S1: Today on bold steps, Mark Joe begins a message about
S1: the treasures of your heart.
S2: So many of us are living our lives with our
S2: treasures in the wrong place. We need to redefine what
S2: our treasure is so that our heart can follow our treasures.
S2: And many of us, our heart is in the wrong place.
S2: And if your heart is in the wrong place, you're
S2: living the wrong way for the wrong things, with the
S2: wrong priorities, and ultimately wasting your life.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, president of
S1: Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community
S1: Church in Chicago. I'm Wayne Shepherd and Mark. I like
S1: this illustration of a backpack when it comes to what
S1: we're carrying around in life. Today, you're going to challenge
S1: us to open up that life pack and see if
S1: what we're lugging around is really worth it, or if
S1: there are things in there that God would like us
S1: to replace. Huh?
S3: Yeah, And I tell an illustration at the beginning of
S3: this message of my little grandson, my firstborn grandson. His
S3: name is Finn, and he he doesn't anymore. But when
S3: he was young, he had a little backpack and everything
S3: special to him. Little rocks and little figurines he'd put.
S3: And he did not want to take that backpack off
S3: when he got in his car seat. I think he
S3: wanted to keep it on when he took a back
S3: a bath, because it was his little treasure trove. Love it.
S3: And you may not have a backpack, a physical one,
S3: but you do have treasures and our heart is close
S3: to our treasure. And that's really the point here where
S3: your treasure is, there will your heart be also. That's
S3: what it tells us in Matthew chapter six. So we're
S3: going to unpack that and see what God says to
S3: us today.
S1: All right. Let's get into this message. The Treasure Principles
S1: on Bold steps with Mark job.
S2: A few years ago, I entered into a whole new
S2: phase of life. Oh, I would highly suggest it. I
S2: became a grandfather. You know, I realized I'm the typical
S2: grandfather now. I've become that typical grandfather. When someone is
S2: talking and they say, do you have grandkids? I say, oh, yeah,
S2: you want to see pictures? Uh, you know, it's just
S2: I don't know. And of course, you show them the
S2: pictures and they're like, oh, they're cute. What are they
S2: going to say? You're the grandfather. They have to say
S2: they're cute, right? And they call me Papa. Except for
S2: Josiah's little son, Saint. For some reason, he's gone to
S2: calling me Papa. So that's my new name, Papa. But
S2: my oldest grandson. I noticed this about a year ago.
S2: And his mother, my daughter told me he has this
S2: unique habit of carrying a backpack around with him wherever
S2: he goes. Wherever he goes, he has this little backpack. Well,
S2: I should say little. It seems like it's almost as
S2: big as he is, but he carries it around with
S2: him and he doesn't want to take it off. He
S2: guards it. He. When they want to put him in
S2: his car seat, they got to struggle with him because
S2: he doesn't want to take it off. He's always aware
S2: of where where it's at. And I'm like, hey, Finn,
S2: why is it what's in that backpack? And he'll say, okay, Papa,
S2: I'll show you. And so he has an assortment of
S2: little things he's picked up, from rocks to shiny things to,
S2: I don't know what else in there, just little random
S2: pieces that he thinks are valuable. And so he puts
S2: it in his backpack and he carries it around. Now
S2: he he really treasures that he really holds to it.
S2: I'm convinced that when he's 30 years old. And I
S2: were to take that backpack and show that little colorful
S2: backpack to him. He would look at it and say,
S2: what is this junk? Because you see, as we grow,
S2: as we mature that which we value, at one stage,
S2: we may not value in our maturity. I'm talking to you,
S2: some of you here today. I believe that some of
S2: us are still in a immature stage in our spiritual
S2: walk in terms of what we treasure and what we value.
S2: And today, I want to talk to you about the
S2: words of Jesus, specifically about where is our treasure? Where
S2: is our heart? What do you value? And I'm convinced
S2: that some of you, a year from now, may look
S2: at your proverbial backpack that you have today and look
S2: at it and say, what was I thinking? That was
S2: just junk. I've exchanged it for stuff that's much, much
S2: more valuable. So I want you to take your Bibles,
S2: and I want you to turn to Matthew chapter six.
S2: Matthew chapter six. We're going to be looking at verses
S2: 19 through 24 of Matthew chapter six. This is in
S2: the context of the sermon on the Mount. Jesus message
S2: his most iconic, powerful, legendary message. We call it the
S2: sermon on the Mount, where Jesus is explaining to his disciples,
S2: really the culture of the kingdom. And at the beginning
S2: of this passage, his disciples say, we want to learn
S2: how to pray like your disciples pray. And Jesus teaches
S2: them a prayer that many of us. If you grew
S2: up in religious, Christian religious circles, you've probably repeated many times.
S2: We call it the Our Father. And it starts out
S2: by saying, Our Father who art in heaven, Then hallowed
S2: be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done.
S2: On earth as it is in heaven. Jesus taught him
S2: this prayer, but then he goes on and he explains
S2: to them this powerful principle about treasures and heart. And
S2: I'm going to read to you beginning in verse 19,
S2: it says, do not. This is Jesus speaking. Do not
S2: lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
S2: rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But
S2: lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
S2: nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in
S2: and steal. Listen. Here it goes. For where your treasure is,
S2: there your heart will be also. Let me repeat that
S2: last phrase. For where your treasure is, there your heart
S2: will be also. I want to introduce you to three
S2: treasure principles that I see in this passage. Number one,
S2: you can write this down. Treasure. Principle number one. Your
S2: heart will always be close to where your treasure is at.
S2: Show me what you value and that's where your heart
S2: is at. Show me what's important to you. And your
S2: heart is going to be close. Your affection, your emotions,
S2: your interest will lie very close to where your treasure
S2: is at. If I want to know what's important to someone,
S2: it's not always what they say with their lips, but
S2: it's what they talk about. Think about what they get
S2: emotional about. What that Indicates where their heart is at.
S2: And Jesus was saying this. In essence, what Jesus was
S2: telling us is that most of us here on earth,
S2: we tend to make our make our treasure things that
S2: we can physically touch and see. And Jesus is saying,
S2: many of you are putting your treasure in the wrong place,
S2: because your treasure needs to be placed in something that
S2: is not just temporary, but eternal. In fact, he describes, um,
S2: what people put their treasure in. He says, do not
S2: lay up your treasure. Don't make your treasure that that
S2: which moths and rust destroy. And thieves break in. Back
S2: in the days of Jesus, the wealthy people. Their garments,
S2: their robes were one of their treasures. And he said,
S2: moths can eat that. I don't know, I remember going
S2: to my grandmother's house and opening her closet and I said, grandma,
S2: what's that smell? And she said, it's mothballs. Anybody grow
S2: up smelling mothballs? I don't know where all the moths
S2: has gone, but I don't. I don't think moths are
S2: a thing anymore. If I asked my kids, do you
S2: know what a moth is? They probably say no. But
S2: I guess back in the day, moths would get into
S2: closets and they would eat your clothes and you would
S2: have holes in them, I don't know. The moths disappeared.
S2: We don't do that anymore. I don't know. But basically,
S2: moths eat clothes. And so back in the day, if
S2: moths got in your clothes, they would destroy your clothes.
S2: A lot of the Jewish people in the day are
S2: back in the days of Jesus. They. They didn't have, uh,
S2: bank accounts or cryptocurrency. They had, uh, silver and gold
S2: and jewelry, and that's what they valued. And Jesus says
S2: that kind of treasure rusts with time. If it gets
S2: wet and moist and not in the right conditions, it'll rust.
S2: And he also says, you know, there is the threat
S2: of someone stealing what you have so you can what
S2: you have could be stolen. That that's all temporary treasures.
S2: And Jesus is saying, I'm challenging you to make sure
S2: that you lay treasures in a place where moth or
S2: rust or thieves cannot touch. In other words, I want
S2: you to start thinking more eternal than temporal. Do you
S2: realize that most of us here, we probably don't put
S2: a lot of thought into what happens after we die?
S2: In fact, some people think, well, pastor, that's morbid. No,
S2: it's only morbid if you are obsessed with the death part,
S2: but don't understand what happens after we die. I was
S2: interested in discovering what most people think about life after
S2: death here in America. And, uh, Pew Foundation did some
S2: research not too long ago about life after death. And
S2: here's what they discovered that 75% of adults believe in
S2: some kind of heaven. They believe that there is some
S2: sort of Paradise after we die. Some place of no suffering,
S2: some place of no tears, no pain, some utopia of
S2: some sort. It may not be a biblically defined heaven,
S2: but they believe in that 75% of people. Interestingly enough,
S2: that 37% of people that are not religiously affiliated also
S2: believe in heaven. 17% of adults in America do not
S2: believe in any life after death. In other words, they
S2: believe that once you die, it's over. You're like an animal.
S2: You're done buried. Life is over. The only existence that
S2: you have is the years that you have on earth.
S2: And you say, well, pastor, how many years do we
S2: have on earth? Well, the average American lives to be about.
S2: The average American male is 73 lives to be 73
S2: years old. The average American woman lives to be 79.
S2: Come on, let's hear it. For the women, they live longer.
S2: I'm not sure what that tells us, but. Nonetheless, let
S2: me say this. The great majority of us, I believe
S2: we live primarily conscious of what we can touch and feel,
S2: the here and the now. And what Jesus is saying
S2: is that you need to live with a with a
S2: bigger mindset.
S1: This is bold steps with Mark job. And before we
S1: continue examining what we truly treasure, I want to make
S1: sure you know that you can revisit any of these
S1: daily messages by going to our website, npr.org. Speaking of
S1: ways to stay connected with these Bible teachings. Have you
S1: tried our Bold Steps podcast yet? Whether you're out for
S1: a walk or driving to work, you can take these
S1: messages with you anywhere. Just search for bold steps with
S1: doctor Mark Jobe on your favorite podcast platform. And then
S1: if you find these teachings valuable, consider leaving a comment
S1: in a five star review to help spread the word. Plus,
S1: there's our newly enhanced Bold Steps app. We've packed it
S1: with exclusive video content from Mark bonus teaching materials, and
S1: a built in Bible feature that puts Scripture right at
S1: your fingertips. Download it for free today from your App Store.
S1: It's a great way to continue learning and growing in
S1: your faith journey outside of the radio program. Now let's
S1: return to Mark's message about evaluating what treasures were investing in,
S1: both here and in eternity.
S2: The Bible talks in first Thessalonians that we are body, soul,
S2: and spirit. Some people call it the trichotomy of man.
S2: Your body is that which you you know. it's the
S2: physical part of you. It sounds like at 73, we
S2: start to wear out. How many of you are already
S2: feeling the wearing out? Boy, I don't know. Some of you.
S2: Just to get up in the morning, there's grunts and
S2: groans and, ah, you know, sounds like you just run
S2: a marathon. You're just getting out of bed. Um, because
S2: your body is not meant to last forever. Your body
S2: has an expiration date. And the moment that your body dies,
S2: your heart stops beating. Your brainwaves stop functioning. Your body
S2: is done. It goes to the grave, but your soul
S2: and your spirit do not have an expiration date. In fact,
S2: your soul. The Bible talks about the soul of man
S2: and woman and your soul. Is that unique part of
S2: you that, uh non-tangible invisible part of you that we
S2: that makes up who you are? It's your personality. It's
S2: your mind, your intellect, your volition. It's who makes you. You.
S2: The Bible says that that does not have an expiration
S2: date when you die. Listen to me. When you die,
S2: when your body dies, your soul continues to exist. That's
S2: not only taught in the Bible, but you will find
S2: even a lot of other scientific, um, studies that have
S2: indicated that when people die, their heart stops, yet they
S2: have this consciousness of seeing their body still on the
S2: bed there. And they have these experiences that scientists and
S2: doctors can't explain because there's an awareness, a consciousness, even
S2: after their body has died, of what was happening in
S2: the room. Because your body, your soul, it doesn't pass
S2: away when your body passes away. But then you also
S2: have a spirit. Every person is born with a spirit.
S2: You are a spirit being. Uh, when you are born,
S2: the spirit part of you is the part that interacts
S2: with the spiritual world. So you have a body, you
S2: have a soul, and you have a spirit. Now don't
S2: confuse that with the Holy Spirit because you are a
S2: spiritual being. But the Holy Spirit, which is a third
S2: person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. When you become
S2: a believer, he quickens or makes your spirit alive, and
S2: suddenly you are conscious of the spiritual world. God speaks
S2: to you in powerful ways. The Word of God comes
S2: to life. You're convicted. You're led, you're prompted. You're helped.
S2: You're empowered through the Holy Spirit. Amen. So body, soul,
S2: and spirit, your body passes away. And what Jesus is
S2: saying to us, listen to me. This is important. What
S2: Jesus is saying to us is most of us live
S2: valuing a very temporary treasure when our treasure needs to
S2: be more eternal. And what Jesus is saying is that
S2: most of us, our heart is fixed on the here
S2: and the now. um, he tells us where your treasure is.
S2: There your heart will be also. Listen to me. Your
S2: heart follows your treasure. So look for what you value
S2: the most. And you will find where your heart is at.
S2: And when you find where your heart is at. You
S2: will also find the greatest influence on your life. Many
S2: of us get deluded into thinking that what other people value,
S2: the material world that we live in, that that is
S2: the most important thing, and our heart is close to that.
S2: And we live very shallow, superficial lives because our values
S2: are placed on things that are temporary. Can I tell
S2: you something? I mean, that scratch that you got in
S2: that newer car that you have that almost sent you
S2: to therapy. You just couldn't get over talking about it
S2: for weeks on a time, and you were angry and
S2: upset about it. Can I tell you something? When you
S2: are on your deathbed, you are not going to have
S2: one thought about that scratch on your car. Can I
S2: tell you something else? When you're on the other side
S2: of life, that is going to seem like some of
S2: the little items in Finn's backpack. You're going to look
S2: and say, that was so dumb. Why did I care
S2: so much about that? And so what Jesus is reminding
S2: us of is he's telling us, listen, so many of
S2: us are living our lives with our treasures in the
S2: wrong place. We need to redefine what our treasure is
S2: so that our heart can follow our treasures. And many
S2: of us, our heart is in the wrong place. And
S2: if your heart is in the wrong place, you're living
S2: the wrong way for the wrong things, with the wrong priorities,
S2: and ultimately wasting your life. Number two, not only your
S2: heart will always be close to where your treasure is at.
S2: But secondly, the second treasure principle is this the way
S2: the lens through which you view life will determine how
S2: you live life. Notice what Jesus tells us in verse 22.
S2: It's in the context of our priorities, our treasures, our heart.
S2: He says this the eye is the lamp of the body.
S2: So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will
S2: be full of light. But if your eye is bad,
S2: your whole body will be full of darkness. If then
S2: the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?
S2: He uses a physical illustration to represent a spiritual truth.
S2: He says if you're blind and can't see, then your
S2: body is full of darkness. Through your eyes you see light.
S2: And when you see light, You know where you're going.
S2: Your body's full of light. You have direction. You have purpose.
S2: But if your eyes are not open, then your entire
S2: being will be full of darkness. What is Jesus saying?
S2: I believe that Jesus is talking about how we see
S2: the world and clarity of vision. Clarity of vision. Many
S2: people don't see clearly the purpose and the priorities in
S2: their life. And when you don't see clearly the purpose
S2: and priorities of your life, you start to live the
S2: wrong way. You will always make mistakes and wrong turns
S2: if you cannot see clearly where you're going spiritually in life. Listen,
S2: some of you right now have made a virtual mess
S2: of your life your marriage, your family, your relationships, your priorities,
S2: your finances, your emotions, your mind. Why? You've made a
S2: mess because there's been a lack of clarity. You have
S2: not seen things clearly, spiritually speaking, in your life. And
S2: when there's a lack of clarity, you make a lot
S2: of mistakes. Recently, I was driving down I-55, and I
S2: don't know if anybody else got caught up in this,
S2: but as I was driving, they had predicted a storm.
S2: The sky got dark, the clouds rolled in, and then suddenly,
S2: at first very lightly, but then I got pelted with
S2: huge hailstones. Was anybody else in that? The point was,
S2: I couldn't see clearly because of the, uh, because of
S2: the hail, because of the darkness that was there. When
S2: you can't see clearly, you end up in accidents. And
S2: there are multiple accidents that happened because of lack of clarity. Listen,
S2: what second Corinthians chapter four, verse 18 says, so we
S2: fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on
S2: what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but
S2: what is unseen is eternal.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe and today's message,
S1: titled The Treasure Principles, is just getting started, so be
S1: sure to join us tomorrow when we continue this fundamental lesson.
S1: And of course, if you ever missed one of these messages,
S1: be sure to catch up online by going to Bold steps.org. Mark,
S1: we are pleased to have doctor Heather Holloman with us
S1: briefly on the program here today to talk about her book,
S1: The Six Conversations. This is a very timely book, isn't it?
S3: I think it's very timely. You know, it seems like
S3: a lot of the conversations that should be happening are
S3: more shouting at each other or angry conversations or stereotyping people.
S3: And so it seems more and more difficult to have
S3: conversations with people that maybe have other ideologies.
S1: So, Heather, help us out here. How can how can
S1: you advise us?
S4: Well, I learned from the research what it means to
S4: believe the best about people. And it's profoundly biblical right
S4: out of Romans 12 and Philippians two. What would life
S4: look like if you began to honor one another, to
S4: value others above yourself, and to bless those who persecute
S4: you and love your enemies? It's a countercultural way to live.
S4: And when you believe the best about people, you're seeking
S4: to learn from them. So my neighbors that believe different
S4: things politically or socially, instead of arguing with them, I say,
S4: I can tell you really care so passionately about this issue.
S4: I'd love to hear the story of when you first
S4: started believing these things. Now we're having a warm connection,
S4: and I can share things that I'm learning from the
S4: Bible or anything important about my life.
S1: So your goal here is to help us get deeply
S1: into other people's lives and share things with them spiritually.
S4: Yes. And you can have those warm connections that really
S4: were designed for the research is clear. People are suffering
S4: because of loneliness and disconnection. So this book is really
S4: an intervention in a health crisis that we're also seeing
S4: across the nation.
S2: I love it. One of the greatest challenges that we
S2: live is isolation, lack of connection. And so whether this
S2: is at church with other believers, or whether this is
S2: with a neighbor that maybe does not share your faith
S2: or politically is at odds with you. This is a
S2: great book. The Six Conversations by doctor Heather Holloman. Look
S2: forward to getting this book into so many people's hands.
S1: Heather, thanks for your partnership.
S4: Thank you.
S1: So let us send you a copy of this book.
S1: When you make a donation of any amount to support
S1: bold steps. Just go online to Bold Steps. Org or
S1: call us today at 800. D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. You
S1: can even send your check in the mail. Just address
S1: your envelope to bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago,
S1: Illinois 606 ten. Speaking of giving, have you considered becoming
S1: a bold partner? These monthly supporters are the backbone of
S1: our ministry, helping us bring God's Word to listeners worldwide.
S1: When you commit to a monthly gift of $30 or more,
S1: you'll receive exclusive benefits, including a signed copy of Mark's book, unstuck.
S1: Special video content and a 50% discount on everything at
S1: Moody Publishers. Join the team at Bold Steps. And don't
S1: forget to stay connected with us through social media. To
S1: follow Mark on YouTube for inspiring video content, or find
S1: us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by searching for bold
S1: Steps Radio and Wayne Shepherd, join us again tomorrow when
S1: we continue our message about rethinking what we value. Part
S1: two of the Treasure Principles is coming up Thursday right
S1: here on Bold Steps with Mark Jones. Bold steps is
S1: a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.