Connect Ecclesiastes 2:22 with Matthew 6:19-21 on storing treasures in heaven. Setting the Stage “For what does a man get for all the toil and striving with which he labors under the sun?” “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.” The Shared Thread • Ecclesiastes exposes the emptiness of labor pursued as its own reward • Jesus directs the same concern toward possessions pursued as their own reward • Both passages steer hearts away from temporary investments toward eternal ones Why Earth-Centered Toil Fails • Everything “under the sun” is subject to decay, loss, or death (Ecclesiastes 1:14; Proverbs 23:4-5) • Achievements fade from memory and wealth passes to others (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19) • The inner cost is heavy: “All his days his work is grief and pain” (Ecclesiastes 2:23) What Counts as Treasure on Earth • Material wealth: money, property, collections • Status symbols: titles, academic letters, career milestones • Self-focused pleasures: luxury, entertainment, comfort All are vulnerable to moth, rust, thieves, economic swings, and the brevity of life. What Counts as Treasure in Heaven • Growing Christlike character (Romans 8:29; Galatians 5:22-23) • Acts of generosity and mercy (Proverbs 19:17; Luke 12:33) • Investing in gospel witness and discipleship (Philippians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) • Serving the body of Christ with spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11) • Any work done “from the heart, as unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:23-24) How to Shift the Center of Gravity 1. Redirect earnings toward kingdom purposes • Regular, cheerful giving (2 Corinthians 9:7) • Meeting practical needs of believers and neighbors (James 2:15-16) 2. Re-evaluate goals and schedules • Prioritize worship, family discipleship, and service over overtime accumulation 3. Cultivate eternal perspectives daily • Meditate on Scriptures that contrast present and eternal rewards (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) 4. Celebrate unseen returns • Trust the promise that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:4) Apostolic Confirmation “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” Living the Connection • Ecclesiastes cautions against exhausting pursuit of what cannot last • Jesus supplies the alternative: conscious investment where loss is impossible • Joy deepens when work, wealth, and time serve eternal ends, for “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” |
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