Treasures in Heaven

Why I am Writing This: My Testimony

I was once rich.   I worked hard to build treasures, and God blessed me with wealth.

In 2008, He took it all away.

He humbled me and called me to redirect my life.

He sent His Holy Spirit to help me live for Him.

Now, I am building treasures in heaven.

It has all been wonderful.  Why?

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Jesus in Matthew 6:20

Treasures in Heaven

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Jesus in Matthew 6:20

How do we do this?

What are these treasures, and how do they get there?

We devote ourselves to creating them. There is a clue in Jesus’*(4BC-30AD) calling of His disciples. Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. - Matthew 4:19

*after a name means that person is in SPIRITUAL LIVES

They were professional fishermen. Their lives were devoted to creating treasures for themselves and their families here and now. Jesus called them to a new vocation: creating treasures in heaven.

The difference is the focus, the endgame, the destination. In both vocations, labor is the creator of the treasure. The difference is where it will reside.

Luke (1 or 16 - 84 or 100)records Jesus’ parable about a rich man whose treasure was plentiful and outgrowing his ability to store it. Proud of his success, he planned to retire and enjoy himself. Then God spoke to him:

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? - Luke 12:20

You cannot lay up treasures in heaven if you are not going there and cannot get there without Jesus. We all have this basic choice, believe in Jesus and be saved, or not believe and be damned (Mark 16:16) There is no other way.

A young man came to Jesus and asked how he could obtain eternal life. Jesus told him to begin by keeping the commandments, and the young man said he had kept them all from his youth but still felt lacking.

Jesus loved him and gave him this invitation, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. – Matthew 19:23

When he heard this, the young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. Jesus knew that earthly riches were a hindrance to discipleship. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24

Here, we see the treasure in heaven equated with giving earthly wealth to the poor and the danger that having riches proves a snare to following Jesus. John Wesley (1703-1791) took this teaching seriously and structured his life around it.

While warning against the destruction riches can bring to the believer, he saw the blessing money can bring and how earthly wealth can be transformed into treasures in heaven.

"In the hands of (God’s) children, it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked. It gives to the traveler and the stranger where to lay his head. By it we may supply the place of a husband to the widow and of a father to the fatherless.

We may be a defense for the oppressed, a means of health to the sick, of ease to them that are in pain. It may be as eyes to the blind, as feet to the lame: yea, a lifter up from the gates of death!”

Jesus confirmed Wesley’s take that giving to the poor generates treasure in heaven: For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. -Mark 9:39

The award is assured, but the nature of the reward is unspecified. Sometimes the reward is not for something we do but for something we suffer for Jesus’ sake:

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:12

Other times, our reward is simply for receiving others in Jesus' name, and here, He indicates there are specific rewards for receiving a prophet and a righteous man. (Matthew 10:41) He also tells us there are rewards for things we do in secret, giving alms, praying, and fasting. For these secret acts of devotion, He promises “thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:18

Jesus' last word on treasures in heaven is for doing what comes most unnaturally to us and earns the greatest reward:

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: Luke 6:35

Behind all these rewards is the premise of labor. We “lay up” these treasures for what we do, unlike our salvation, given by grace, these treasures in heaven are earned and are a life-long labor.

The Apostles on Treasures in Heaven

The Apostles worked to this end and have much to teach us. St. John* (5-100) equates this labor to lay up treasure in heaven with “overcoming,” a word he uses eleven times and assigns to the overcomer these treasures in heaven:

1. To eat of the Tree of Life

2. Entry to the center of “the Paradise of God.”

3. Protection from the hurt of the second death.

4. To eat of the “hidden manna.”

5. To receive a white stone and a new name that no one knows but Jesus and the receiver.

6. Power over the nations.

7. Clothed in white raiment.

8. Confession of the overcomer’s name before God and the holy angels.

9. Made a permanent pillar in the temple of God.

10. Be marked with the Name of our God and the New Jerusalem as well as Jesus’ New Name.

11. To sit down with Jesus on His throne. (Revelation 2-3) and

The final overwhelming ultimate treasure in heaven:

He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7

Jesus showed John all these treasures that had been laid up in heaven for those who had earned them. All of this awaits us as we labor on.

St Paul* (5-67) looks forward to his “Crown of Righteousness,” and reminds us that that crown is not for him only but for all who love Jesus and His second appearance (2 Timothy 4:8). St. James (6-62 or 69) tells us He has promised a “Crown of Life” for enduring temptation (James 1: 12). St Peter (1BC-67AD)assures faithful elders a “Crown of Glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:4)

What wonderful treasures are available to overcomers from Jesus’ hand as rewards for our labors. We must be earnest in our labor and be careful, as He warns us,

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. – Revelation 3:11