“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
There are two different places where we can store our treasure. The first could be a bank, the stock market, or a shoebox under my bed. What they have in common is that they are earthly storage locations, subject to theft or decay. They will not last. And we will leave them behind.
Or we could store our treasure in heaven. There is no danger of losing the treasure we store there, it is eternal. Regardless of what might happen on earth, our heavenly treasure is secure.
Storing Treasure Above
So how do we store up treasure in heaven? Western Union doesn’t service that location. And there aren’t any branch offices where we can make a deposit. Or is there? In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus tells us a parable of sheep and goats. It is a parable of judgment at the end of the age.
What the sheep did determines their reward. And what the goats failed to do determines their punishment. When the sheep asked when they did those things, Jesus responded with, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40). Every time I give to those in need. Or care for those who are hurting. Or show love and mercy. I am doing it for Christ. And it is a treasure that I have put on deposit in heaven.
