“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Matthew 6:19-21
In this scripture, I believe Jesus is telling us to be careful that you don’t focus purely on collecting treasures on Earth that moth and rust consume or thieves can break in and steal. Rather, he encourages us to, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. What exactly are treasures in Heaven? Three things to share that will help us understand how to store up “treasures in Heaven.”
#1 HOW DO WE STORE UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN
The Bible tells us God is love and it also tells us that Jesus came in order to teach us to love God and love one another, so I have concluded that storing treasures in Heaven has to be related to love! I believe any moment you experience love that you are storing treasures in Heaven. It could be when you experience love for your family, a new baby, a new spouse, love for your friends or love for strangers. When you experience a moment of love you lay up treasures in heaven and Jesus said where your treasures are there will your heart be also.
#2 SUM OF OUR EXPERIENCES
Secondly, t’s important to remember that we are the sum of our experiences not the sum of our possessions. The question I want us to ask ourselves is what are you doing to experience new things what are you doing to grow and to learn what are the commitments you have to experience your money with things?. It doesn’t really matter whether you want to spend money and learn how to dance or travel to the other side of the world it is about growing! Philosophers and theologians for hundreds of years have told us that you and I have been put here on this earth for two reasons; to grow in knowledge and to learn how to love. I believe those two things go hand in hand I believe when you are growing you usually are also learning how to love and it will change your life.
#3 SPEND TIME AND MONEY ON MEMORIES
Third, I believe you and I need to be asking ourselves this summer are we spending our money to enrich our relationships and to make memories? I hope that this summer you will spend your money and time to enrich your relationships go to that wedding, go to that birthday celebration have a back yard barbeque and invite your friends go to the lake for the weekend go on a vacation and spend the money that makes it special where you have that memory. It is so important to understand that a rich life is not an expensive lifestyle a rich life is where you are growing in love and your making memories.
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth not rust consume nor thieves can break in and steal for where your treasure is there will your heart be also. – Matthew 6:19-21
