Treasure in Heaven & Anxiety

Scripture
 
[19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
[22] “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, [23] but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
[24] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
[25] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
[34] “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (ESV)
Engaging the Scripture
1. How does a person “store up treasure on earth”? What is the problem with this philosophy of life? What does it mean to “store up treasure in heaven”? What is the advantage of this?
2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 states “If I give away all I have and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” What does this verse add to our understanding of “storing up treasure in heaven”?
3. What is the meaning of the phrase “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”?
4. Why would Jesus include teaching on a person’s eye and light in the context of teaching on the appropriate view and use of material things?
5. How does a person “serve” money? How does a person “serve” God? How are these in conflict with each other?
6. What is “being anxious” about your life? Does this mean that a person should not plan for the future? Why or why not?
7. What are the summary principles found in these verses add to our understanding?
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 6:34
Living as a Kingdom Citizen
1. What are some of the issues of life that cause people to be anxious? What are the areas that cause you the most concern?  (What do you find occupying your thoughts … especially at night and as you day-dream?)
2. Why do these things cause you to be anxious?
3. How do these principles affect your financial planning for the future?
4. How do these principles affect your spending?
5. How do these principles affect your giving?
6. What steps can you make any necessary corrections?