you…) And given “moths, rust and thieves”—aka subprime mortgage crises, unanticipated illness and fickle relationships—is there any guarantee that such treasure can last even a lifetime? 3. Now read aloud v20 . How in the world are we to lay up treasures in heaven? (Hint: read aloud 1 Timothy 6:17-19 , which applies not just to the rich but to every Christian.) What is the maximum length of time that heavenly treasures can last? 4. Now read aloud the next verse in the Matthew passage, v21 , which is the crux of Jesus’s teaching here. In Tripp’s words, “Everyone lives for some kind of treasure.” Briefly describe the relationship between hearts and treasures. Tripp continues: “The thing that is your treasure will control your heart.” Is this relationship necessarily bad? What, then, is the potential problem in the linkage? And where does this problem lie? And how can this problem be not merely remedied but transformed into a good thing? (Hint: read aloud vv31-33 ). 5. Even when our heart has been fixed on the proper treasure, we must resolvedly hold the course because “this side of eternity, it’s very hard to keep what God says is important, important in your heart.” Read aloud these words of a young David at Psalm 27:4 —was David’s heart at this time centered on the proper treasure? Now read aloud the sad account of an older David at 2 Samuel 11:2-5,14-15,26-27 . How could this happen? If one whom God affirms as having “a heart after my own heart” ( 1 Samuel 13:14 ) could fall so devastatingly, could you fall as well? 6. Tripp explains that “things rise in levels of importance way beyond their true importance, and they begin to claim your heart.” What thing had clearly claimed David’s heart in the previous passage? What things in your own life are pulling improperly on your heart? Have these things risen rapidly and obviously, or have they crept imperceptibly? And are these things in themselves necessarily bad? What are some examples in your own life of good things becoming bad when they become ruling desires? 7. In any case, “Your treasure will either victimize your marriage or enhance it.” This is because, as Tripp says, “Your treasure controls your heart, and your heart controls your words and your behavior.” Describe some enhancing little moments when Jesus was clearly your treasure and you spoke graciously and acted kindly to your spouse—what thoughts were in your heart in those moments? Now talk about some victimizing little moments when selfish treasure prompted you to behave badly to your spouse—what thoughts ruled your heart at those times? For the sake of your marriage and your spouse whom you love, what must be your goal for all times?
Session 5
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?
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