If you type “treasure hunting movies” into your search engine, the list is extensive. Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, City Slickers, Goonies, Sahara, The Rundown, El Dorado, Lust for Gold, The Lost City, and many others quickly come up. Treasures, possessions, and stuff can have a destructive hold on anyone.

Greed is an acceptable sin in our culture, but it is not with Jesus. He calls us to focus on what matters. Hear His words from Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” To be on guard suggests that covetousness will find you and/or that you can easily seek it out. Instead, there needs to be a guard against it. One must be aware of its dangers, temptations, and choose another kind of life. Jesus teaches us that kind of life. He says (Matt. 6:19–20), “¹⁹“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Jesus doesn’t completely remove the idea of treasure, but He does radically redefine it. The treasure of this world—money and possessions—are not what we strive for. These treasures will rust and be destroyed. They have no inherent eternal value and will not follow you. Rather, the treasures that you can lay up in heaven are our aim. But what treasures are those? D. A. Carson says, “Here it refers to whatever is of good and eternal significance that comes out of what is done on earth. Doing righteous deeds, suffering for Christ’s sake, forgiving one another—all these have the promise of “reward” (see on 5:12; cf. 5:30, 46; 6:6, 18; 2 Cor 4:17). Other deeds of kindness also store up treasure in heaven (Matt 10:42; 25:40), including willingness to share (1 Tim 6:13–19).”¹ Simply, our treasure is not getting goods, but doing good as defined by God.

Our theme of the month for November 2025 is simplicity (or you could say minimalism). Therefore, let’s focus on what matters by practicing a simplicity when it comes to possessions. Let’s guard the flippant use of the credit card, the covetous eyes, and especially the heart against stuff. And let’s direct our efforts to building treasures in heaven, by serving others, loving others, and giving to them.

The greedy life will knot you up. But the simple life will loosen those knots.