September 25th
Lay Up Treasures in Heaven
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The Lamp of the Body
22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matthew 6:19-23 NKJV
Jesus described an important link between treasures and the eyes. Earthly treasure can mean more than just wealth and possessions. It may also apply to anything attached to the world and the lusts of the world (1 John 2:15-17).
Sex addicts struggle with lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh. The eyes function as the filling points for either light (good) or darkness (evil) for our entire being. For example, pornography is the powerful “drug of choice” that sex addicts are usually using. After entering the eyes, porn lodges in the mind, spreading lust like a disease through our thoughts. The porn images become “lust treasures” that we fantasize over. Physical sex sin can have the same end result, as it creates memories that can be cherished in our thoughts. These kinds of “thought treasure” are examples of the earthly treasure that will perish.
Jesus calls us to stop treasuring the sinful lusts of this world and to start storing up heavenly treasures. We should ask ourselves, “What am I treasuring with my eyes and mind today?” If you’re treasuring sin, you can change with God’s help. It can start with getting control of your eyes and then working on your thoughts.
If you are willing to submit your will to God’s and ask for his help, he will help you topple those treasured sin memories and develop self control over your eyes and thoughts. He will renew your mind through the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2) day by day as you present your body and mind to him as instruments of righteousness and not sin.
Like an investment process, those who invest by regularly viewing good things instead of evil things will succeed. God can’t make the investments for us with our eyes and minds, but he has given us the power to choose what we view and think about. I believe that we will be held accountable for how we have invested with our power of choice, so it behooves us to use it wisely!
For more details on gaining control over your eyes and thoughts, and walking to freedom from addiction, take our online course Freedom Journey.
Questions for further thought:
What are some practical things we can do to direct our eyes and thoughts to Jesus? (Colossians 3:1-2, Philippians 4:8, Hebrews 12:1-2)
How do the things we treasure in our hearts influence our actions? (Matthew 5:19)
What might be some symptoms of being filled with darkness? (Romans 1:29-31)
Prayer:
“Lord God, thank you for saving me from destruction through the blood of Jesus. Thank you for the new life available to me through the Holy Spirit. Please forgive me for the sin I have practiced and have allowed to prevent me from living the new life. Please wash my mind and conscience from the dead works of sin and any treasured memories of sin I’ve entertained. I turn from that sin now and commit myself to you anew. Please restart the renewal process in my mind and help me to gain control over my eyes. Please teach me how to use my eyes to make good investments toward heavenly treasures each day. I love you, Lord and I praise you now and forever. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.