When Pete spoke these words to Ulysses and Delmar in the movie theater in O Brother Where Art Thou?, he had given them up to Sheriff Cooley. If they went after the treasure as they were planning, it would be at the cost of their lives. Since Ulysses and Delmar were not the most discerning of individuals (We thought you was a toad!), they went after the treasure anyway, with Pete tagging along for good measure. And if not for a timely intervention, it would have cost them their lives.
The words of Jesus in Matthew 6:19 sound a lot like Pete’s—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” The treasures Jesus speaks of are those tied up with our material existence. The principle is simple: we can’t love God if we love things. Our hearts can hold only one treasure at a time (v. 24). If our lives are centered around accumulating earthly treasure, we will end up with something far worse than movie character disappointment.
What should be primary in our lives is seeking God’s kingdom (v. 33). He is the treasure that we seek (v. 21). Earning money, having possessions, saving for the future—all these things certainly have their place in life—but they are not to be confused with life. You can have everything to live with, but if you have nothing to live for you are impoverished.
Life isn’t defined by a big house, a full closet, or the latest gadgets (Luke 12:15). Neither is it to be our goal to anxiously try to cover every contingency as if there were no God (v. 31-32). It is impossible to do so, but the mere idea steals our trust away from Him and shifts it to ourselves. The main thing we’re to do is to make sure the main thing remains the main thing (v. 33)
This must have been a challenging message for Jesus’ original audience, who while not necessarily living a day-to-day existence, nonetheless had far less provisions and safety nets than we do today. Most of us enjoy a more secure, comfortable existence. Nonetheless, we are confronted with our own potential worries (i.e., rising health care costs, saving for college, retirement, etc.). These things are neither to debilitate nor define us. Instead, they should drive us to God and the seeking of true treasure.
Treasure on earth represents security. It is our hedge against the uncertainties of life. It is something saved up for the rainy day when our normal provisions and plans fail us. But Jesus says the problem with earthly treasure is that it is subject to the same uncertainty. Insurance is not the same thing as assurance, is it? Only “treasure in heaven” gets the job done because only it is totally secure.
As mentioned earlier, the heavenly treasure Jesus is referring to is the heavenly kingdom (6:10, 33). To “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (v. 20), is to “seek first His kingdom and righteousness” (v. 33). Entering into this type of lifestyle and relationship with God is a proclamation not just that we trust Him to provide us with security, but that He is our security.
There’s nothing like faith in our Father to promote peace in our hearts!
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 