Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life
Episode: Treasure vs. Money
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Host/Author: Tim Keller
Description: In this episode, Tim Keller delves into Jesus' teachings on money and possessions from the Sermon on the Mount, exploring the profound impact of materialism on the Christian life and offering insights on cultivating a heart that treasures heavenly riches over earthly wealth.
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount Series
The episode kicks off with an introduction to the current series focusing on the Sermon on the Mount—a foundational collection of Jesus' teachings that outline the essence of Christian living. Tim Keller emphasizes a provocative distinction: "Christianity is not just different from the world, it's also radically different from religion" (00:03).
Exploring Money and Possessions
Keller zeroes in on Jesus' discourse about money and possessions, particularly drawing from Matthew 6. He reads the passage, highlighting key verses that caution against amassing earthly treasures, which are transient and susceptible to decay and theft, contrasting them with the enduring treasures in heaven (00:29).
Threefold Analysis of Money's Influence
Keller structures his analysis around three primary questions:
- How Does Money Exercise Power Over Us?
- Why Does Money Exercise This Power?
- How Can We Break Free from Money's Grip?
1. How Does Money Exercise Power Over Us?
Keller begins by unpacking Jesus' metaphor: "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light" (00:29). He relates this to materialism, suggesting that an excessive focus on wealth can blind individuals spiritually, distorting their perceptions and priorities.
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Illustration: Keller shares an anecdote about his monthly men's breakfast series on the seven deadly sins. When discussing greed, attendance plummeted because "greed hides itself", making people less likely to recognize or admit their own materialistic tendencies (05:00).
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Impact of Materialism: He explains that materialism leads to spiritual blindness, preventing individuals from seeing the consequences of their pursuits and inhibiting self-reflection on their relationship with money.
2. Why Does Money Exercise This Power?
Addressing the root cause, Keller points to the verse "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (19:53). He elaborates that for many, money becomes a symbol of significance and security.
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Significance: Money is often equated with personal worth and social status, leading individuals to seek validation through their financial success.
"Money is our significance... it makes us feel we're important." (19:53)
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Security: Additionally, money provides a false sense of control and safety in an unpredictable world.
"Money cannot stop death, tragedy, broken relationships... it cannot make you God." (19:53)
3. How Can We Break Free from Money's Grip?
Keller proposes that the antidote to money’s overpowering influence is treasuring Jesus as our supreme treasure. By shifting our focus from material wealth to spiritual riches, we can reclaim our spiritual sight and cultivate genuine generosity.
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Treasuring Jesus: He emphasizes that making Jesus our ultimate treasure "frees you from money" (19:53), liberating us from the need to seek significance and security through wealth.
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Radical Generosity: Embracing generosity involves sacrificing our lifestyle to give meaningfully, aligning our economic actions with the sacrificial love modeled by Jesus.
"There has to be a cross in your economic life." (37:00)
Practical Illustrations and Historical Context
Keller enriches his teaching with practical examples and historical anecdotes:
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Robert Kane’s Discipline for Greed (1635): He tells the story of Robert Kane, a businessman disciplined by his Congregational church for profiting above communal standards, illustrating early Christian efforts to combat greed through collective accountability (15:00).
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Impact of Early Church Generosity: Drawing from Diogenes Laërtius, Keller highlights how early Christians' "incredible generosity" set them apart and fostered healthy, supportive communities (35:00).
Signs of Spiritual Wealth Over Materialism
Keller identifies indicators that one has overcome money's dominance:
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Loving the Rich and Respecting the Poor: Genuine spiritual wealth manifests in a lack of disdain or envy towards the wealthy and a deep respect for the poor.
"You have no trouble loving rich people... you have no trouble loving poor people." (28:00)
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Generous Perspective: A "generous eye"—from the Greek meaning both good and generous—reflects an ongoing desire to give and support others.
"You're always looking for opportunities to give away." (28:00)
Challenging Modern Practices
Keller challenges contemporary Christians to evaluate their relationship with money:
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Professional Pressures: Professionals often find themselves in circles that equate higher income with higher status, masking the emptiness that material wealth can bring.
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Comparative Wealth: Constantly comparing one's wealth to others prevents self-assessment of true generosity and encourages a perpetual state of inadequacy or superiority.
The Call to Radical Generosity
Embracing radical generosity is presented as a tangible response to Jesus' sacrificial love. Keller urges listeners to:
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Evaluate Giving: Ensure that giving significantly impacts one’s lifestyle, embodying the "cross" in economic choices.
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Aim Beyond the Tithe: While the biblical 10% is a starting point, the ultimate goal is a heart transformed by the gospel, enabling joy-filled and deliberate generosity (37:00).
Conclusion and Prayer
Keller wraps up the sermon by urging believers to internalize the lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, fostering communities characterized by generosity and mutual respect. He leads a prayer asking for divine assistance in overcoming the power of money, transforming attitudes towards wealth, and embodying the radical generosity exemplified by the early church.
Notable Quotes
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On Christianity’s Distinction:
"Christianity is not just different from the world, it's also radically different from religion."
— Tim Keller (00:03) -
On Greed’s Hidden Nature:
"Greed hides itself. You think of rich people, but you don't think you are greedy."
— Tim Keller (05:00) -
On Treasuring Jesus:
"If you make Jesus Christ your supreme value, he'll free you from money."
— Tim Keller (19:53) -
On Generosity as Liberation:
"Generosity will free you from money's power and align your heart with heavenly treasures."
— Tim Keller (28:00) -
On Radical Generosity:
"The cross is the standard. Is there a cross in your economic life?"
— Tim Keller (37:00)
Final Thoughts
In Treasure vs. Money, Tim Keller delivers a compelling examination of how money can subtly dominate our lives and distort our spiritual vision. By anchoring our value and security in Christ rather than in material wealth, Keller challenges believers to pursue a life of radical generosity and heavenly treasures. This transformative approach not only liberates individuals from the enslavement of money but also fosters communities that reflect the generosity and love at the heart of the Christian faith.
For more sermons and resources, visit www.gospelinlife.com.