Michael Brooks
Jesus teaches that the pursuit of earthly treasure is futile, as it does not satisfy our heart's desires and only enslaves us in a never-ending cycle of seeking. Instead, Jesus instructs us to turn our gaze towards heavenly treasure. In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus says, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This shift in focus towards eternity and storing up treasure in Heaven is a central theme in the Christian faith, and it involves a transformation of the heart, where Jesus becomes our greatest treasure.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to treasure | Jesus, not worldly possessions |
| How to treasure | By serving Christ, not men |
| How to serve Christ | By serving the body of Christ |
| How to be rewarded | By committing our resources to His work |
| What to avoid | Coveting the praise of men |
| What Jesus teaches | To not accumulate earthly treasure |
| What to do instead | Set your heart on heavenly things |
| How to do this | By setting your eyes on eternity |
| What happens when you do this | You store up treasure in heaven |
| What happens when you don't do this | You become enslaved by a never-ending cycle of seeking |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus is the greatest treasure
The Bible tells us that we should "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). This is linked to the desire of our hearts: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). When we make Jesus our greatest treasure, we commit our resources—our money, time, and talents—to his work in this world.
In the Parable of the Pearl, a businessman diligently searches for a pearl of great value and, upon finding it, sells everything he owns to buy it (Matthew 13:45-46). Similarly, we should seek a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus, counting all else as loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing him (Philippians 3:8).
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Knowing him brings freedom (John 8:32) and abundant life (John 10:10). He is our greatest companion and our greatest reality. We can trust him with our lives, and he is our best insurance.
When we keep our minds on Jesus and God, we will experience divine peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Jesus is our treasure of divine joy and contentment. As Paul learned, we too can learn to be content when we know that the Lord is with us (Philippians 4:11).
Jesus must be our most valuable treasure if we want him to answer our prayers and work in our lives. We are called to be joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), and as children of God, we are rich in his kingdom.
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Serve God, not money
Jesus tells us not to lay up treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed or stolen, but to store treasures in heaven, where they are eternal (Matthew 6:19-21). This is because where our treasure is, there our heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
Jesus resisted the temptation of earthly treasure in the wilderness, instead choosing to focus on the eternal reward of pleasing God (Hebrews 12:2). He endured the cross for our sins, including our idolatry of earthly possessions, and in doing so, He received an eternal treasure that will never fade (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 22:12). We should follow His example and set our eyes on eternity, storing up treasure in heaven.
To store up treasure in heaven, we must actively turn our gaze from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure. We should desire heaven above anything material, and we should build up treasures in heaven by doing the things that Jesus tells us to do. When we give to the needy in secret, we are storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:1-4). When we pray in secret, we are storing up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:6). We should also fast in secret, rather than making a display of it for others to see (Matthew 6:16-18).
Jesus tells us that we cannot serve both God and money (Matthew 6:24). Those who seek praise from others for their talents or spiritual gifts have already received their "payment" in full (Matthew 6:16). Instead, we should use our resources—our money, time, and talents—for God's work in this world (Matthew 10:41-42, 1 Corinthians 10:31). We should not be like the rich young man who loved his money more than God and chose his wealth over following Jesus (Matthew 19:16-23).
When we focus on heavenly treasure, our hearts become consumed with the things of heaven, and we will be satisfied with those things. Our desires need to change from earthly things to eternal, everlasting treasure (Jeremiah 17:9, John 3:3). We should set our hearts on heavenly things and put on eternal lenses, seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
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God rewards good deeds
Jesus instructs his followers to actively turn their gaze from earthly treasures to heavenly ones. He says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). This means that if we focus on heavenly rewards, our hearts will be consumed with the things of heaven and we will be satisfied with those eternal treasures.
So, how do we store up treasures in heaven? According to the Bible, it is by serving God and following Jesus' teachings. This includes using our resources, such as our time, money, and talents, to further God's work in this world. Even small acts of service, like giving a cup of cold water to one of Jesus' disciples, will not go unnoticed by God (Matthew 10:42).
Another way to store up treasures in heaven is to give to the needy and to pray in secret, without seeking the praise of men. Jesus says that our Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward us openly (Matthew 6:4,6).
Additionally, we must not love earthly treasures more than God. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the story of a rich young man who wanted to know what he needed to do to get eternal life. Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, and then follow him. But the young man walked away sad because he had many possessions (Luke 18:18-23). Jesus then said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (Luke 18:24).
By following Jesus' teachings and serving God, we can store up treasures in heaven and receive our reward in eternal life.
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Eternal rewards await
The Bible mentions rewards that await believers who serve the Lord faithfully in this world (Matthew 10:41). A “great” reward is promised to those who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake (Luke 6:22–23). Jesus says that He will bring rewards with Him when He returns (Revelation 22:12).
Jesus resisted the temptation to accumulate earthly treasure when Satan tempted him in the wilderness, instead setting His eyes on the eternal reward of pleasing His Father (Hebrews 12:2). He endured "for the joy that was set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). This joy was the eternal treasure of pleasing the Father and the eternal reward of a redeemed people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Philippians 2:9-11).
Jesus instructs us to actively turn our gaze from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:19-21). He says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
To store up treasures in heaven, we must set our hearts on heavenly things rather than earthly things. We should desire to put our time, money, resources, and talents towards pursuits that glorify Jesus (Matthew 6:21). Even seemingly small acts of service do not go unnoticed by God (Matthew 10:42). When we give to the needy in secret, we build up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:4). When we pray in secret, we are also building up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:6).
Jesus told a parable about the Word of God being like a seed scattered on different soil (Luke 8:14). He said that when the seed falls among thorns, it is like those who hear the Word but are ultimately choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature (Luke 8:14). Pursuing and accumulating earthly treasures is futile, as they will not last and do not satisfy our hearts’ desires (Luke 12:20-21).
Those who would be “rich toward God” and “lay up treasures in heaven” must first realize this truth and set their eyes on eternity (Matthew 19:21).
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Avoid earthly treasures
Jesus instructs his followers to "not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth" in Matthew 6:19-21. This is because earthly possessions like money, jewels, houses, and cars decay, rot, and decrease in value over time. Instead, Jesus wants his followers to focus on storing up treasures in heaven, which will last for eternity.
Jesus links his command to the desire of our hearts: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). This means that if we are focused on accumulating earthly possessions, our hearts will be tied to those possessions rather than to God.
To avoid laying up earthly treasures, we should instead commit our resources—our money, time, and talents—to God's work in this world. This includes serving others and using our gifts and talents for God's glory rather than our own. We should also be generous and give to those in need, doing so in secret rather than for the praise of others.
Jesus tells his followers to sell their possessions and give to the poor (Matthew 19:21). This not only helps those in need but also ensures that our hearts are tied to heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.
It's important to remember that our motivation for what we do matters. We should be motivated by our love for God and a desire to serve him, not by a desire for earthly rewards or praise from others.
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Frequently asked questions
Storing up treasures in heaven means to actively turn your gaze from earthly treasures to heavenly treasures. Jesus instructs us to do this in Matthew 6:19-21, where he says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
We store up treasures in heaven by following Jesus' teachings and serving Him. This can include small acts of service, such as giving a cup of cold water to a disciple (Matthew 10:42). We can also store up treasures in heaven by giving to the needy and praying in secret (Matthew 6:4,6).
Storing up treasures in heaven allows us to focus on heavenly treasures and eternal rewards rather than earthly possessions that will eventually decay and lose value. It also ensures that our hearts are consumed with the things of heaven and that we are serving God rather than being enslaved to a never-ending cycle of seeking earthly possessions.
