Taking What You Have to Heaven

A: In an effort to share with you some of the most important components of an answer to your question, I will use Matthew 6:19-21 and its context. I will define “treasure” as wealth or things that are valuable to us and that we possess in the form of properties, money, investments, etc.

Wealth Is Good

Jesus visualizes humans as creatures that, like the ants (Prov. 6:6-8), seek, gather, and store up for safekeeping. He seems to suggest that we accumulate wealth because the unexpected could happen at any moment and we want to deal with it in a responsible and constructive way. We search and gather, but what we need is a safe place to preserve the treasure. For Jesus, the treasure is fine, but the most important thing is the place where we store it up. If the proper place is found, we would then experience rest. The location we choose will impact our life, for it would reveal our true values: “For where your treasure is [the place], there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).

Two Options

According to Jesus we have only two options: heaven or earth. In the sermon Jesus has already indicated that on earth God’s name is not hallowed (Matt. 6:9) and His will is not done (Matt. 6:10). Our wealth is not safe on earth because it is threatened by the destructive forces of nature and human selfishness. Storing up our treasures on earth for safekeeping means that in the end we will be left empty-handed. Jesus offers us heaven, the kingdom of heaven, as the best place, for it is characterized by shalom, and those who place their treasures there will experience shalom. In heaven there is no evil in nature or in the human heart.

Heavenly Currency

We cannot deposit in the heavenly bank gold, silver, dollars, real estate, etc. In order for wealth to be stored up in heaven, it has to be converted into heavenly currency. Actually, our capital is our life, and the treasures are the result of the way we use it.

Consequently, a treasure deposited in heaven has to do more with the way we use and administer our earthly treasures and with our motivations and practices than with the material treasure itself. This means, first, that wealth is to be used according to the golden rule: “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matt. 7:12, NIV). Our resources are to be used to bless others. Second, our treasure should be put at the exclusive service of the Lord. “No one can serve two masters. . . . You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt. 6:24, NIV).

Third, gathering our treasure in heaven means that we have to reset our priorities: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33, NIV). Jesus reaffirms that humans are by nature seekers but that in their search they should give priority to the kingdom of God. Our life and everything we possess should be invested in the promotion of the kingdom of God. Consequently, we tithe our wealth and give substantial offerings for the building up of the kingdom of God on earth. If the treasure is deposited in heaven by the way we use it on earth and by having the proper motivations, then our ultimate treasure will be a character in the likeness of Jesus that will be preserved throughout eternity.