Memorise:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:21
Read: Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through
and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also.
Treasures are highly valued objects or accumulated riches. Physical
treasure has at best only short-term benefits and is capable of opening up the
owner to various physical and spiritual dangers. However, spiritual treasure is
of eternal value and comes from knowing and serving God. The Bible encourages
Christians to save for the future and expects good parents to keep an
inheritance for their children. It is also desirable to invest wisely. By the
special grace of God, these processes could lead to a huge accumulation of
wealth. The focus however is not the wealth but the mindset and attitude of the
owner. Matthew 6:20 says,
“But lay
up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
The problem is that wealthy people are familiar with how to make earthly
investment and acquire earthy treasures, but only a few of them have the
understanding of what it means to lay-up treasures in Heaven or how to go about
it. The Bible recorded an encounter between Jesus and a very rich ruler with a
similar challenge in Luke 18:15-25. Luke 18:22 says,
“Now
when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:
sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven….”
The solution that Jesus offered is simple, if you want to have treasures
in Heaven and you have earthly wealth, sow a bulk of it into the lives of the
poor. If you go the extra mile to enrich the poor, you will have treasures in
Heaven. Your wealth or possessions on their own are worth nothing to God,
except they are converted into something of value that promotes the work of
God, or affects the lives of others for good. If you use your wealth to promote
the gospel or you meet needs with it, you will reap the harvests in Heaven
because the principle of sowing and reaping applies there. Way to be rich in
Heaven is to be rich in good works (1st Timothy 6:16). Use
your wealth to better other people’s life, no rich Christian Brother or Sister
has a reason to be poor in Heaven. No poor believer should also be poor in
Heaven. You are the one to take the decision that will positively impact your
eternity. Invest in the work of God by promoting the Gospel and sow bountifully
into the lives of the poor.
Prayer
Point: Father, please help me lay up heavenly treasure more than earthly
treasure.
Bible in
one year: Leviticus 20:1-22:16, Psalms 131-132
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