Verses 16-18 Jesus says “When you fast”, not “if” you fast. Fasting is a spiritual discipline. We need some element of regular fasting in our lives to get breakthroughs. To go deeper in our relationship with God. During a fasting period, we curb the desires of the flesh by removing a physical craving that has consumed our attention, time, energy, body and then we fill up this space with our spiritual needs like more prayer, more scripture, more seeking God. We make the body suffer while our spiritual life is conditioned and filled up. Instead of watching television or eating, we would go to our secret place to pray or read God’s Word seeking His attention and intervention in our lives. We don’t do this for the show of it but for honest approval with God only. If we’re fasting so others can see how spiritual we are or get their attention by looking “gloomy”, “obvious”, “miserable”, “disheveled”, then we’ve received all the reward we will ever get from that. If you’re in the company of others and you’re fasting something they are partaking in, you can say, “I’m not eating that or having that right now”. Or, I’m not watching television right now because I’m fasting. This isn’t meant to grab their attention that you’re fasting, but to acknowledge this thing that they expect you to participate in is something you’ve decided to take a break from. Our private fasts will one day be met with an everlasting feast. 

Verses 19-21 A treasure is an abundance of something that is valuable to us. But the things of this world will not last so we should not put our future in their hands. We shouldn’t treat these “treasures” as security and supply for our future. Everything on earth is subject to decay. We can easily be robbed of the things here on earth. Jesus is saying to store your treasure where you want your heart to be because your heart will follow your treasure. Whatever our hearts treasure most, our time and attention will be consumed with how to get more of it. We pursue what we treasure and place all of our love and affection into it. Our cares and fears rest with our treasure. Our hopes and trust, our joy and delight are all found in our treasure. All of our thoughts will chase our treasure. If we cannot identify where we lay up our treasures, or if we are quick to deny any earthly treasure, then a good question to ask ourselves is where we find our first thoughts, the free thoughts, the fixed thoughts, the frequent thoughts, and the familiar thoughts hiding. 

Verses 22-23 If we intend to place our focus on heaven, prayers, fasting, offerings, acceptance with God, and we store up our treasure there, then we need to be aware of what we’re inviting into our lives through our eyes. Our eyes are always discovering, discerning, and directing our affections and actions. Wherever our focus is then that is where our hearts will follow. The light, that is God’s Word, His grace, brings health, clarity, comfort, and purity to our lives. Darkness is corrupt, evil, destructive, misinformed, seeking glory for itself, full of perverse conversations, the path is confusing, and the foundation is unsteady. So our aim and intentions need to be on God like a runner who sets their gaze on the goal ahead and doesn’t look down. We set our eyes on the end, on the glory of God, and direct our lives in everything we do to bring Him honor.

Verse 24 This is like having one foot in heaven and one foot on earth, a treasure in heaven and a treasure on earth. At some point, the two masters, money/gain/wealth and God, will go in different directions and you must choose. Whatever is in this world that we consider gain to us, whatever is the lust of the flesh/eye or pride of life – food, sleep, sports, entertainment, treasures, money, work, attention/approval/applause from others – this is all led by one master. The master is self. We cannot serve ‘self’ and serve God. Self, the flesh, will always be in competition with God and in contradiction to God’s Word. We cannot be obedient to both. And we cannot depend on both. We either trust God or place our trust in ourselves. 

Of all the things that can distract us and lead us astray, becoming a slave to money is the worst. Having money isn’t the problem. It’s when the things in this physical world become more important than our spiritual world. A desire for money will ask us to cheat God of his tithe so we can store up or spend more of it. But God’s Word is clear about tithing 10% of all our wealth and being charitable with our finances. (Leviticus 27:30, Proverbs 3:9) You see, we can’t serve both. If you want God to direct your life then you can’t be following the money or serving ‘self’.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are so good to us. You are Holy and all your ways are for my good and my best. Thank you for Your Word that is lasting. It guides my life and leads me away from the temporary things in this world. Where You are, Jesus is where my treasure rests. You direct my path and lead me into spiritual abundance. I lay down my pride that tells me that the works of my hands can take away my anxieties. Show me where fasting is necessary for a breakthrough in my life. Help me lay down the things that are keeping me from your Will in my life. Give me the perseverance to keep fasting as a spiritual discipline so that my resolve to serve You grows. Keep me from seeking attention or priding myself in this spiritual discipline. My treasure is with you, Jesus. I want to continually be moving toward You and away from the treasures on this earth. Show me what I’m treasuring most in this life. Show me where my thoughts land in my free time and what I’m finding comfort in so that I can identify what’s holding me back. Bring clarity, Jesus, and purity to my life. Comfort me, and extend Your grace where I’m falling short. My aim is You, God. My intentions are to glorify You, Jesus. I don’t want to serve two masters when You are all I need. I let go of pleasing myself and look to obey Your Word with all that I am, God. I trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.