab, (along with all of the Moabites) were afraid of the Israelites, God’s people. Balak sent for Balaam. He wanted Balaam to curse God’s people. Balak had heard that whomever Balaam cursed was cursed, and whomever he blessed was blessed. Balak sent money with men to give Balaam as payment to come to him and curse the Israelites. God spoke to Balaam and told him not to go with the men and not to curse God’s people, for they were a blessed people. Balaam told the princes of Balak to go home. God would not allow him to go with them.

    Balak sent more men to tell him not to let anything keep him from coming to him – even giving promises of great honor. “And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more” (Numbers 22:18). Yet Balaam told the men to stay the night, and wait to see what God would tell him that night. “And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do” (Numbers 22:20).

    God had already told Balaam not to go. God’s people were only to be blessed, for they were a blessed people. Yet when Balaam was offered honor, a house full of silver and gold, he told the men to wait. Why is that? Do you think he was hoping God would let him go so he could have all of that honor and gold? That night, God told him to go. Do you think that maybe this could have been a test to see what was in Balaam’s heart? Balaam went. “And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him …” (Numbers 22:22a). Balaam heard what God said, but he was not listening to what God had told him. God was angry with him for going.

    Balaam rode his donkey, heading to see Balak, king of Moab. The donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, but Balaam did not. The donkey understood that he was not to continue forward. Balaam was angry at his donkey, and began to hit the donkey when it sat down (Numbers 22:23). The donkey was trying to save his master’s life. God opened the mouth of that donkey, and he spoke to Balaam. And Balaam answered the donkey. He told the donkey that if he had a sword in his hand, he would kill him. “Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face” (Numbers 22:31). The angel told Balaam that if it hadn’t been for the donkey, he would have been killed. Why? “…behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me” (Numbers 22: 32b). Balaam was not supposed to go to speak with King Balak. The angel of the Lord told Balaam to go on to see King Balak, but only speak the words God gave him to speak. Balaam went, told King Balak God’s Words, and blessed God’s people.

    If the events ended here, it might have seemed good. Nevertheless, at some point, Balaam gave King Balak counsel of the way to cause the Israelites to trespass against the Lord (Numbers 31:16). Balaam had not obeyed God. He was to have only spoken the words God gave him to King Balak. He chose to do disobey God, apparently greedy for reward and wages.

    Read the insight about the life of Balaam in the New Testament: “15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16. But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17. … to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness … 19. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (2 Peter 2:15-19). He loved the wages of unrighteousness, and people like him allure through the lusts of the flesh, wantonness, promising liberty, but they are servants of corruption. They end up in bondage. 

    Another insight we read in the New Testament about Balaam: “10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots” (Jude 1:10-12). It declares that Balaam was in error and went after reward. His end was described as “twice dead, plucked up by the roots.”

    Would you want to be remembered as one who loved the wages of unrighteousness, ending up twice dead?

    How to be Saved

  • A Temptation to Envy the Prosperous Wicked

    “6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
    1 Timothy 6:6-7

    “See what Asaph recognized: ‘Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart’ (Psalm 73:1). He was acknowledging the goodness of God to whom God has given a clean heart (forgiven of sin). But in the very next breath, he admits something. ‘2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked’ (Psalm 73:2–3). Think for a minute. Have you ever been jealous of someone’s “good luck” or the “cool stuff” they can afford to buy? Maybe someone else can afford to do something you have always wanted to do. That is exactly what Asaph caught himself just about to do. He had been looking at the people who did not belong to God, who had not given their hearts and lives to Him, realizing they were busy pleasing themselves and becoming rich in this world. He was jealous. He was about to “buy into” the lie with which Satan tries to fool us. Do you remember what Jesus told us to do? ‘19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’ (Matthew 6:19–21).

    “Notice that Asaph recognized God’s goodness to those who were of a “clean heart.” Their hearts were with God, forgiven by God. That is where God wants our hearts and even our minds. Do you remember what happened to Achan when he disobeyed God and stole the garment, the wedge of gold, and the shekels of silver. Israel lost the next battle, and Achan and his family were stoned (Joshua 7:20–26). He chose “things” (riches) over obedience to God and His Word. 

    “Asaph saw the prosperity of this world and did not understand (Psalm 73:4–12). He began to think that he had missed. ‘13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning’ (Psalm 73:13–14). He was almost ready to give up his “religion.” He didn’t understand why it seemed he had so many problems and troubles when the wicked didn’t. Notice where it was that Asaph learned what he needed to know about this situation. ‘Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end’ (Psalm 73:17). He found the answers to his questions when he went to “church”, that place dedicated to the things of God. Then he understood “their end.” He recognized his ignorance (“So foolish was I, and ignorant …” Psalm 73:22). He knew God would lead him and give him counsel (Psalm 73:24) and then receive him into glory. It is here that he acknowledges ‘there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee’ (Psalm 73:25b). He had made God his heart’s desire.” (An excerpt from The Biblical Path of Life, Year One Quarter Four, Lesson 4.)

    When you were born, you did not bring anything with you (see Ecclesiastes 5:15-16). Jesus told us to lay not up for ourselves treasure here on earth, but in heaven. He also gave us a warning that where our treasure is, that is where our heart will be. We can also be reminded of this in 1 Timothy 6:6-7: “6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” After remembering this, see what we are to do: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

    Are you content with what you have?

    Have you made God your heart’s desire?