True Treasure
The Bible speaks of various kinds of treasure. There is a prominent, dichotomous view of treasure linked to valuing this world and heaven. The same dichotomy exists between the children of God, who store up their treasure in heaven; and the children of the devil, who store up treasure on the earth. What is this heavenly treasure? Why is there a valuation differential between treasure in heaven and treasure on earth? How does one come by these treasures? How does one store it up in heaven? If we learn these things from the Bible, we will surely be rich.
In Jesus’ sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes, He taught the values of the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God (Mt 5–7). In His message, Jesus gave some investment advice to His hearers: store up treasure in heaven; but do not store up treasure on the earth (Mt 6:19–21). Investments on the earth tend to lose value (moth and rust), and in the end, they will be worthless (2 Pet 3:10–12). Mammon of unrighteousness fails (Lk 16:9), so it should be used to make friends, instead.
Investing in people, with a view to heaven, means the return on investment will be those you invested in upon the earth. Jesus puts this economy to the heart test. Where one ultimately decides to invest will reveal the true status of her heart. The unregenerate heart is wicked and deceitful above all else (Gen 6:5; Jer 17:9). In contrast, the one who loves God with her whole heart has treasured God in heaven (Mt 22:37) because God has treasured her as His own possession (Dt 26:18; Ps 83:3). God has revealed His economy of love for His people, who treasure God’s Word of revelation in their hearts (Ps 119:11). Heaven and earth will pass away, but not God’s Word (Mt 24:35).
Storing up treasure in heaven, by investing in heaven-bound people here on earth, allows Christians to enter the blessing of giving (Acts 20:35), only to receive the eternal reward of communion with the people, who we valued more than the things of the world. A loving heart from God, and for God, is a heart for people dazed and confused in a fallen world (1 Jn 3:16–17).
Employing the monetary resources God entrusts to us, allows us to sacrifice our selfish desires in preferring the welfare of others above ourselves. The poor Macedonians were Paul’s example to the rich Corinthians on how Christians should invest liberally to create equality in the church (2 Cor 8–9). The early church shared all things in common (Acts 4:32). The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains (Ps 24:1). Therefore, the prayer of God’s people is, “Give me neither poverty nor riches (Prv 30:8).”
The kingdom of heaven is to be valued like hidden treasure that one sacrifices all he has in this world to secure (Mt 13:44). Jesus’ point is to sacrifice your life in this world to gain your life in the next (Lk 17:33). He tests this paradox with a question, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul (Mk 8:36)?”
People lust after more and more of the world (1 Jn 2:16), but God’s people are instructed not to love the world, nor the things in the world (1 Jn 2:15–17). Jesus preached the kingdom of God because it was what people were not investing in, and they were losing everything because of their neglect.
God’s Word does not view being rich in this world as an advantage. The rich fool was judged because of his heart’s desire for increasing wealth (Lk 12:13–21). God knows our hearts (Lk 16:15). Withholding generosity cost the rich man a place with his poor neighbor, Lazarus, in Abraham’s bosom (Lk16:19–31).
The rich young ruler temporarily retained the world (Lk 18:18–30), but he lost eternal heaven because he valued this present world above the value of everlasting security with abundant provision (Rev 21–22).
The prodigal son left his worldly, pig pen lifestyle and returned to his loving and forgiving father (Lk 15:11–32), just as Zacchaeus did (Lk 19:1–10), when salvation came to his house, on the day he met Jesus. There is hope for the rich man to pass through the eye of a needle, but Jesus must bring salvation to his house (Tit 2:13; 2 Thess 2:13).
The transformed heart is viewed when the rich man sells his worldly possessions, gives to the poor, and then follows Jesus (Mt 19:21; Mk 10:21). How many people do you know that have followed Jesus’ instruction? This is how one invests in heaven and stores up treasure there. Worldly wealth is a test, and far too many do not pass the test.
Jesus again shows us this dichotomy in Luke 6:45, “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.” Amazing! One can hear the heart of any man if she just listens to what he says. This is how sayings are made, “He has a heart of gold.” How do you know? You can hear it. God searches the heart, and His Spirit empowers us to discern the heart of people. So, to him who has ears, let him hear.
The assessment of those hearts discerned can tell us much about one’s relationship to God, as noted in Luke 12:21, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” How many on Wall Street, today, play the game, “king of the financial mountain”? Do they love Christ and money, too? Is the witness of Jesus Christ upon their lips because the Spirit’s witness is in their hearts? Greed is not good. It is sin (Eph 5:5; Col 3:5). You cannot serve God and money (Mt 6:24).
Jesus spoke of “an unfailing treasure in heaven” in Luke 12:33–34. God is our reward. If everything belongs to Him, why do we hold the title to so much of what is His? Rich men spend their time trying to protect what is not even their property. They want what their wicked heart’s desire, and they are quick to boast of their ventures and accumulations.
To obtain treasure in heaven, one must remove the distraction of treasure on earth. Following Jesus will lead you to treasure in heaven (Luke 18:22). Because men cannot see heaven, the lust of their eyes is for the things of earth. Men do not see the beauty of a woman’s heart because their lust is for her flesh. In turn, she decorates her exterior while paying little attention to matters of the heart. “She married him for his money,” is countered with, “Oh, she is his second trophy wife.” People can see it, and they can hear it, too.
Christ Jesus, our Lord, is the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God, and this is the treasure hidden in our hearts (2 Cor 4:7). When God shines His light in our hearts, the light shines in the world because of our words and actions. People observe what we value by our own testimony and lifestyle. Blind people have no idea what they look like, and this is true for spiritually blind people, too, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (Rev 3:19).” There is the paradox and the dichotomy.
Israel trusted in worldly treasures and became proud (Jer 49:4). God punished Israel by allowing its wealth to become free booty for invading nations (Jer 15:13). Judah should have learned its lesson when God judged the northern kingdom of Israel, but they did not follow the Proverb, “Wisdom is to be sought like silver treasure (Prv 2:4).” There is much wisdom, regarding treasure, in the Book of Proverbs, but it is mostly captured in this, “Fear of the Lord is to be valued above earthly treasure and the problems it stirs up (Prv 15:16).”
Consider the parlous lottery the next time you invest in that scheme. A twenty-year-old forklift operator in Georgia by the name of Craigory Burch, Jr. won almost half a million dollars in the Fantasy 5 state lottery. Three men conducted an armed home invasion. They shot and killed Burch in front of his family. That is troublesome, and it is just further proof of God’s Word being clear and reliable in these matters of the heart.
In Christ, all the hidden treasure of wisdom and knowledge are found (Col 2:2–3). When the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart of a person (Rom 8:9), he is in possession of the unfathomable riches of Christ (Rom 11:33), who is the wisdom and power of God (Col 1:16). Wealthy Christians have their instructions on how to live in this world (1 Tim 6:17–19).
Poor Christians should learn of the added responsibility given to rich Christians to steward more of God’s possessions. Not everyone is equipped to handle this extra responsibility. The day of accounting is coming for every steward of what God has entrusted to him. Until then, Paul instructs, “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you (2 Tim 1:14).”
Which treasure has been entrusted to you? The treasure of Egypt or the treasure of Christ (Heb 11:26)? Moses opted to value Christ above the pleasure of Egyptian wealth. To leave Pharaoh’s house in favor of the hardship and uncertainty of the wilderness is a powerful image for us to consider, today. He was mostly alone in this for forty years in Midian. Later, it was forty more years with a million of his relatives to care for without natural resources. In this, he learned the value of Christ all the more. Paul experienced abundance and want, and he, too, learned to be content in trusting the providence of Christ, His very capable supplier (2 Cor 9:8, 11). James asks, “Why store up treasures in these last days (Jas 5:3)?”
Fear and greed drive men to hoard earthly wealth in land, houses, investment, and retirement plans. Is that you? Love and trust compel men to give to the poor and follow Jesus. Is that you? Far better to examine yourself, in these days in which there is still time to redeem, than to wait for the Day of Judgment (Acts 17:31; 2 Cor 5:10; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11; Rev 19:11–21).
Examine your heart with the help of the Holy Spirit, today, or wait for Almighty God to judge your heart on the last day (2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). One way or the other, the true treasure of your heart will be revealed.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 10, 2021
