Earthly Treasure vs. Heavenly Treasure
Jesus said there are two kinds of wealth a person could have. One is called treasures on earth. The other is called treasures in heaven. He says the following:
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. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Before we see what this passage means, let us first see what this passage doesn’t mean.
It doesn’t mean that it is wrong to have material things
The Bible is full of examples of men who had an abundance of material possessions and yet were commended for their godly example and good works. Abraham was wealthy and he is extoled as a model of the righteousness that is by faith (Romans 4:1-3). Job was extremely wealth, and the Lord said he was the most blameless and upright man of his day (Job 1:8). King David also had great wealth after he took the throne as Israel’s king, and the Scriptures call him “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22).
It doesn’t mean that money is evil
Money isn’t evil. What’s evil is the “love of money.”
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”
Money can actually do a lot of good if it’s used in storing up heavenly treasure.
It doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t put money aside for future needs
Proverbs 6:6-8 – “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.”
We are to work hard, like the ants work hard gathering food in the summer and storing it up for the winter months. There is nothing wrong with having money set aside for future anticipated needs like education, or retirement, or just emergency expenses.
So, what is Jesus getting at in Matthew 6:19-21? He is teaching us that we need to have the right kind of wealth. As we go through life, money can be used in two different ways. It can either be used to merely “store up for ourselves treasures on earth,” or it can be used “to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.” When our money is merely stored up on earth it is prone to loss and destruction. But when our treasure is stored up in heaven, no thieves can steal it, no moth can destroy it, and no loss can come to it.
Money for the believer is not meant to be an end in itself, rather it is a means to an end—glorifying God. Death can certainly separate you from your earthly treasure. You can’t bring your money with you to heaven, but you can do something significant and eternal with your money. How so? Invest your money now in something that’s going to heaven. What’s going to heaven?
1) Souls are going to be in heaven. So, invest your money in spreading the gospel so that souls can be saved when a person believes the gospel. That’s what you can do when you give a tithe or offering to the Lord’s church. It is an investment in spreading the gospel through the ministries of the church and the missionaries of the church. Also, invest your time into loving and serving people with the love of Jesus. That is an investment that lasts forever.
2) God’s Word will also last forever. 1 Peter 1:25 – “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” So, we ought to invest our time and money in getting God’s Word into people’s hearts and partnering with those who have this focus.
Let me ask you a question: If a stranger got a hold of your monthly bank transactions or credit card transactions, would they be able to tell that you are living with the priority of investing in God’s Word and God’s people? Does it show up in how you spend your money? Would someone be able to tell that Jesus matters to you by looking at your monthly budget? I think this is what Jesus is getting at when he says:
Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What you do with your treasure influences the condition of your heart, not the other way around. This is why the issue of giving isn’t a minor issue. It is a crucial one. It contributes to the development of a loving heart to Jesus and his eternal kingdom.
