Matthew 6:19-21 Treasures in Heaven
”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust(mildew) destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 13:44-46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.”
Jesus is preaching ,the crowds are coming, and the disciples are thrilled! Obviously, they are onto a good thing, getting in on the ground floor of the Messiah’s coming, and things are going to be great from now on. What glories will they see, what accolades will they garner, and what wealth will be theirs when Jesus truly comes into his earthly kingdom! You can imagine these guys rubbing their hands in anticipation. But Jesus, the old spoil sport, is trying to warn his followers that their lovely dreams of earthly grandeur and success will never come true.
Jesus is advising his followers that they must rearrange their priorities. All those around the disciples are focusing on money, possessions, land, and houses. When these things are priorities, you will naturally be consumed with concern for them. Jesus, on the other hand, wants his followers to be heavenly minded and to realize that possessing the kingdom of heaven is far more important than material possessions that might spoil or be stolen. Nothing is more important than becoming a citizen of heaven and that’s where Jesus’ followers should be focusing.
These days, many churches are concerned about “being inclusive,” that is, watering down the Gospel so that nobody will be offended. Being inclusive is the last thing on Jesus’ mind; he wants his disciples to realize that heaven is worth it but that it will cost them everything. Later, a rich young ruler runs to Jesus, drops to his knees, and begs to know how he can gain the kingdom of God. After quizzing the young man and finding that he is an observant Jew, Jesus advises him to sell everything he has, give it all to the poor, and to follow Jesus. The man “goes away sorrowful” for he has great possessions. Some traditions claim that this young man in the story is Mark, who later becomes a follower of Jesus and who partners first with Paul and then with Barnabas. If so, Jesus’ unpleasant advice bore great fruit.
Where are your priorities? If you lost everything you own in a disaster such as a fire, a flood, or a windstorm, what would you do? Would you blame God or would you agree with Job that you came in with nothing and you might go out with nothing? When one of our close friends in Ghana lost a brilliant son to hepatitis B, his only reaction was “Bless the name of the Lord.” Our friend is a man of great faith, someone who may soon go to join Jesus at the throne.
Where is your treasure? We can testify from personal experience that Jesus has cost us practically everything but that we have also been blessed beyond measure. We can also testify that as long as you hold things loosely, allowing God to distribute them, God can replenish and even flood you with blessings. Someday, we all must die and then these things that have been so important will mean nothing to us. At the moment when we see Jesus, what is most important is that we have sought heaven above everything else. Don’t miss heaven for the sake of a Benz, or a house, or fancy clothes, or a big reputation. In the book Kim, Rudyard Kipling quotes an Indian proverb about “missing Delhi for the sake of a fish.” Don’t sacrifice eternal things for something ephemeral.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please help all who read these words to choose to follow You wholly and completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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