King James Bible
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:"
Jesus commands his disciples not to accumulate material wealth as their primary pursuit. This opening imperative challenges the common human tendency to find security in earthly possessions, setting up a contrast between temporal and eternal values. Natural decay threatens stored goods—moths destroying fabric (a valuable commodity in ancient times) and rust corroding metals. These specific examples highlight how even carefully preserved wealth deteriorates through ordinary processes beyond human control. Beyond natural decay, human threats endanger earthly treasures through theft and violence. The phrase emphasizes wealth's vulnerability to external forces, completing the argument that earthly possessions offer no lasting security.