Laying Up Treasures in Heaven

TODAY'S SCRIPTURE

By Ezekiel Kimosop

The Bible says in Matthew 6:19-21:

"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)

QUESTION TO PONDER:

Does this passage teach that earthly investments and riches are ungodly?

Not at all! Here's why...

Some Bible teachers have used this passage to promote frugality and a vow of poverty. By so doing, they take the Scripture completely out of its passage context.

Jesus is here speaking about getting our priorities right. He is not condemning earthly riches. Instead, He is exhorting us to covenant faithfulness.

The above passage is one among a series of moral exhortations that Jesus gave in Matthew 6 which include the discreetness on doing charity (6:1-4), and in prayer (6:5-8). Jesus then gave the model prayer often referred to as the Lord's Prayer (6:9-15). His teaching on discreetness in fasting follows (6:16-18).

This then brings us to our passage of context (6:19-21).

We should also consider the exhortation in 6:24 touching on serving God and Mammon.

Let's now conclude.

Here is the moral...If we focus on earthly possessions to the exclusion of the life to come, then we are losing out on our future with God.

Our earthly investments are indeed important because they sustain our lives and those of others who depend on us. They also provide resources for advancing the gospel. They are therefore indispensable.

Our life to come is however much more precious and of greater value compared to the one we currently have under the sun. We ought to give it special attention and care even as we pursue our earthly fortunes.

Jesus said that where your treasure is, your heart will also be (Matthew 6:21). The rich fool placed his heart in the pleasures of this world to the exclusion of God (Luke 12:13-21). He lost out with God.

Our divine heritage in Christ is eternally secure, and nothing we do in the kingdom of God will be lost. It is all kept to our account in God's divine records and we shall be rewarded by our heavenly Father when we appear before Him (cf. Hebrews 6:10-12).


Where is your heart today?


© Ezekiel Kimosop 2020