(By brother Nai Kyn)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust 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)
On Sunday (11 November 2007) we were being challenged again to rethink about the way we used our money and other possessions we have. Two bible passages have been used as the basis of our discussion:
Matthew 6: 19 – 21, 24 and
Luke 16: 1 – 9, 13. Due to the limitation of space, I would like to just share a little thought on the passage found in Matthew (Maybe we can consider a sequel for the passage from Luke if this one successfully makes it to the ‘Box Office’).
The passage in Matthew is one that many of us are familiar with where it was recorded for us as part of the famous sermon that Jesus gave to his disciples known as the Sermon on the Mount. This is the passage where Jesus was teaching about the right attitude the disciples should have with regards to their earthly possessions.
It is interesting to note here that Jesus did not ask his disciples to quit storing up treasures. There is nothing wrong with the attitude of desiring something that is good and valuable. In fact, I believe that God has programmed within us the ability to appreciate what is valuable and to differentiate it from what is not. The problem we have today is that our ‘software’ has been corrupted by a virus called ‘sin’. ‘Sin’ invaded our system and confuses our judgment on the value we place on the things around us. Throughout history, many have tried to fix this ‘bug’ by introducing negation ‘anti-virus’. As a result, various schools of asceticism that emphasize on denial and disassociation with what has been mistakenly interpreted as valuable are born. The result is promising but somehow imperfect.
In saying “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, … But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, …”, Jesus was pointing to us what the real problem is. Many of us including myself spent very little time pondering about the kind of treasures we could inherit in heaven so much so that our attitude toward these treasures is one that is of indifference. Some of us resort to think that doing so is a waste of time since such an idea is so abstract and unfathomable. The situation is further complicated since the bible does not provide clear indication of what these treasures are like (or are we just been fed by an unbalance diet of our church education system that put so little emphasis on the teaching of such nature?).
I want to think that when I do my best to please God on this side of heaven, God will be truly pleased. I also know that one cannot do this without first checking his or her motives because God sees the heart rather than just our actions. Nevertheless, I am not satisfied to believe that when God is pleased with me He does not use heavenly treasures to reward me. Neither do I believe that all of us will be rewarded equally in heaven regardless of how we have served Him here on earth. This really goes against the teaching I have come across in the various parts of the bible (
Matthew 24: 45 – 51; Matthew 25: 14 – 30; 1 Cor 3: 10 – 15).
Therefore, do I really see myself storing up treasures in heaven? Or am I saying that all I need to do is abstain from storing up treasures on earth but settle for a mediocre workmanship on church ministry and leave to God on whatever heavenly treasures He chose to reward me since I have totally no idea and do not want to spend too much time thinking if there are really such thing as treasures in heaven?
Finally, how do I apply the truth that says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”?
I arrive at the conclusion that if I really believe that there are such thing as treasures in heaven and that not everyone will be rewarded equally, I better make sure that each time I serve I give 100% of my commitment to it. This of course would have to be done on top of my pure motive and intimate relationship with God. May our heart be so enthralled by the treasures He has prepared for us in heaven!
