TEXT:

‘You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me’– Luke 18:22

THOUGHT:

The challenge of Today’s Teaching asks, “Where is your treasure?” Does being poor make us more spiritual and godly? Is God against us having riches? No, not at all, but God does not want riches to have us!

Three of the Gospels record the account of The Rich Young Ruler. Reading Luke’s account recently – 18:18-23, I saw Jesus challenged him about having treasure in heaven. He had everything he could possibly want on earth and more besides, but what had he stored up for the other side of the grave? The very fact that Jesus challenged him to sell everything and distribute it to the poor in order to store up treasure in heaven, meant that for all his riches on earth, he had nothing as far as heavenly treasure was concerned.

• There are two main ways to deposit treasure in heaven

Firstly, the treasure we produce through blessing others. The Rich Young Ruler was encouraged to give to the poor rather than accumulate more wealth. Jesus taught that even a simple act of giving someone a cup of cold water would not go unrewarded – Matthew 10:42. Be careful though not to do such actions to be seen, otherwise your reward will only be on earth. You will be seen by others, even have plaques erected in honour of what you have given, but nothing will be deposited in heaven – Matthew 6:1-4.

Secondly, the treasure that our ministry and life as a Christian has produced – 1 Corinthians 3:12-14.      God is looking for gold, silver and precious stones amongst the ashes after His fire has evaluated our life’s work and ministry. We cannot see or say how effective it has really been, but that day will reveal its true worth and we will be rewarded accordingly. There will be many surprises as Christians who thought their life did not amount to very much find their faithfulness meant more to God than they realised.

• You cannot transfer treasure on earth into heaven

On earth it is relatively easy to move wealth around transferring from one bank to another. The Barclay brothers would even load their silver on to a plane to sell in another country when they thought they could get a better price than in the UK. Millions transfer savings from one account to another in order to maximise profit, yet only treasure created in heaven can be stored up there. Treasures found in coffins reinforce this truth that you cannot take it with you when you die!

• You cannot enjoy the benefit of treasure in heaven unless you get there

This is the mistake so many make. They think they are good enough for heaven, but are comparing themselves with the wrong person. It’s how we match up to Christ. Compared with Him we all fall far short. The perfect life of Jesus condemns us but His death saves us and faith brings us into Him and Him into us. We are born again and now are certain of heaven and eternal life. When Jesus said, “I am the way”, He made it very clear He is the only way. Unless you go through Him it is not possible to get to heaven any other way.

• Where we store our treasure reveals where our heart really is – ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ – Matthew 6:21

It’s amazing how many people I talk to, who hope they will go to heaven, yet do not give heaven a moment’s thought while on earth. They are too busy earning, spending and enjoying their wealth. Such people are deceiving themselves. Planning for a special holiday involves thinking about it continually, even counting down the days to when it is. So it is with heaven. The Apostle Paul said he could not wait to get there, that death was gain and it would be far better. By revelation the Apostle John saw a place without death, sorrow, crying or pain – Revelation 21:4. The Apostle Peter wrote about an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for Christians – 1 Peter 1:4. Heaven is more real than this earth, for power came from that invisible world to create ours.

Stop for a moment right now and consider what you have on earth – house, car, artwork, jewellery, bank accounts and such like. We both know that not a single penny can be taken away with us when we die. Everything we have will be left behind for others to spend and enjoy.

So what lies ahead, for death is not the end of our existence, only of our life on earth? Do you have the assurance of heaven and treasure awaiting your arrival? Or is it a real fear of the unknown?

While you still have breath in your lungs you can call on the Lord, repent and be saved, just as the dying thief did when on the cross alongside Jesus – Luke 23:39-43. God has made everyone a wonderful promise, ‘Whosever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’ and that includes you!

Once you are sure of heaven then you can start to store up treasure there.