Posted on 08/13/2017 3:38:25 PM PDT by metmom
“‘Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’” (Matthew 6:20).
The believer is to be generous in his giving.
The early church was not interested in accumulating great wealth for itself. In Acts 2, for example, thousands of pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. When Peter preached the gospel on that day, 3,000 persons became believers, and soon afterward thousands more were added to the church. The pilgrims who became believers didn’t want to return to their former homes since they were now part of the church. So the believers in Jerusalem had to absorb them. Since many of the inhabitants were undoubtedly poor, the early church had to give to meet their needs. As a result, believers “began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2:45). The early church illustrates what it means to lay up treasure in Heaven.
Like the early church, we are to lay up for ourselves treasure in Heaven (Matt. 6:20). What is our treasure in Heaven? In a broad sense it is “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). We could say that, above all, our treasure in Heaven is Christ.
In a specific sense, Jesus is referring in Matthew 6:20 to money, luxury, and wealth. He is saying that to lay up treasure in Heaven is to be generous and ready to share the riches God has given to us, instead of hoarding and stockpiling them. By being generous, you expose yourself to the full potential of all that eternal life can mean. First Timothy 6:18-19 says you are “to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for [yourself] the treasure of a good foundation for the future.” The more you send into Heaven, the greater the glory when you arrive. The greater the investment, the greater the reward. Make it your aim to invest for eternity, where you will never lose your reward.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask the Lord to help you be generous toward others who are in need.
For Further Study
According to Galatians 6:10, to whom are we to do good?
Studying God’s Word ping
We’re going to die. If we care about our stuff (and our souls), we’d better give the stuff away.
Good point.
Nothing like going through my m-i-l’s stuff after she passed to cure me of wanting to hang onto stuff.
I don’t want to do that to my kids.
My parents got rid of almost everything before they moved to The Villages. My mother has been a great example of planning so as not to leave a mess, whether literal, legal, or financial. DP and I are already talking about moving to an apartment in 15 years or so, when Kathleen will (one assumes ...) be ready for her own life.
Well, I’m trying but it ain’t easy.
My excuse is that we still have 11 people living here!
Well, when you’re still using the stuff, it’s different.
I’m trying to foist mine off on my kids.
They don’t want the clutter either.
Next step is a garage sale.
Then give it away.
My parents sold a lot of their furniture to the buyer of their house. Tried to give it to Russ and me, but even if we wanted it, the transport cost wasn’t worth it.
My m-i-l’s one place was in FL. We rented a truck and drove ONE load back with some nice stuff that made it worth it.
What we found, though, is the BIG difference between insurance replacement value and actually fair market resale value.
Even what was really nice stuff that must have cost her, does NOT have much value as used. However, since we could never afford to buy it new, we kept it and are using it and those few things WILL get passed on.
What has happened in the last few decades is that more people have more than enough stuff and as families get smaller, the kids are inheriting stuff from both sets of parents AND grandparents, on top of what they already own from living away at college. So people are being overwhelmed with stuff that nobody wants or needs or uses any more.
“Treasures in heaven” has nothing to do with money. You can’t store your money in Heaven.
You can’t give money to God. He is not a storefront or a charity case. We give to the church.
The Lord loves a cheerful giver. That’s why we give. And Mt 6:2 says we give to the needy, not the wanty.
And this country is FULL of the *wanty*.
True, and you don't get that much from resale, as you noted.
It begins with Galatians 6:6-8 (NASB)
The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.
For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption,
but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
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