Heavenly Treasure

Heavenly Treasure
By Kent Secor

Much is written in the Bible about wealth and giving. Much that I, in my forty years in the Lord have heard and read little about. We are called to love one another, to serve one another and our neighbor. This is to be in real and practical ways, not just in word, but in actions.

Today I'd like to address the storing of wealth, and how we use it.

Jesus taught that we should use our wealth to assist the poor, and by doing so we will store up treasure in heaven.

Luke 12:13-34 (TNIV)

13  Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

14  Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15  Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions."

16  And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17  He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18  "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19  And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'

20  "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

21  "This is how it will be with those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God."

22  Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  24  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

27  "Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!

29  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

31  But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32  "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Life is not made up in the abundance of possessions. Life is more than just buying clothes to wear and show off in, cars, houses, food and drink to consume. We do need these things, but we don't need Rolls Royce cars or even a Lexus car. For $3-5,000 we can purchase a good used vehicle that will service our transportation needs for many years.

We don't need a $5,000 dollar suit, one off the rack at Sears of JC Pennys will suffice. We don't need to eat out at restaurants for $100-200 a plate, we can get great meals for much much less. And fix our own nutritious meals at home for very much less. Its all in how you place value on possessions and temporary things.

Jesus is making a comparison between using the finances that God makes us steward over to set ourselves up or to serve the poor with. We can consume it all ourselves on a higher standard of living, or give it away to the poor and lay up a treasure in heaven.

Jesus tells us to sell everything, give it to the poor. Now get this correct here, neither I, nor Jesus is saying that you must make yourself destitute by selling all of your possessions and giving the proceeds to the poor. Making yourself poor will end your ability to help others. It is only from a position of wealth and abundance that we have to give to others. What he is saying is to not live so high on the hog. Live in more humble means, at a lower living standard. For example sell off the mansion, buy a small house, and give the extra to the poor.

I recall a story about a multimillionaire CEO in England, who when he and his wife became believers in Christ, took stock of their lives and made a very hard decision to live at a lower standard of living. They sold their estate in the country, giving all the servants a very nice severance package. They sold their house in London and bought a simple flat. They sold all of their cars and limousine, and purchased a simple car.  The proceeds and extra income they used to serve the needy of London.

If you want to read more of such giving by the extremely wealthy, check out the Giving Pledge.

The point I make here is that each one of us can do this. Some of us have done it, without planning to do so. The economic times we live in have robbed many of the wealth they had stored up, and forced many to live at a lower standard then they previously did. Take stock of where you are now. Consider well the foods you eat, the clothes you wear, what you drive and where you live. Do you need to raise your standard of living when you start to earn more? Or can you live ok at this level, and then use any increase to help others in need?

I encourage you all to consider well and seek first the kingdom of God, to seek to learn and do God's will and give to the poor and needy around you, and lay up for yourself treasure in heaven that is eternal.