THE LORD JESUS GAVE US INSTRUCTION TO STORE UP TREASURES IN
HEAVEN
(Matt.6:19-21)
Jesus said, “Do not store up
for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves brake in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not brake in or steal; for where your
treasures is there your heart will be also” (Matt.6:19-21). The Greek word for treasure is-“thesaurus” a
deposit, i.e. wealth lit. or fig.)- treasure.
How can we do it willingly? Our existence is in this reality
of finitude, but we must store up our treasures in heaven, rightly, we can
really do it not by our endeavor, neither by our limited capability, but we can
certainly do it through the LORD JESUS who strengthen us, as the Apostle Paul
said, “I can do all things through Him who
strengthen me” (Phil. 4:13).
The gracious and compassionate LORD JESUS had already laid
down the absolutely right way for anyone who
have enormous riches to be able to transform it up as treasure in heaven.
“As
He was setting out on a journey, a man run up to Him and knelt before Him, and
asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus
said to Him “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know
the commandments, DO
NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, Do not defraud, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.” And he said to
Him, “ Teacher, I have
kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking
at him, JESUS felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and
sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come
follow Me.”(Mark
10:17-21).NASB
But at these words he was saddened, and he went away
grieving, for he was one who owned much
property. And JESUS look around, and said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to
enter the kingdom of God.”( Mark 10:22-23).NASB
And He told them a parable saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he begun reasoning to
himself, saying, what shall I do since I, have no place to store my crops? Then
he said, “This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger
ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods And I will say to my
soul, Soul you have many goods laid up for many years to come, take your ease,
eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! who will own what you
have prepared? So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and
not rich toward God” (Luke12:16-21).
NASB
ALL DEVOTED ADHERENTS OF THE LORD JESUS HAVE INHERITANCE IN
HEAVEN (1 Pet.1:4)
By following these directive instruction of the LORD JESUS
through Apostle Paul, the gracious LORD will reserve for us inheritance in
heaven (1Pet.1:4). “Whatever you do, do your
work heartily, as for the LORD rather than for men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the reward
of the inheritance. It is the LORD
CHRIST whom you serve.” (Col.3:23-24).
“To obtain an inheritance which is
imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for
you”(1Pet.1:4).
It is a clear command that all the works that we do must be
for the LORD JESUS and not for any fellow human kind, because He is the LORD of
all (Acts 10:36); and all are His servants ( Ps. 119:91).
This is a remarkable instruction for all, because the LORD
demanded that we serve Him alone, hence He said, “No
one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other,
or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
wealth”(Matt.6:24).
We must comprehensively learn that all profitable, good and
orderly works in any place, or situation of being employed, or responsibility
in performing duty whether personally or for anyone, it must be done heartily
for the LORD, rather than for men accordingly to His command. Nevertheless, all
must be considerate to have due respect to human employers and for their
implemented justifiable policy; because all are His servants, as it is written,
“They stand this day according to Your
ordinances, for all things are Your servants”(Ps.119:91).
For all doers of wickedness, in performing works for
dishonest gain in any place of employment, individually or in company, the LORD
JESUS will certainly render to each one that which is according to his deeds
(Ps.62 :12; Rom.2:6), and consequently, wrath and righteous indignation of the
LORD.
Reward in the
original Greek text of the Holy Scriptures is “antapodosis”derived from the
word “antapodidomi” it denote- to requite (good or evil) recompense, render, repay. i.e. “The LORD JESUS will render to each person according
to his deeds”(Rom. 2:6).
When we diligently follow His instruction, He will certainly give reward of the inheritance, not
here on earth but in heaven (1Pet.1:4) “To
obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you.”
Inheritance in the original Greek text of the Bible is “kleronomia” heirship i.e. a patrimony a
possession- inheritance. Inheritance also denote as a possession received from
a generous giver of inheritance.
By faith in the LORD JESUS we can obtain it because it is
written; “And without faith it is impossible to
please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, a rewarder of
those who seek Him”(Heb.11:6).
Therefore all who work by faith in the LORD JESUS, with
diligence by doing all heartily as for Him and not for men, (Col.3:23-24) have sure reward of the inheritance
which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven
(1Pet.1:4). It is stored in heaven and not here on earth, for the LORD’S given
reason that moth and rust destroy here, and thieves brake in and steal
(Matt.6:19). Gratefully, we can consider the reward of inheritance that the
LORD JESUS will reserve for all who heartily do all things for Him and not for
men as laid up treasures in heaven as well (Matt.6:20;Col. 3:23-24; 1Pet.1:4).
THE SPIRITUAL FAITHFUL ADHERENTS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
When anyone have a firm determination to be a permanent
adherent of the LORD JESUS, that person become spiritually minded (Rom.8:6), no
obsession to accumulate material wealth for selfish motive, but to use it in
serving the LORD. Moreover they don’t have anxiety for things they need,
because they live by faith in the LORD JESUS (Hab.2:4; Rom.1:17; Gal.3:11;
Heb.10:38) that He will certainly supply all their needs according to His
reaches in glory (Phil.4:19).
Among the exceedingly rich billionaires in this finite
reality, in these latter days, not anyone yet has humbly followed the LORD
JESUS’ laid down instruction to the rich man who asked how he can inherit
eternal life. He explicitly, and affirmatively told the rich man, “go and sell all you possess and give to the poor,
and you will have
treasure in heaven, and come follow Me.”(Mark 10:21).
We can certainly discern according to the disclosure of the
LORD JESUS the real reason why many among exceedingly rich people won’t
submissively follow the LORD’S command, because they love much their possession, without love for God, and they hold fast to it as their all in
life. Because they are materialistic people setting their mind on
earthly things, they don’t have longing to have the splendid incomparable
spiritual life in the LORD JESUS that will forever be in the infinite reality,
with all things to enjoy (1Tim.6:17).
And JESUS looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to
enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:23).
The LORD JESUS said, “Be ware
and be on guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an
abundance does his life consist of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).
The completion in all things is not in the vast accumulated
wealth, anyone can never be save from eternal torment in hell, and lake of fire
by wealth, the gracious and compassionate Savior (2Pet.1:1) and only SALVATION
(Acts 4;12) is the LORD JESUS CHRIST alone who can give us assurance of having
completeness in life (Col.2:10).
The LORD JESUS’ written words have no prohibition to get
wealth, for His good purpose that wealth which He provide can really be useful
means to do efficient works for Him. “But you
shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make
wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it
is this day”(Deut.8:18).
All must be careful how to gather wealth, it must be in right
manner according to the perfect will of the LORD JESUS, because He is the
exclusive norm of righteousness ( 1Cor. 1:30; Heb. 1:9).Wealth gained by
deceit, by intimidation, by extortion, by robbery, by any unjust gain is of the
devil, it is morbid sin (1John 3:8).
To gather immense wealth, and to have intense longing for
inheritance is not the greatest aspiration in life, neither for excellent
attainment. The paramount characteristics, incomparable excellence, majestic
dignity, inherent power, wisdom, holiness, righteousness can be found in the
LORD JESUS alone, for He is all, and in all in His omnipresence (Col. 3:11;)
and it is the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him
(Col.1:19).
The Apostle Paul “counted all things
to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing CHRIST JESUS His LORD,
for whom he had suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish so
that he may gain CHRIST”(Phil.3:8). Whoever in this world has the same
unwavering longing to have the LORD JESUS as his/her incomparable gain, that
person has completeness in all things in Him (Col. 2:10) and will have
capability to store up treasure in heaven.
Now everyone has prerogative to desire for gain, but it must
be for godliness, not for covetousness, as it is written: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when
accompanied by contentment”(1Tim.6:5-6).
Those who are the spiritual children of the LORD JESUS (John
1:12,16) in their development to maturity, had ceased in setting their mind to
any worldly aspiration. Reasonably, they subjected their life to the LORD
JESUS, because all who entangled themselves to worldly desire are unaware that the snare of the devil had
encroached already in their customary activities. These things are proof
hereof; politics, popularity contest, any competition for pride of life,
gambling, impressive performance in works to attract attention, conformity to
immorality, devotion to false gods – spiritual adultery etc…
James the Apostle of the LORD JESUS had informed us
with concern to worldly people; “‘You adulteress, do you not know that friendship with the
world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the
world make himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks
to no purpose: “He jealously desire the Spirit which He has made to dwell in
us? But He gives a greater grace therefore it says “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT
GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE”(James
3:4-6).
Anyone who love the world have no humble spirit to subject
all their possession to the absolute authority of the LORD JESUS they are the
same with the rich man who refused the command of the LORD to sell all his
possession and give it to the poor to
have treasure in heaven.
A carnal person will never sell all his/her accumulated
possession to altruistically give it to the poor in exchange for treasure in heaven, because of
egocentric obsession to material things of this world. In vivid contrast, a
spiritual man with optimum willingness to please the LORD JESUS CHRIST can
willingly do it for his/her great love for the LORD (John 14:21,23).
Now, we must consider this Biblical request, for anyone who
really want to remain faithful to the LORD JESUS CHRIST. “Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die;
Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me
with food convenient for me; Lest I be full and deny thee, and say, who is the
LORD? Or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”(Pr.
30:7-9).KJV
End
Labels: Store up,heaven ,inheritance
Posted by Eugene Fernandez, servant of the LORD JESUS CHRIST
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