Treasures in Heaven
There are many things in life that become foundational to us like money, careers and family. And, with the advent of this pandemic we have become more clingy to those things that we have to the point where is looking more like obsession than anything else. And, though these things are important and needed we leave one for the other(Mt23:23). Churches are looking more like a past time then a need. We need God’s kingdom.(Mt6:33) We need that relationship with God like if our lives dependent it on. Jesus said that man can not live on bread alone but he needs the word of God (Mt4:4). Now, there is this need of protection and feeling safe that; at least a great number of, people are not willing to compromise and have become like treasures. Jesus said that when we need to store riches in heaven (Mt6:19-21), but these heavenly riches are not being prioritized as essentials. When the pandemic hit governments made everyone believe that essentials such as food, water and distancing were the only ones we needed.
Mark 10:20-22
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
This young man had his religious life in tack along with his prosperity, but his most essential asset that was above anything else was his prosperity. His treasure chest was filled with finances and riches and it was the closest to his heart. His riches could not completely fill the void or lack inside of him, and so Jesus told him that he was lacking. So, the question that comes to mind is, what thing have we taken to fill that void? In order for this young man to fill his void, Jesus recommended that he sold his possessions and give it to the poor. Storing treasures in heaven fills a void that we have, but what are some of the treasures that we can store in heaven? Well, for this young man the act of selling and giving of his riches was one treasure. A sign of obsession and greed is grief, and this young man became grieved when he was told to become detached from his earthly treasure.
Jesus said that people should not practice their righteousness in front of other people, because otherwise they will not receive recompense from the Father (Mt6:1-3); our giving should be discrete. The act of storing deals with releasing with the intent for the purpose of preserving and receiving. Jesus spoke of this guy who noticed that his gains was increasing, and so he decided to tear down his barns and build new ones. And, just when he finished that he felt satisfied with how he was storing, his soul was being requested (lk12:19-21).
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
]]verse 2
verse 3
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rusta] 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.
verse 4
6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”