6 Ways To Store Up Treasures In Heaven - Bible Study Tools

After speaking of earthly and heavenly treasure, Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Our hearts will be mastered by one or the other. Not both.

This is seen in the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus wanting to know what he had to do to get eternal life. He had kept the commandments but wanted to know what he lacked. Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The response of the young man was sadness because of all the wealth that he had, so he walked away from Jesus. Jesus then said to His disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:23).

He also told a parable about the Word of God being like seed scattered on different soil. Jesus said that when the seed falls among thorns, it is like “those who hear [the Word], but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature” (Luke 8:14). The riches of this life and the cares of this world can hinder maturity in the faith as people become preoccupied by earthly concerns and treasures rather than God and His Word.

It is not necessarily wrong to have money, but we need to know the dangers of what it can do to us. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:9-10, “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

We are storing up treasures on earth if the object of our affection is centered on ourselves and what we can accumulate. It can result in our ruin as well as falling away from faith. Yet, if our greatest treasure is Jesus, we will desire to put our time, money, resources and talent on pursuits that glorify Him and we will store up treasures in the kingdom of heaven.

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