Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I love this. Didn’t used to understand it. It’s obvious now. It fits perfectly into His kingdom. It’s another language to an unbeliever. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is greek to many. This is sharing many concepts. One is delayed gratification. Now is rarely God’s timing.
This goes in line with another biblical value, to deny one’s self. Matthew 16:24 says, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.'” Denying one’s self is so much God’s way. It’s to be ours as well. It’s not the world’s way. The opposite. It says, “Go for the gusto”, “Take what Yours”, “Dominate” and so on. While Jesus says to serve and allow others to go first.
Let’s go back to today’s passage about storing up one’s treasures. Does this mean we can’t have hobbies and things of interest down here? No. I think God loves these things in our lives. These things need to be in line with the principles He shares. We get those things in the proper timing and getting them doesn’t hurt the His priorities.
I want to focus on blessings. They can be things and money. Look at the Old Testament, Abraham, Job and many others were blessed by God with riches. Jesus had very little so we think that we shouldn’t either. No so. He had a mission. It was to train the twelve and die for our sins. It’s ok to have treasures. Our hearts can’t be bound up in them.
Can we have treaures on earth and in heaven? Sure. But they need to be under the lordship of Christ. We’ve already addressed that God blessed many in the Old Testament with money. God will bless many of His children with wealth. As He does this they are to share that wealth for the kingdom. That is helping those in need.
If riches can be good why does Jesus share today’s verse? Because riches on earth can be a stumbling block that keeps many from God. I Timothy 6:7 says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” That’s what Jesus is talking about.
Jesus addressed this when He summarized the commandments, He basically said, Love God and others”. We aren’t to love money. The end of today’s verse nails it, “where your treasure is there will your heart be also”. What is it that we treasure? We are to treasure Him.
We are to love God. I used to feel guilty about that. I’m not an emotional person. I would see others in worship, so in love with God. One of Jesus’ words helped me. John 14:15 says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” So we show our love for Him by obedience. That’s how we store up treasure in heaven by walking with Him and obedience.
I no longer worry if I’m loving Him enough. Am I doing what He asked? That could intimidate some. It helps if we know that He loves us and isn’t seeking to crush us under His wishes. He says that His yoke is easy and His burden light (Matthew 11:30).
He will help us if we aren’t storing up treasure in heaven. He nudges us and guides us constantly. What a blessing. Obey. If we are struggling with this ask Him for help. He will do so.
The verses of an old hymn goes like this, ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!” Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!’ It is sweet.
Lord, thank You for the admonition to store up our treasure in heaven. Help us to do so. Thank You for You help. Grace upon grace.