Mountain Message: Treasures in Heaven

By Greg Russell | Renovate Church—Centennial, CO

When we started our study of the Sermon on the Mount, we called it the “Mountain Message.” Throughout this series, we’ve seen Jesus consistently call his people to a different way of living—a transformation that starts on the inside.

In the first week, we saw that the people Jesus was speaking to—those society considered “least desirable”—were actually the ones blessed because they were part of the Kingdom of God. In the weeks that followed, we learned that those same people are the salt and light of the earth, called to preserve society and show the way to God.

Most recently, we talked about redefined righteousness. Jesus made it clear that righteousness isn’t about the outward performance we often see from religious leaders; it’s about the heart. The heart is the executive center of our lives.

As we move into Matthew 6:1-24, Jesus continues this theme. He’s still addressing the same choice: are we living for the values of this world, or are we living for the spiritual reality of God’s Kingdom?

We Are Not Actors

One of the most striking things Jesus says in this passage is his warning against being a “hypocrite.”

When we hear that word today, we think of someone being fake. But in the original context, the word actually meant a “literal actor”—someone on a stage wearing a mask to play a character. Jesus used this word to describe the religious leaders of his day who were performing. They dressed in fancy costumes and needed an audience to validate their “spirituality” through public giving, prayer, and fasting.

Jesus’ warning is simple: Do not put on a show.

At Renovate, I love that we are not actors. We don’t put on masks. We are real with one another. We take this warning seriously because, if we’re honest, we are all prone to the same temptation. We want to look a certain way. We want people to think about us a certain way.

But when you live for an audience of people, you only get their temporary approval. When you live for the “Audience of One,” when you live for God, you get something much better. God sees the heart. He knows who we really are, warts and all, and he loves us anyway.

The Choice of the Heart

Jesus pivots to the most important question we can ask ourselves: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

This is the central message of the Sermon on the Mount. It’s a choice between two worlds. You can live for the physical world—which is subject to entropy, decay, and theft—or you can live for the spiritual world.

Think about the “evil eye”—a common concept in Hebrew culture representing greed, selfishness, and envy. When our “eye” is fixed on earthly things, our whole body fills with darkness. But when we fix our hearts on God, we align ourselves with the light of the Kingdom.

You Cannot Serve Two Masters

Jesus concludes this section with a hard truth: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other… You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

There is nothing inherently wrong with money. But money has a tendency to become a master. When we start living to hold onto our position, our power, or our possessions, we end up serving them rather than using them to serve others.

I’ve made it a personal conviction not to use titles like “Pastor.” I’m just Greg—one beggar showing another beggar where the bread is. We all need that reminder. We aren’t here to play a part; we are here to follow Jesus honestly.

The Takeaway

So, how do we navigate this?

As C.S. Lewis once suggested, all the notes on a piano are appropriate at the right time. There’s a season for every activity. Sometimes, it’s appropriate to do good deeds publicly so that God gets the glory. Other times, it’s better to do them in total secret.

The key is not following a rigid set of rules; the key is having the law written on your heart. When you walk in the Spirit, you naturally know which “note” to play.

This week, I want to encourage you to guard your heart. Above all else, protect it. Stop performing. Stop trying to impress people. Instead, treasure God. Because everything else in this world will eventually fade, but what you store up in heaven will last forever.

Let’s be a people who live for an Audience of One.