“It’s easy to say ‘God is my treasure,’ but does your daily life show it?” – Pastor Mensa Otabil questions

Introduction

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), delivered a sermon titled “Living for God: Where Your Treasure Is” at ICGC Christ Temple East in Teshie, Accra. 

This message, part of a new series on living for God, was rooted in the biblical teachings from Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus discusses the importance of laying up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. The focus of Pastor Otabil’s sermon was to challenge believers to evaluate what they truly value and how their lives reflect those values.

Living for God

Pastor Otabil opened the sermon by linking the theme of “Living for God” to the church’s overall theme for the year, which focuses on God. He noted that at various points in life—during significant milestones like birthdays or anniversaries—people often express a desire to live for God. But the real question, he posed, is, “What does it mean to live for God, and how do we make it practical in our daily lives?”

He emphasised that while some may interpret living for God as becoming a pastor or living a life of seclusion like a monk or nun, for most people, it involves integrating their faith into everyday life—at work, in school, in marriages, and in their communities. “Living for God is not a life of exclusion,” Otabil explained, “but a life mixed with our day-to-day activities, and we must find ways to glorify God through them.”

Treasuring What Matters

The main focus of the sermon was on the concept of treasure, as introduced in Matthew 6:19-21, where Jesus warns against laying up earthly treasures that can be destroyed but encourages storing treasures in heaven. 

Pastor Otabil expanded on this by explaining that the Greek word for treasure, thesauros, represents both “valuable things” and the “place where valuables are stored.”

According to Otabil, each of us treasures something—whether it’s a good name, health, education, wealth, or happiness. He remarked, “For some, happiness or peace of mind is their treasure; for others, it’s accumulating degrees or building assets.” 

However, the critical aspect is where we keep these treasures—whether we store them in earthly pursuits or in things of eternal value, like faith, love, and godly priorities.

The Heart Follows the Treasure

Pastor Otabil drew attention to Jesus’ statement, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” explaining that our hearts follow what we treasure. 

If we treasure money, success, or personal happiness above God, our hearts will be consumed with those things. He stated, “If my treasure is right, my heart will follow; if my treasure is wrong, my heart will also follow in the wrong direction.”

This treasure, Otabil explained, isn’t just about wealth or material possessions—it includes our desires, values, and what we invest our time and energy into. 

He urged the congregation to evaluate whether their treasure lies in heaven or earth, saying, “It’s easy to say ‘God is my treasure,’ but does your daily life show it?”

Conclusion

Pastor Otabil concluded the sermon with a call to live authentically for God by aligning both our treasures and our hearts with Him. He emphasised that living for God should not be mere lip service but should be evident in the choices we make and the priorities we set. 

“If we want to live for God,” Otabil said, “it shouldn’t just be something we say; it should be something we do.”

As believers, he encouraged, we must continuously check where our treasures lie and ensure that they are rooted in God’s kingdom. This, he noted, is the true path to living a life that honours God.