TEMPORAL PLEASURES OR ETERNAL TREASURES

“For where your TREASURE is, there your heart will be also” – Matthew 6:21

The Blessings that come from God consist of both TEMPORAL PLEASURES and ETERNAL TREASURES, but the latter are superior to the former. Temporal blessings include mundane things such as: material possessions, pleasure, position, promotion, popularity, achievement, enjoyment, entertainment, fame, fortune, success, and wealth. These are desirable and God has promised to bless us with them, but He warns us not to pursue earthly pleasures at the expense of eternal treasures, such as righteousness, peace, joy, and the fruit of the Spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt.6:33). The kingdom of God and all that it represents must be our priority, over and above any carnal goal. What is the kingdom of God? Here is what it is not: “for the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom.14:17).

The earthly and temporal gifts we receive from God are all unmerited, and unbelievers also receive them. God “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt.5:45b). They come through the common grace of God that extends to all people; and are short-term gifts of His grace, in contrast to the life-giving, eternal blessings that are the benefits of believers only. These undeserved temporal blessings, which God pours out on all people through His grace, ought to be received with thanksgiving and praise. In the flesh, however, people are often prone to attitudes of entitlement, pride, and seeking happiness in worldly circumstances. God’s desire is for earthly possessions to greatly pale in comparison to eternal blessings, such as: grace for salvation, sanctification, and spiritual development; righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit; the fruits and gifts of the Spirit; and divine wisdom and understanding.

Unfortunately, the luxuries of temporary blessings often blind many from their true state of spiritual destitution and their need for salvation through repentance. This is evident in Christ’s strong words of warning to the church of Laodicea: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – I counsel you to buy from Me gold refines in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Rev. 3:15-18). Much like Laodicea, many people have adopted a watered down and perverted perception of being blessed. Regrettably, even some believers in such materialistic cultures, fall victim to this wrong view, seeing blessings purely from temporal perspectives.

This worldly notion presents a challenge for some believers when they suddenly find themselves in circumstances that fall short of the expected blessed life. They struggle to understand why, when they have chosen to obey and follow Christ, unbelievers all around them seem to flourish and prosper with ease, buy big cars and houses, and succeed in their efforts – even at the expense of others. This is why we must anchor ourselves in what is true. While it can be tempting to look at the superficial level of peoples’ lives and struggle to understand why they seem to be flourishing, we must remember that those very blessings often blind them from their need for salvation, leaving them unfulfilled and empty.

Jesus warned of the possibility of being “choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life” (Lk.8:14). Paul spoke of those who lived in pleasure but were dead, while living (1Tim.5:6). He also described some as: “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2Tim.3:4b). Beloved, ponder a moment: What am I seeking more than anything else – temporal pleasure or eternal treasures?