The Sermon on the Mount contains many of Jesus’ most famous teachings, including this:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Later, Jesus says that you cannot serve God and money (Mt 6:24). It is clear that we are not supposed to store up earthly treasures. In the words of an old pastor: “You never see a moving truck behind a hearse.”
So what must do? We must store up treasures in heaven. Let’s look at some of the reasons why this is a good idea before looking at how Jesus says we can store up heavenly treasures.
Some reasons
First, Jesus tells us to do it and what the Son of God says is valid. It is a matter of obedience.
Second, the treasures in heaven are clearly enduring treasures. We live in a passing world with passing fantasies. Treasures in heaven are treasures that no one can take out of your car, bank account, wallet, or home.
Third, proper treasure hunting moves us in the direction of material modesty and Lord-focused faithfulness. In the theologian and martyred German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, warned about the “slavery of material things” (p.178).
The more things we own, the more our things seem to own us.
The more things we own, the more our things seem to own us. We begin to organize our lives around them and spend money to support them. Bonhoeffer explains that hoarding is idolatry; it puts something at the center of our lives that is not God.
Jesus says, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Mt 6:21), which means that we will focus our lives on what we value most. If we prioritize the wrong things, our lives will go off the rails. If we prioritize the right things, our lives will follow in the transforming footsteps of our risen Redeemer.
How to Store Treasures in Heaven
With those motivators in mind, let’s focus on what storing up treasure in heaven looks like. I would like to highlight some of the teachings that Jesus specifically mentions in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. I’m not suggesting this is an exhaustive list, but I think the list does include these things.
- Being humble and pure in heart (Mt 5:5, 8)
- Hungering and thirsting for justice (Mt 5:6)
- Showing mercy (Mt 5:7)
- Seeking peace (Mt 5:9)
- Being persecuted for justice’s sake (Mt 5:10)
- Being “the salt of the earth,” which is in part about preserving the flavor of godliness in the world and in our relationships (Mt 5:13)
- Being the light of the world (Mt 5:14)
- Keeping the commandments of God (Mt 5:19)
- Resisting anger (Mt 5:22)
- Being faithful to your spouse (Mt 5:28, 32)
- Keeping your word (Matthew 5:37)
- Turning the other cheek (Mt 5:39)
- Providing for physical needs (Mt 5:40, 42)
- Going the extra mile (Mt 5:41)
- Loving your enemies (Mt 5:44)
- Praying for those who persecute you (Mt 5:44)
- Giving to the needy with discretion (Mt 6:3)
- Praying and asking specifically for God’s name to be revered as holy and for his kingdom to come (Mt 6:6ff)
- Practicing forgiveness (Mt 6:12)
- Fasting (Mt 6:16)
- Avoiding worry and trusting that God will provide for your needs (Mt 6:25)
- Seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (Mt 6:33)
- Not by judging unfairly, but by being someone who first examines his own life and integrity (Mt 7:1, 5)
- Seeking the things of God (Mt 7:7)
- Entering through the narrow gate (Mt 7:13)
- Beware of false prophets (Mt 7:15)
- Practicing authentic discipleship, which means we not only believe in Jesus, but seek to know him and do what he says (Mt 7:21)
- Being wise. And what does it mean to be wise? Jesus gives us the definition of wisdom. It is listening to his words and putting them into practice (Mt 7:24).
It seems to me that the ledger of heaven operates on a different system than the world is used to.
The Eternal Paths of God
Think of your favorite things. Which are? How about a fancy house, the latest gadget, an awesome profile on social media, or clothes or cars that make other people look at you?
A true commitment to the King means a true commitment to his Kingdom.
As a disciple of Jesus, reflect on what you value. He also reflects on the sobering reality that when your heart stops beating, so will your stuff. A true commitment to the King means a true commitment to his Kingdom.
More than sixteen hundred years ago, John Chrysostom wrote something that could have been written last week:
“We are only temporary guests on earth. We recognize that the houses we live in serve only as shelters on the path to eternal life. We do not seek peace or security from the material walls that surround us or from the roof over our heads. Rather, we want to surround ourselves with a wall of divine grace; and we look up to the sky as our ceiling. And, the furniture of our life must be good works, carried out in a spirit of love» (p.11)
Let us hunger and thirst for the eternal paths of God. In the distracted, glitter-obsessed eyes of the world, we may not be great or better, but we are certainly blessed.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:19-21).
Originally posted on . Translated by Team Coalition.