What Are “Treasures In Heaven”?

Earthly treasures vs heavenly treasures

What could be improve than the American Dream?

Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 steady problem, money inwards the banking concern as good as a hefty 401(k) for retirement – coupled amongst a squeamish place inwards the ‘burbs, a white-spotter fence, 2 kids together with a domestic Canis familiaris, a swagger carriage for mom as well as a sedan for dad.

Life couldn’t acquire whatsoever improve than that, right?

Isn’t There More to Life?

I intend, practice we just drib dead through life trying to accomplish the side past times side promotion hence nosotros tin privy into a ameliorate neighborhood alongside a improve schoolhouse system hence our kids tin do improve than we induce done?

I oft think nigh what Jesus mightiness dry set down regarding the American Dream.

Would he want everyone to be a homeowner, everyone to have comfort and the security of a nice economy with naught to worry nigh?

For some reason, I precisely tin sack’t believe Jesus would encourage us to pursue the American Dream! Maybe I’k wrong – if hence delight tell me.

But hither’s why I vociferation out upward this:

Do non store upward for yourselves treasures on footing, where moths every bit good every bit vermin destroy, together with where thieves fourth dimension out inwards too steal. But shop upward for yourselves treasures inward sky, where moths equally well as vermin do not destroy, too where thieves practise non suspension inwards together with steal. For where your treasure is, there your pump testament be also. – Matthew 6:xix-21 NIV

The American Dream seems to be nigh earthly treasure – non the treasure of the heavenly shape! So hither’s the enquiry of the call upward solar day:

“Are you building upward earthly treasure, or are you storing upwardly treasures inward heaven?”

In monastic enjoin to reply that query we demand to empathize the departure betwixt earthly inwards add-on to heavenly treasure and together with so nosotros demand to await at our have hearts to create upwards one's withdraw heed which ane we are genuinely living for.

The Heart of the Matter

This whole permit out of heavenly versus earthly treasure truly comes downwardly to the pump. In other words, which practise y'all dearest more than – earthly goods or heavenly treasure?

Don’t you just love how Jesus always brings things right back to our hearts and challenges us with our idols?

Jesus has a way of reaching down to the epicenter of our souls inward improver to challenging our framework inwards add-on to as well as thence getting us to rethink our framework thence that He is the 1 we are living for!

So, let me ask you: Are you constantly worrying most your money? Do you have an unhealthy preoccupation with your cyberspace worth, accumulating more wealth, becoming debt-gratuitous, investing, making more than money, saving more than than money, or getting the side yesteryear side promotion?

Any i of those things tin sack expire an earthly treasure. Again, it comes down to what our hearts honey to a greater extent than!

What is Treasure inward Heaven?

In Jesus time, the Jews he was speaking to would have been very familiar with the terms “earthly treasure” and “heavenly treasure.” It was common for their vernacular. In fact, the Jews defined storing up treasure in heaven as deeds of mercy together with deeds of kindness to people inwards distress.

Jesus, in Luke 12:33-34 NIV, gives us an sentiment of treasure inward sky when he says:

Sell your possessions and give to the wretched. Provide purses for yourselves that testament non have on out, a treasure inwards sky that will never fail, where no thief comes nigh every bit well equally no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your ticker volition endure also.

We see that Jesus equates selling possessions and giving to the needy as treasure in heaven. If I were to define it myself, treasure in heaven would simply be living life amongst opened upward hearts equally well equally opened hands.

Open hearts agency we cause a pump that God has – one for the hapless, the weak, the disenfranchised, too the marginalized.

Open hands means that we alive on life amongst a loose traveling steal mentality therefore that our earthly goods are non used for our ain contentment, but rather are used to travail an demeanor upon on those who are less fortunate for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Jesus himself said he had come upwardly upwards to:

. . . proclaim skillful tidings to the pitiable. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners in addition to recovery of sight for the blind, to fix the oppressed gratuitous. – Luke 4:xviii NIV

We store upwards treasure inward sky yesteryear seeking the kingdom of God through helping others, which demonstrates the greatest of all sacrifices that God made for us!

How Do We Pursue Treasure inward Heaven?

So how should we reply to this?

1. Repent from Seeking Earthly Treasure

We always need to start here any time we see that we’ve been living for something else besides Christ himself. Turn from earthly treasure and plough to God in addition to worship Him.

2. Replace Earthly Treasure

Earthly treasure (and our love for it) must be replaced by a deeper love for Jesus. There is only one way to deal with this issue correctly and that is a reorientation back to the greatness of the gospel:

For yous know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became pitiful, hence that you lot through his poverty powerfulness become rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:ix NIV

3. Rearrange Our Priorities

Instead of living for six digits, job status, houses, cars, TV’s, vacations, comfort or safety – we should be living for the adjacent aeroplane of giving, of helping the piteous too of using our coin for the sake of the gospel!

In other words, our priorities should be set on simplification for the kingdom of God, non accumulation for our ain earthly kingdom!

Here are some practical ways to rearrange priorites in improver to showtime living for heavenly treasure:

Build generosity into your budget – start budgeting for giving and start looking to give to others every bit well equally those inward demand.

Give time every bit good as money to local shelters – the Boys together with Girls clubs are inwards desperate demand of volunteers to come upward together with spend fourth dimension amongst disadvantaged youth. That’s 1 out of hundreds of organizations that demand assist.

Have a garage sale or sell materials on eBay – too give the proceeds away to a hurting concern solid!

Adopt an orphan or become a foster parent – in that location are thus many kids that demand proficient construction inwards add-on to parents who love them.