Connect Amos 3:15 with Matthew 6:19-21 on storing treasures in heaven. Setting the Scene “I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Earthly Wealth Exposed in Amos • Winter house, summer house, ivory-paneled house, and great house—four pictures of abundance that Israel’s elites believed would ensure comfort and status. • God Himself announces their swift demolition, revealing how fragile earthly security really is. • The judgment falls on misuse of wealth (Amos 4:1; 6:4-6); riches insulated hearts from justice and compassion. • The same Lord who granted prosperity can revoke it in a moment. Jesus’ Call to Eternal Investment • Earthly treasure carries built-in liabilities: moth, rust, thieves, decay, economic collapse, or sudden disaster. Amos 3:15 provides a vivid Old Testament case study of those liabilities. • Treasures in heaven remain untouched because their “storage place” is God Himself—utterly secure and incorruptible (1 Peter 1:4). • Heart follows treasure. When wealth is rooted in heaven, affection gravitates toward Christ and His kingdom, not toward possessions. Biblical Echoes • Proverbs 11:28 — “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” • Luke 12:16-21 — The rich fool’s barns parallel Amos’ great houses; sudden loss meets unprepared hearts. • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 — Command to be rich in good works, laying up a firm foundation for the coming age. • James 5:1-3 — Hoarded wealth corrodes, testifying against those who treasure it more than obedience. Practical Ways to Store Treasure in Heaven • Generosity: Direct resources toward gospel work, the needy, and acts of mercy (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). • Stewardship: View every asset as the Lord’s property entrusted for kingdom purposes (Psalm 24:1). • Contentment: Cultivate satisfaction in Christ rather than accumulation (Hebrews 13:5). • Eternal mindset: Measure success by faithfulness and eternal outcomes, not by personal portfolios (Colossians 3:1-2). • Character formation: Investing in obedience, holiness, and love fashions qualities that persist beyond this life (Galatians 5:22-23). Takeaway The collapse of lavish houses in Amos and the imperishable rewards promised by Jesus converge on one truth: earthly wealth fades, while heavenly treasure endures. Aligning resources, priorities, and affections with God’s kingdom secures what no judgment, moth, rust, or thief can ever touch. |
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