Treasure, Trust and Watchfulness
The Harmony of Instruction · His own commandments: in the world · Christ, the apostles, the parables, Proverbs and the Psalms
← Prayer, Fasting and Giving · The Harmony of Instruction: all subjects · The Church and Its Mission →
Possessions, anxiety, fear, false teachers, and readiness for His coming.
Each section follows one order: the word of Christ; the apostles who hand it on; the parables; the wisdom of Proverbs; the Psalms; and the Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture. Verses of Proverbs and the Psalms are quoted in full from the Saints Translation; everything else is linked to the place where it is given in full. Psalms are numbered as in the Greek, with the Hebrew number in parentheses. The selection is an editor’s gathering: a doorway into the text, not an addition to it.
On this page: Treasure · Trust · Watchfulness
Treasure
Treasure on earth is kept in a pierced bag, says Haggai; the one who stores it does not know for whom he gathers, says the psalm. The Lord says where to keep it instead, and whose image is on the coin and whose on the man.
The word of Christ
74. Not to store up treasures on earth, but in heaven. Matthew 6:19–21
Do not store up treasures for yourselves upon earth, where moth and consumption destroy and where thieves break through and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor consumption destroys and where thieves neither break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Matthew 6:19–21
75. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24
No one can serve as a slave to two masters: for he will either hate the one and love the other, or hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve as a slave to God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
76. To guard against all greed, for life is not in the abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15
77. To make friends by means of unrighteous mammon; to be faithful in very little. Luke 16:9–10
78. To give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s. Matthew 22:21
The apostles hand it on
43. Godliness with contentment is great gain; the love of money is a root of all evils. 1 Timothy 6:6–10
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, because neither can we carry anything out. But having food and coverings, with these we will be content. But those who want to become rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge human beings into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all evils, and some, reaching for it, wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
1 Timothy 6:6–10
44. The rich are not to set their hope on uncertain riches but to be rich in good works, storing up a good foundation for the future. 1 Timothy 6:17–19
45. Come now, you rich: your gold and silver have rusted; the wages you withheld from the workers cry out. James 5:1–5
50. To be subject to the governing authorities and to pay to all what is owed: tax to whom tax, honor to whom honor. Romans 13:1 · Romans 13:6–7
51. We must obey God rather than human beings. Acts 5:29
66. Not to love the world or the things in the world. 1 John 2:15–17
123. Let marriage be held in honor; be content with what you have, for He has said, I will never leave you. Hebrews 13:4–6
In parable
The Rich Fool. So is the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.
The Shrewd Steward. The sons of this age are more prudent toward their own generation than the sons of light.
The Rich Man and Lazarus. If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.
1. The Two Cities. The servants of God live in a foreign city; they are to buy afflicted souls instead of fields.
2. The Elm and the Vine. The vine bears fruit only when it climbs the elm: the rich man supports the poor, and the poor man’s prayer supports the rich.
The wisdom of Proverbs
Better a small portion with the fear of the Lord
Proverbs 15:16
than great storehouses with fearlessness.
A good name is more desirable than much wealth,
Proverbs 22:1–2
and good favor is above silver and gold.
Rich and poor met one another,
and the Lord made both.
There are those who make themselves rich while having nothing,
Proverbs 13:7
and those who humble themselves amid much wealth.
Fear God, son, and the king,
Proverbs 24:21
and disobey neither of them;
In the Psalms
Indeed a person passes through as an image;
Psalm 38 (39):7
yet they are troubled in vain.
He stores treasure and does not know for whom he will gather it.
Better is a little for the righteous
Psalm 36 (37):16
than the great wealth of sinners.
Do not hope in injustice or long for plunder;
Psalm 61 (62):11
if wealth flows, do not attach your heart.
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 476. Not to covet
Made according to the image of God Genesis 1:27
He gives you strength to produce wealth Deuteronomy 8:17–18
Everything is Yours 1 Chronicles 29:14
Naked I came, naked I depart Job 1:21
He will take nothing from his toil Ecclesiastes 5:12–14
Let the rich not boast in his wealth Jeremiah 9:22–23
Seek the peace of the land Jeremiah 36:7
A God in the heavens whom we fear Daniel 3:16–18
Wages into a pierced bundle Haggai 1:6
Trust
Do not be anxious; do not fear. He points to the ravens, which the Psalms and Job had already seen fed by God, and which fed Elijah. Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will nourish you.
The word of Christ
79. Not to be anxious for your life, what you will eat or wear. Matthew 6:25–26
Therefore I tell you: do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: they do not sow or reap or gather into storehouses, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they?
Matthew 6:25–26
80. Not to fear those who kill the body; to fear Him who can destroy both soul and body. Matthew 10:28
81. Not to let your heart be troubled; to believe in God and in Him. John 14:1
82. To take courage: He has overcome the world. John 16:33
The apostles hand it on
38. Not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving to make your requests known to God. Philippians 4:6–7
Be anxious about nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7
39. To cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
51. We must obey God rather than human beings. Acts 5:29
In parable
The Seed Growing of Itself. The kingdom grows as seed does, night and day, the sower knows not how, until the harvest.
The wisdom of Proverbs
You will not fear an approaching fright or the oncoming assaults of the ungodly,
Proverbs 3:25–26
for the Lord will be upon all your ways and support your foot so that you are not shaken.
having feared and felt shame before people, they were tripped up;
Proverbs 29:25
but one who trusts in the Lord will rejoice.
Impiety gives a man a fall;
but one who trusts in the Master will be saved.
The Lord will not starve a righteous life,
Proverbs 10:3
but He will overturn the life of the impious.
In the fear of the Lord is hope of strength,
Proverbs 14:26
and he leaves a support for his children.
In the Psalms
Cast your care upon the Lord, and He will nourish you;
Psalm 54 (55):23
He will never give the righteous a shaking.
I was young and indeed have grown old,
Psalm 36 (37):25
and I have not seen a righteous person abandoned
or his offspring seeking loaves.
By day I will fear,
Psalm 55 (56):4–5
but I will hope in You.
In God I will praise my words all day.
In God I have hoped; I will not fear.
What will flesh do to me?
who gives the cattle their food
Psalm 146 (147):9
and to the young ravens who call upon Him.
The Lord is my illumination and my Savior; whom will I fear?
Psalm 26 (27):1
The Lord is the protector of my life; of whom will I be afraid?
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 5. To fear Him
The Lord will fight for you Exodus 14:13–14
Be strong and courageous Joshua 1:9
The ravens feed Elijah 1 Kings 17:4–6
Those with us are more 2 Kings 6:16
Who prepared food for a raven? Job 38:41
Do not fear its fear Isaiah 8:12–13
Do not fear, for I am with you Isaiah 41:10
Whom did you dread? A mortal Isaiah 51:12–13
Though the fig tree bears no fruit Habakkuk 3:17–18
Watchfulness
Stay awake. The prophets stood at their watch, and they warned of prophets who speak from their own heart and of watchmen who love to doze. Wisdom blesses the one who keeps awake at her doors day by day, and the psalmist waits for the Lord from the morning watch until night.
The word of Christ
83. To stay awake, for you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13
Therefore keep watch, because you know neither the day nor the hour.
Matthew 25:13
84. To watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down, and to stay awake at all times, praying. Luke 21:34–36
85. To beware of false prophets, who come in sheep’s clothing. Matthew 7:15–16
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Do people gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:15–16
86. To beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Matthew 16:6
87. Not to give what is holy to dogs or cast your pearls before swine. Matthew 7:6
88. To be prudent as snakes and innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16
89. To remember Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32–33
90. To acknowledge Him before people. Matthew 10:32–33
The apostles hand it on
4. To believe in the Lord Jesus; to confess with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in the heart that God raised Him. Romans 10:9–10
Because if you confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart one believes for righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses for salvation.
Romans 10:9–10
34. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth; this ought not to be. Can a fig tree bear olives?. James 3:9–12
56. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:11–13
57. The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night; so let us not sleep as the rest do, but stay awake and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
59. The day of the Lord will come like a thief; what sort of people ought you to be, in holy conduct and godliness. 2 Peter 3:10–12
60. To be patient until the coming of the Lord; the Judge is standing at the doors. James 5:7–9
61. Not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1–3
62. Savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; therefore be alert. Acts 20:29–31
91. These things happened as examples for us: not to be idolaters, not to commit sexual immorality, not to test Christ, not to grumble. 1 Corinthians 10:1–11
96. Sodom and Gomorrah were condemned to ruin as an example, and righteous Lot was rescued. 2 Peter 2:6–9
97. In the days of Noah eight souls were saved through water, which corresponds to baptism that now saves you. 1 Peter 3:20–21
120. With the Lord one day is as a thousand years: He is patient, not wishing any to perish. 2 Peter 3:8–9
In parable
The Ten Virgins. Five were prudent and took oil; the bridegroom came, and the door was shut.
The Doorkeeper. Stay awake, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming.
The Watchful Slaves. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds awake: he will gird himself and serve them.
The Thief in the Night. If the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake.
The Faithful and the Wicked Slave. Blessed is the slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
The Talents. To each according to his ability; to everyone who has, more will be given.
The Minas. Do business until I come.
The Budding Fig Tree. When its branch becomes tender, you know that summer is near.
The Weeds among the Wheat. Good seed and darnel, the weed an enemy sowed, grow together until the harvest, when the Son of Man sends His angels to separate them. The Lord explains it Himself.
The Dragnet. The net gathers every kind; at the end of the age the angels separate the evil from the righteous.
The Blind Leading the Blind. Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
3. The Trees in Winter. In this age the righteous and sinners look alike, as all trees look dead in winter.
4. The Trees in Summer. The age to come is summer for the righteous, whose fruit will then be seen, and the withered will be burned.
The wisdom of Proverbs
How long do you lie down, sluggard?
Proverbs 6:9–11
When will you rise from sleep?
You sleep a little, sit a little, doze a little,
and clasp your chest with your hands a little;
then poverty arrives beside you like an evil traveler,
and want like a good runner.
Happy is the man who will listen to me,
Proverbs 8:34
and the person who will keep my ways,
staying awake at my doors day by day,
guarding the posts of my entrances.
Do not boast of things for tomorrow,
Proverbs 27:1
for you do not know what the coming day will bear.
The innocent person believes every word,
Proverbs 14:15
but the resourceful comes to reconsideration.
In the Psalms
Because of Your law I waited for You, Lord;
Psalm 129 (130):5–6
my soul waited for Your word.
My soul hoped in the Lord
from the morning watch until night;
from the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.
Unless the Lord builds a house,
Psalm 126 (127):1
those building it have labored in vain.
Unless the Lord guards a city,
the watchman has kept awake in vain.
My eyes were awake before dawn
Psalm 118 (119):148
to meditate on Your sayings.
And I spoke of Your testimonies
Psalm 118 (119):46
before kings, and I was not ashamed.
I proclaimed good news of righteousness in a great assembly;
Psalm 39 (40):10–11
look, I will certainly not restrain my lips;
Lord, You know.
I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke of Your truth and Your salvation.
I did not hide Your mercy and Your truth from a great congregation.
The Law, the Prophets and the rest of Scripture
In the commandments of the Law: 43. Not to listen to a prophet who calls you after other gods · 6. To sanctify His Name · 7. Not to profane His Name
The serpent, most shrewd Genesis 3:1
Noah enters the ark Genesis 7:1
Do not look back Genesis 19:17
Lot’s wife Genesis 19:26
The prophet who speaks what I did not order Deuteronomy 18:20–22
I sleep, but my heart keeps watch Song of Songs 5:2
Watchmen who love to doze Isaiah 56:10
They speak from their own heart Jeremiah 23:16–17
A watchman for Israel Ezekiel 33:6–7
Those inscribed in the book Daniel 12:1–3
The Lord’s day is near Joel 2:1
Prophets who lead My people astray Micah 3:5
I will stand at my watch Habakkuk 2:1–3
Near and very swift Zephaniah 1:14
The day coming, burning like an oven Malachi 3:19
← Prayer, Fasting and Giving · The Harmony of Instruction: all subjects · The Church and Its Mission →
Saints Translation · The Harmony of Instruction · an editor’s gathering; statements and summaries in our own words; passages quoted from the Saints Translation with His words in red · working draft awaiting specialist review.