Connect Ecclesiastes 6:6 with Matthew 6:19-21 on storing treasures in heaven. Scripture Passages “Even if he lives a thousand years twice over, but fails to enjoy his prosperity, do not all go to the same place?” “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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Theme Overview – Life’s Length vs. Life’s Lasting Value • A life that stretches two thousand years (Ecclesiastes 6:6) still ends in the grave if it is centered on earthly prosperity. • Earthly treasure, however abundant, erodes (Matthew 6:19). • Real security lies in treasure that outlives death (Matthew 6:20). Connecting the Texts – One Message from Solomon to the Savior • Shared Reality: – Both passages confront the brevity and fragility of earthly gain. – Whether death (“the same place”) or decay (“moth and rust”), material goods cannot remain. • Shared Warning: – Ecclesiastes shows the emptiness of merely possessing; Jesus shows the danger of treasuring the possessions themselves. • Shared Direction: – Solomon’s question, “do not all go to the same place?” pushes us to think beyond the grave. – Jesus gives the answer: store treasure in heaven where death and decay cannot touch it. Storing Treasure the Right Way 1. Trust God, not Riches – 1 Timothy 6:17-19 reminds the wealthy to “put their hope in God, who richly provides.” 2. Invest in Eternal Relationships – Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Generosity converts fleeting wealth into eternal impact. 3. Pursue Kingdom Priorities – Colossians 3:1-2 calls believers to “set your hearts on things above.” 4. Seek Contentment Over Accumulation – Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Practical Steps for Today • Audit possessions: identify items held “just in case” and redirect them to someone in need. • Schedule regular giving: make generosity a planned habit, not a spontaneous impulse. • Celebrate eternal returns: journal answered prayers, changed lives, and gospel opportunities—true dividends of heavenly investment. • Speak the gospel: sharing Christ is treasure-making; souls reached are wealth stored (Philippians 4:17). Encouraging Promises • Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous soul will prosper.” • Luke 12:33 – “Provide yourselves purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.” • 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Earthly years may double to two thousand, yet meaning appears only when the heart anchors in heaven and wealth is converted into worship. |
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