Treasure: In Heaven or on Earth?
Introduction: Since “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” and no one can “serve God and Mammon (Wealth)”, Jesus had a lot to say to His disciples about how to use it safely. Money itself is a simple possession with no inherent evil, but evil emotions like greed and covetousness can easily be created when thinking about it. Wealth and prosperity itself are not the problem, since God often gave wealth as a reward for faithful service, and Paul commanded the rich to simply be ready to share it. Clearly, if our attitude is right, wealth is just an opportunity to lay up treasure in heaven.
- “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mt. 6:19-21
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The last verse contains a warning offering great wisdom and insight. Where are the true affections of our heart directed? Since the final destination of this section is “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Mt. 6:33), Jesus was setting clear and easily identified boundaries. If my heart’s affection and energy is primarily directed toward material things, then I have a problem with money. It is just that simple. But if I am truly seeking first His kingdom, then my money and heart’s attention will be focused there. First, we add up our giving to the Lord on the first day of the week, the money we use to help those in need, and the sacrifices we have made “seeking first His kingdom” and place them on one side of the scale. Then, we place all our possessions, desires, and use of money on the other side of the balance, it will be evident where our true interests lie.
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This poses a great challenge for disciples today. Our entire culture is geared toward saving and preparing for retirement. We are required by the government to pay a retirement tax, our employer often matches that with an additional retirement account or pension, and periodically we are sent a letter explaining how much money we have “stored up.” Thus, it becomes nearly impossible to avoid storing up treasures on earth. But since these things are fixed and we are compelled to do them, they simply have to be managed. It is our focus that is under consideration, not the taxes we are required to pay (“render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes.” – Rom. 13:7).
The greater challenge is found with the choices we are sometimes required to make for the kingdom. Many disciples have been forced to choose between “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some,” (Heb. 10:25) and the opportunity to enrich themselves (e.g., with working all day on Sunday).
Sometimes the decision not to make more money is just as much a part of laying up of treasure in heaven as how we spend it. Many disciples choose occupations that make less money so they can have more time to focus on spiritual things. Jesus once said “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Lk. 9:58). He had no home because He chose to focus all His effort on the gospel. It appears all the apostles made the same decision: “we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless” (1Cor. 4:11). These are extremes not every disciple must follow, but they are one avenue in which we can “lay up treasure in heaven.”
Yet God never had a problem with His faithful servants being wealthy. Abraham had great wealth as did David and Solomon. Jesus was not concerned about our being blessed by God with wealth. He was concerned about our attitude regarding “laying up treasure on earth.” He gave a parable to help us see the exact line. The real danger is covetousness (wanting more, but never being satisfied). Life and possessions are separate. Our body is but a “tent” and our possessions: “we brought nothing in and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (2 Pet. 1:13-14; 1Tim. 6:7)
The central issue lies in the idea of stewardship. Nothing is ours! God has given it to us for our enjoyment, but expects a return. As the parable of the talents teaches (Mt. 25), we are to use our abilities and opportunities for God. Peter said it well: “according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1Pet. 4:10). The problem with the “rich man” of Luke 12:16-21 was not that his land was very productive nor that he was rich. The problem is he was storing up “treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” He was not ministering his gifts to those in need. He was like the rich man in torments who lived well himself, but did not care about the others (Lk 16:23). Even as he had everything he could want or need, his mind did not turn to God; he still thought only of himself. This is exactly what greed does and is the reason Jesus said “you can’t serve God and Wealth.” It leads us to minimize what God asked in order to have more for ourselves. As Jesus ended His discussion in Luke, this was exactly the conclusion he drew.
When thinking only of ourselves, we fail to give as prospered, miss opportunities to give alms, and have nothing to take out. Everything we keep we lose, but all we use in God’s service we keep into eternity. If we wonder how what we give to the work of the Lord and His kingdom could create treasure in heaven, carefully consider Jesus’ application of the parable of the steward:
The boundaries are clear. If we use the majority of our time and/or money for our own comfort and gathering of possessions for our own future with minimal sacrifices for the kingdom, how will we avoid a charge of laying up treasures on earth? When we see money as a powerful tool to help others and serve God, then our money is being used to keep our heart in the right place. When a need arises and we are generous and ready to give, our heart and treasures are in heaven. But if we are stingy, our heart and laying up are only on the earth. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable, it only brings greater responsibilities and greater temptations.
Conclusion. When we have money, we have the obligation to share it with others, be willing to have fellowship with those who do not have, and fellowship with God who promised to help His people when they are in need and often uses the generosity of His people to do it. If our treasure and heart are on this earth, then it will be difficult to even see what Jesus is warning against. We may find ourselves like the rich young ruler struggling even under the gravest needs to find the courage and faith to sacrifice. Even worse, we may, like the Pharisees who were lovers of money, find ourselves actually scoffing at what our Lord has revealed.
The greater challenge is found with the choices we are sometimes required to make for the kingdom. Many disciples have been forced to choose between “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some,” (Heb. 10:25) and the opportunity to enrich themselves (e.g., with working all day on Sunday).
Sometimes the decision not to make more money is just as much a part of laying up of treasure in heaven as how we spend it. Many disciples choose occupations that make less money so they can have more time to focus on spiritual things. Jesus once said “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Lk. 9:58). He had no home because He chose to focus all His effort on the gospel. It appears all the apostles made the same decision: “we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless” (1Cor. 4:11). These are extremes not every disciple must follow, but they are one avenue in which we can “lay up treasure in heaven.”
Yet God never had a problem with His faithful servants being wealthy. Abraham had great wealth as did David and Solomon. Jesus was not concerned about our being blessed by God with wealth. He was concerned about our attitude regarding “laying up treasure on earth.” He gave a parable to help us see the exact line. The real danger is covetousness (wanting more, but never being satisfied). Life and possessions are separate. Our body is but a “tent” and our possessions: “we brought nothing in and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (2 Pet. 1:13-14; 1Tim. 6:7)
- “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Lk. 12:15-21)
The central issue lies in the idea of stewardship. Nothing is ours! God has given it to us for our enjoyment, but expects a return. As the parable of the talents teaches (Mt. 25), we are to use our abilities and opportunities for God. Peter said it well: “according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1Pet. 4:10). The problem with the “rich man” of Luke 12:16-21 was not that his land was very productive nor that he was rich. The problem is he was storing up “treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” He was not ministering his gifts to those in need. He was like the rich man in torments who lived well himself, but did not care about the others (Lk 16:23). Even as he had everything he could want or need, his mind did not turn to God; he still thought only of himself. This is exactly what greed does and is the reason Jesus said “you can’t serve God and Wealth.” It leads us to minimize what God asked in order to have more for ourselves. As Jesus ended His discussion in Luke, this was exactly the conclusion he drew.
- “Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Lk. 12:33-34)
When thinking only of ourselves, we fail to give as prospered, miss opportunities to give alms, and have nothing to take out. Everything we keep we lose, but all we use in God’s service we keep into eternity. If we wonder how what we give to the work of the Lord and His kingdom could create treasure in heaven, carefully consider Jesus’ application of the parable of the steward:
- “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” 14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Lk. 16:9-15)
The boundaries are clear. If we use the majority of our time and/or money for our own comfort and gathering of possessions for our own future with minimal sacrifices for the kingdom, how will we avoid a charge of laying up treasures on earth? When we see money as a powerful tool to help others and serve God, then our money is being used to keep our heart in the right place. When a need arises and we are generous and ready to give, our heart and treasures are in heaven. But if we are stingy, our heart and laying up are only on the earth. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable, it only brings greater responsibilities and greater temptations.
- “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1Tim. 6:17-19)
Conclusion. When we have money, we have the obligation to share it with others, be willing to have fellowship with those who do not have, and fellowship with God who promised to help His people when they are in need and often uses the generosity of His people to do it. If our treasure and heart are on this earth, then it will be difficult to even see what Jesus is warning against. We may find ourselves like the rich young ruler struggling even under the gravest needs to find the courage and faith to sacrifice. Even worse, we may, like the Pharisees who were lovers of money, find ourselves actually scoffing at what our Lord has revealed.