Thursday: Treasure in Heaven
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21, NKJV). What crucial truths is Jesus speaking here?
Image © David Sorensen at Goodsalt.com
Who hasn’t read story after story of those who had amassed great wealth, only somehow to lose it? Our world is a very unstable place: wars, crime, violence, natural disasters, anything can come in a moment and take away all that we have worked for and, perhaps, even what we have honestly and faithfully earned. Then, too, in a moment, death comes, and so these things become useless to us anyway.
Of course, Scripture never tells us it’s wrong to be rich or to have amassed wealth; instead, in these verses Jesus warns us to keep it all in perspective.
What, though, does it mean to lay up treasure in heaven? It means making God and His cause first and foremost in your life, instead of making money first and foremost. Among other things, it means using what we have for the work of God, for the advancement of His kingdom, for working in behalf of others, and for being a blessing to others.
For instance, when God called Abram, He planned to use Abram and His family to bless all the families of the earth. God said to Abraham, who “was called the friend of God” (James 2:23, NKJV), “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3, , NJKV).
“So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:9). We have the same challenge presented to us as was presented to him.
“Money has great value, because it can do great good. In the hands of God’s children it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, and clothing for the naked. It is a defense for the oppressed, and a means of help to the sick. But money is of no more value than sand, only as it is put to use in providing for the necessities of life, in blessing others, and advancing the cause of Christ.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 351.
| “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, NKJV). Where does your heart tell you your treasure is? |
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Because I am at the age characterised by grey hair I have fallen into the trap of reminiscing about what I used to think when I was much younger. Having to write a comment nearly every day for Sabbath School Net often prompts me into thinking back to my youth and comparing my thoughts then with my current thoughts. The interesting thing is that a lot of my thoughts back then were fed to me in Sabbath School with the songs we used to sing and the lessons we were taught.
We sang about "Stars in my Crown" and "Living in Mansions so Fair" We studied about streets paved in gold and a city with foundations made of 12 layers of gemstones. This all took place while we were living in a humble farmhouse and the local paved road was a potholed gravel track surounded by gorse bush (very prickly shrub). The local "city" was a country town with a dairy factory and a high school.
We were taught to lay up our treasure in heaven and that meant forgoing ice cream because when we get to heaven we will have the best ice cream ever imagined.
And somewhere I changed my mind about what richness really meant. Material wealth and acquisition became less important as I started to understand the importance of relationships between God, us, and one another. Laying up treasure in heaven meant building up relationships now.
It is funny how our view changes as we grow older, and if I have any regrets, it is that I wish I had learned true values much earlier in life.
Awesome, Maurice! How many things we would do differently in the past, had we had today's experience. But I think that this conclusion is a very good sign! Specially when this is related to our relationship with God and the people around us. Establishing friendship with God brings such a reward! Growing at it is always satisfying. I'd say it is impossible to grow in the relationship with God and not grow in the relationship with 'surrounding' people! When God is at the center, His love turns us "all included", all inclusive! We grow in the need to share the happiness that this relationship brings, with people we learn to like and admire even more! Thank God for these studies we've been doing! Sabbath School made friendships are lasting, and never forgotten! May God bless you all, my friends! And may we all grow in the grace of our love=God.
The only way to transfer wealth from this life to the life to come is by sending it on ahead! History shows us that the great and rich tried to take their wealth with them. Tombs filled with golden objects and other precious items are discovered, but what happens?? They are robbed or sent to a museum. The person buried in the tomb never used or needed any of that stuff! Even the things we have while we are alive wear out, get lost, or even stolen. It's all so temporary. Yet think of all the effort put forth to obtain it.
But when we invest in the heavenly store house, either in generosity for God's work, or by sharing the good news with others. We are laying up treasure in heaven.
How will we access those treasures in heaven?
What do we expect those heavenly treasures will look like?
First of all, I think the greatest treasure is to be welcomed into heaven by our Divine Brother, Jesus Christ. The folly of letting the pursuit of earthly treasure get between us and our Savior to rob us of eternal life is far too great of a price to pay for those earthly things.
Also, I think our heavenly treasures are all the people who will be in heaven because we used our gifts of friendship, money, talents, to share God's love and grace with them.
It's typified by the jewels in our crowns.
The apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonian believers, says:
Today’s lesson reminds me of the song:
I come from a very wealthy family, with different properties in Europe, having enjoyed a high education, traveling first class, and affording anything the heart desires. When at a certain young age I gave my heart to Jesus and became a Seventh Day Adventist, my family with 4 siblings disowned me, and I was disinherited. It was and still is painful to me for having lost my family, yet I know well, God has blessed me and best taken care of me.
Even the Bible says in Math 10:37
So it‘s not only about giving up material goods, knowing we are eternally rewarded when we put Christ first in our life. He knows, what we value is reflected in how we live.
The greatest reward we receive is "seeing God face-to-face.“ Rev 22:4
The peace and joy He gives is what kept Peter and the other disciples close to Jesus when the other large group of followers deserted Jesus. (John 6:67,68 )
Amina, I am so sorry that your relationship with Jesus has caused a separation for you and your family! My heart goes out to you. Know this: Your reward will be great with our Father and Savior for the loss you suffer here. Praise the Lord for your faith in Him, and may he keep you strong.
Amen. God bless you
You have The richest family of all, under the Lord King Jesus. Be happy! And be blessed.
As I understand 'treasures in heaven', they represent all the times when I choose righteousness and good-will over selfishness. Kindness, and living peaceably with my neighbor, is what I see to be the material spiritual ‘treasures’ are made of.
Since we do not have anything of ourselves to give, cannot make anything of/from ourselves since we do not ‘own’ anything, all we can do is share that which God has provided – the love in our heart for Him with our fellow man in any form applicable. In so doing, we are putting up ‘treasures in heaven’, returning them to the place from where they originally came.
Good day, brethren. Can someone please explain Mark 10:29-30 for me, in the context of laying up treasures in heaven?
It is not a text that is used often in Adventist circles. However, Jesus seems to suggest that we will get back many times over, starting in this life, what we sacrifice for His cause. Any thoughts?
Hi Jacob, I think what we get in this life is an amazingly big family of believers, and I think that's what is a 100-time increase. Anywhere in the world you go, you will likely find a fellow believer. And though we have a lot of growing to do, ideally, these connections are strong enough that you can count on these people for help. And if their house is open to you, then really, in a way, you've gained houses and lands too.
Thanks for all the comments and ideas, my friends. I am richly blessed and encouraged that stewardship is all about “relationship” and the greatest reward is to hear His words,
Jacob, you've brought up an interesting text. Mark 10:29-30.
In the preceding verses the rich young ruler had come to Christ asking how to obtain eternal life. This young man had, in his own opinion, been keeping God's commandments. He was works oriented. But to obtain eternal life, he must give himself unreservedly to God. This Jesus pointed out to him, asking him to give his riches to the poor and follow Him. At the Saviour's call, John, Peter, Matthew, and the other disciples had "left all, rose up, and followed Him". But this rich youth chose his riches before Jesus, and turned away.
Then Jesus says something that astonished the disciples:
Finally, Peter, remembering that Jesus had promised the young ruler treasures in heaven if he would follow Him, reminded Jesus that they had left everything to follow Jesus. At this point in time the disciples still had thoughts of earning rewards for their labor and often contended with each other over position. That attitude was not wholesome, but still focused on exalting self. There's no merit in leaving loved ones, in itself.
Jesus replies with Mark 10:29-30, for they too must give themselves unreservedly to God. The point is we are not to love anyone, or anything, more than we love Christ. That was Adam's sin in the beginning. He loved Eve more than he loved God, so he ate the forbidden fruit.
The rewards experienced now, in this life, come with thorns and persecution, but they are still exceedingly great. We have many spiritual brothers and sisters and relationships, as well as the peace and joy of being in God's family, and when combined with promise of eternal life in the company of God, it is beyond comparison. But they are rewards of grace upon those who surrender self to Christ; nothing we can do would ever be enough to earn them.
This is beautiful too. Blessings!