ESOCS Devotional 11 August 2026 – Where is Your Treasure?
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 6:21“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
TEXT: Matthew 6:16-34
“Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
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Treasure refers to wealth and riches. People become rich and wealthy both through genuine enterprise and fraudulent practices. In our text today, Jesus Christ warned that we should avoid unguarded quest and accumulation of earthly wealth and riches as they do not last forever. In verse 19 He said “Lay not up for yourselves treasures in earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal.”
The instances of wealth accumulation abound in our country today. We see the fleet of cars and numerous landed properties people around us acquire. We also are witnesses of the vanity of theses accumulations when the rich and wealthy around us die. They do not go with any of those wealth and properties. They die and the living continues with them.
Christians are thus advised to learn from theses instance and take decision that will lead to living in such a way that they will have a place in heavenly kingdom: a place full of heavenly treasures. There are certain Christian conducts that attract credit points in heaven. Such acts like free will offering, assistance to the needy, giving help to the helpless, spending profits from genuine enterprise to cater for the needs of the common public, cancellation of debts etc. pile up treasures for people in heaven. We have to embrace these practices. (Matt. 6:20, Luke 12:33, Matt. 19:21)
Most people engage in fraudulent acts to earn money and accumulate them because of the fear of being in lack tomorrow. Thus, when they have the opportunity to divert funds they see it as the only way to secure the future. But Christ wants us to place reliance in the sure providence of God. God can bless whatever we do to provide sufficient needs for everyday. He does it for birds of the air and can do more for those who rely on Him. Matt. 6:25-31.
We will be able to show case the way of God and draw people into righteousness if we can act differently when we have the opportunity or hold positions which others held and amassed public wealth. If we maintain the discipline of genuine earning through genuine enterprise, God is able to provide all that we need on earth and preserve a lovely and wealthy place for us in the kingdom. Matt. 6:32-34.
May the Holy Spirit lead us through the path of contentment and desire for heaven.
Question: What is your priority between earthly and heavenly treasure?
Prayer : Father, may I be guided towards heavenly comfort, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Ezek. 36:33-end, Deut.8:1-10, Heb. 5:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 11 August 2026
