Matthew 6:19-21

On 25^th January 1905 the world’s largest diamond was discovered near Pretoria in South Africa. It weighed over half a Kilogram and was sold to the Provincial Government it was then presented to King Edward VII as a birthday gift. The Cullinan as it was called was eventually cut into nine large, stones and some 100 smaller ones valued in millions of dollars all told (it would be billions of dollars today). The largest stone known as the “Star of Africa I” is mounted with the second and third largest in the British Crown Jewels which you can pay to see at the Tower of London behind bullet proof glass, or you can look at in pictures.

The crown jewels may be a symbol of national sovereignty and pride but splendid as they are, they pale into insignificance when compared to the glory and splendour of Christ Jesus.

God talks about treasure in the book of Matthew chapter 6.

“¹⁹Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal”.

(that’ll be why the crown jewels must be kept out of reach behind bullet proof glass)

“²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If we want to know how to store up treasures in heaven, then Matthew 5 gives us some advice. How about for starters:

• Being humble and pure in heart (verses 5, 8)
• Hungering and thirsting for righteousness (verse 6)
• Showing mercy (verse 7)
• Making peace (verse 9)
• Being persecuted for the sake of righteousness (verse 10)