“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
The progression of a well lived life is one that is full of twists and turns, sometimes hard endings, and messy beginnings. At times it seems we have a map of our lives laid out from A to Z: We are born, we go through school, we graduate, become adults, we get a career, we raise a family, then build a bigger home, get the latest tech, enjoy the best trips, we grow older, we have grandkids, then great grandkids, and on.
While nothing is wrong with any of these things, I beg to ask as we’re preparing to live this life to the fullest, are we also living our life in Christ to the fullest?
As we are preparing for the job promotion, the arrival of the new baby, the proposal, the graduation, we need to ask ourselves are we preparing to meet our Creator? Have we been preparing our hearts for Heaven?
The parable goes:
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21)
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In this parable Jesus tells the story of a man who was concerned about his EARTHLY inheritance. But God reminds him of a HEAVENLY inheritance; showing him and everyone that day that life is much more than earthly gain.
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11)
So what does that mean for our earthly treasures?
You may have it all. You may be blessed with more than you ever thought you’d have, but are your only treasures in earthen vessels? Are you storing up treasures in Heaven?
I have found that anything lived outside of the will of God is bound to fall short of the glory of God. Therefore, if I am living outside of the abundance of mercy, love, and redemption that God has given me, then I am living off the substitutes of the world’s empty promises.
When everything is stripped away, what would I have left? Who would I have left?
What does it mean then to lay up treasures in heaven?
Living a life that is devoted to God requires intentionality and humility. It often happens when no one else is looking.
We invest in the kingdom of God by living our lives consecrated to Christ. We set aside time to study the Word daily. We align our lives with the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15) We make prayer a nonnegotiable part of our day.
We are called to be disciples of Christ’s but we are also called to be disciple makers. We may not be able to take our awards, bank accounts, estates, and hobbies to Heaven, but we can lead our loved ones to the One who sits on the throne. Being a disciple maker requires that each of us make a conscious decision to share the hope of Jesus so that others can experience this abundant life that He has given us.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 ESV
Declare to yourself:
"I am living for more. I am living for eternity. I am living so that others might be saved. I am living so that I might glorify my Creator. I find that when I have God, I have more than enough. No amount of material gain will ever be able to satisfy the longing I have for my Savior, for eternity. Heaven is our home, and Jesus is enough."
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4
Questions:
Where is my current focus?
What am I doing to expand God’s kingdom in my life?
What are some areas I could strengthen in my walk with Jesus?
Who can I find that will keep me accountable to a purpose driven life in Jesus?
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