"LAYING UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN"
INTRODUCTION
- In Ec 5:10-16, Solomon described the problem with earthly
treasures...
- Money and abundance do not truly satisfy
- The abundance of the rich prevent good sleep, and often hurts the
owner
- Riches perish through misfortune, and cannot be taken with us when
we die
- In Mt 6:19-21, Jesus commands us to lay up treasure not on earth, but
in heaven...
- Likely a Hebrew idiom, in which a contrast is made for the sake of
emphasis - cf. Jn 6:27
- Not that it is wrong have earthly treasures per se, but our focus
should be on laying up treasure in heaven
[Why should our focus be on laying up treasure in heaven? Also, how do
we lay up treasure in heaven? In Mt 6:19-24, Jesus tells us...]
- REASONS TO LAY UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN
- TREASURE ON EARTH IS INSECURE...
- Moth and rust destroy (material things are perishable)
- Thieves break in and steal (material things are subject to
theft)
- There is also loss due to inflation, stock devaluation,
bankruptcies, faulty investments, etc.
- TREASURE IN HEAVEN IS SECURE...
- Neither moth nor rust destroys (our treasures are imperishable)
- cf. 1Pe 1:3-4
- Thieves can not break in and steal (our treasures are securely
guarded) - cf. 1Pe 3:4-5
- OUR TREASURE IS WHERE OUR HEART WILL BE...
- That is, where our affections, our hopes, our dreams will be
- If our treasure is on earth, our hearts will experience much
disappointment
- As things for which you have affection decay or are one day
destroyed by fire
- As things in which you find your primary joy are suddenly
gone through things like theft
- If our treasure is in heaven, our hearts will not suffer great
disappointments
- For our treasure is "incorruptible, undefiled, and does not
fade away"
- Nothing can take our treasure away from us, for it is:
- "reserved in heaven for you"
- "kept by the power of God through faith"
- Whatever happens on earth will not devastate us! - e.g., He 10:32-34
- When these words are taken to heart and applied
- The storms of life will not overwhelm us
- Because we've built our foundation upon the words of Jesus!
- cf. Mt 7:24-27
- TO KEEP OUR EYE GOOD...
- Understanding the metaphor used by Jesus:
- The "body" likely represents the soul or inner man
- The "eye" likely represents the gaze of the soul or the
heart of man
- The word "good" in Greek means "simple, single,
uncomplicated"
- The word "bad" in Greek means "wicked, evil"
- In the Scriptures, the expression "evil eye" is used to mean
"envious, covetous" - cf. Pr 23:6; Mt 20:15; Mk 7:22
- Explaining the metaphor used by Jesus:
- If the heart or gaze of the soul be "good" ("single" in its
love for the things of God), then one is filled with "light"
(goodness, righteousness, and truth) - cf. Ep 5:8-10
- If the heart or gaze of the soul be "evil" (full of envy,
covetousness), then one's soul is filled with "darkness"
(selfishness, wickedness, and falsehood)!
- Thus the need for Jesus' warning:
- To guard what goes in your eye
- I.e., what you allow your eyes to dwell upon
- Remember, there is such a thing as "the lusts of the
eyes" (i.e., materialism)
- To be rich toward God, free from covetousness - Lk 12:13-21
- Note Jesus' warning - Lk 12:15
- Note His conclusion - Lk 12:21
- Paul likewise warns of the danger of materialism, or
covetousness
- Those who desire to be rich fall - 1Ti 6:9
- Into snares and temptations
- Into many foolish and harmful lusts
- To drown in destruction and perdition
- The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil - 1Ti 6:10
- From which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness
- From which some have pierced themselves with many sorrows
- TO MAKE GOD OUR MASTER...
- No one can serve two masters - Mt 6:24
- A master by definition demands "total loyalty", and we are
unable to please two masters at the same time
- Such is certainly true with God - cf. Exo 34:14
- Mammon (Aramaic for riches) is evidently no different
- We have to choose between God and mammon
- When wealth is coveted, and becomes the priority in our
lives, it becomes a god - cf. Ep 5:5; Col 3:5
- So the choice becomes one as to whether we shall worship the
One True God, or be "idolaters" following after a false god!
- Choose to serve God!
- As Jesus would later say, "Seek first the kingdom of God"
- Mt 6:33
- Do this, and God becomes our Master
- Since we can't serve two masters, this effectively
eliminates Mammon from being our "god"!
[For such reasons, Jesus tells us why to lay up in treasure in heaven.
Jesus also tells us how to lay up treasure in heaven...]
- HOW TO LAY UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN
- BY GIVING TO THE POOR...
- Jesus connected giving to the poor with laying up treasure on
two occasions
- To His disciples - Lk 12:32-33
- To a rich ruler - Lk 18:18-27
- Paul also connected sharing one's wealth with laying up
treasure in heaven - 1Ti 6:17-19
- To be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share
- Storing up a good foundation for the time to come
- To lay hold on eternal life
- NOT THAT ETERNAL LIFE CAN BE PURCHASED...
- Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works - Ep 2:8-9;
Tit 3:5
- We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ - 1Pe 1:18-19
- And as children of God we are joint-heirs with Christ,
recipients of every spiritual blessing in Christ - Ro 8:16-17; Ep 1:3
- But giving to the poor helps us to lay hold on eternal life
- By freeing our hearts from covetousness (idolatry) - cf. Ep
5:5
- By reminding us when our true reward will be received - cf.
Lk 14:12-14
CONCLUSION
- We are not called to asceticism...
- God wants us to enjoy what we have - 1Ti 6:17c; cf. Ec 5:18-20
- Yet proper enjoyment requires a heart for giving - cf. Ac 20:35
- Thus we are to work with our hands...
- Not just to provide for our families - 1 Tim 5:8
- But also for others in need - Ep 4:28
- Are we laying up treasure in heaven...?
- Jesus told us why
- Jesus (and Paul) also told us how
Have you given much thought as to how you can be rich in good works,
ready to give, willing to share? Store up a good foundation for the
time to come, and lay hold on eternal life...!