Single Visioned - Faith Focused

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal" (Matt 6:19)

Most people when reading the verse above automatically turn this into a financial scripture. While it may certainly apply to finances, it is not limited to or directly focused on finances. Let me explain.

The word "treasure" in this verse literally or figuratively means "a deposit, wealth." From this definition our minds will again go back to MONEY! However, if we do a more in-depth study of the word we will find that it is the same Greek word and same English translated word "treasure" that is found in 2 Corinthians 4:7:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."

We know that when the Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthians he was not saying that we have a deposit of money inside of this. It does not fit the context of what he was talking about nor would it make any sense. To understand what Jesus was saying in Matthew six and what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 4 I could translate this word as "something of great value."

Paul, speaking about the Spirit of God that is within us and was telling us that we have "something of great value in this earthen vessel." So, what is Jesus telling us in Matthew 6?

He is telling us to NOT put or build up a life that has placed great value on things in this natural world where the enemy operates and has the ability to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He then tells us that instead of focusing on this natural life we are to turn our focus to that which is eternal as we read in verse 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"

According to Jesus' doctrine He told us that all this earthly stuff is going to pass away therefore in the whole scheme of our being don't place great value or build your life around the natural side of it.

If this is all that Jesus were to have said we may not really understand that full scope of the Spiritual versus the natural. But He didn't stop there, look at verse 21 which will bring a lot of clarity to what He was teaching:

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

What we now see is that this treasure (something of great value) will dictate which way our life goes. The word "treasure" spoken of in verse 21 is referring to the same "treasure" spoken of in verses 19 and 20. What you place great value on is what your heart will follow after.

When I was working in the financial area I had a man who worked for me who absolutely loved golf. He would hit a bucket of balls on his way to work, hit a bucket on his way home, and then be at the golf course on Saturday's and Sunday's during his days off. In other words he placed a very high value on the game of golf, therefore his heart was set on golfing. Proverbs 4:23 tells us that out of our heart flows the issues of our life. Jesus told us that what we place a high value on we will find the direction of our heart (life).

Immediately following this powerful statement our Lord and Savior says the following in verse 22:

"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."

Looking at different translations of the Bible we find that the word translated as "single" in the King James Version is translated as:

• "Good" in the NKJ and NIV Bibles
• "Clear" in the NASB Bible
• "Sound" in the AMP Bible

In other words we need to have one focus in our lives and that is what is "good," "clear," and "sound." Of course we know that would be truth, which is the Word of God. What we should see and be focused on is building our eternal reward. Doing that which has an eternal impact.

Jesus then tells us that if we have double vision then darkness is going to fill our lives. Look at verse 23:

"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"

While I realize that no Christian wants to be full of darkness, what many don't realize is that Jesus just told us how to live in His Light. That's a powerful Word that many are not paying attention to.

Let me conclude this with Jesus' final statement, which is a verse (24) that many Christians know by heart:

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

What a powerful statement! However, when many read it they see the word "mammon" they once again think about MONEY. Money is mammon's definition in it's lowest form, however this verse is really talking about the course of the world. The natural system of life. In other words you can't place a high degree of value on the things of God and place a high degree of value on the things of this world. It just doesn't work! Your master (that which you deem as very valuable) is going to lead your life.

When it is all said and done, the vision of your heart determines what leads you! We are living in the last days, get single vision and let that vision be what Jesus has declared.