Heavenly Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21 "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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

I was able to see this principle applied the other day during a conversation with my friend...um, we'll call him Jake. Jake is around 70 years old, and is still working a good part-time job, where he travels often for his company. It is important to note here that Jake does not work out of necessity.

Jake was telling me the other day that he could not find anything in the Bible about retirement. I affirmed his conclusion, reminding him that our rest will come in heaven (of course that will not even be close to all that we as believers do in Glory). I told Jake if he ever retired, he should go on the mission field, to which he replied that he felt that the Lord constantly used him to give to fund missions. He did not know it, but giving was one of Jake's spiritual gifts and Romans 12:8 shows that giving to the body or the Lord is in fact a spiritual gift. Jake then told me that it was his goal to give 50% of his income to the Lord! Although he was not there yet, i know that he is close. This was a great blessing to me, because although I have taught this for many years, i have never actually met anybody who practiced this principle of giving.

This experience blessed me because everything that Jake is doing flies in the face of what the rest of our country would tell him to do. Some may say:

1. "you need to use that to increase your life insurance since you are old so you can leave your family a fortune."
2. "You need to invest that money!"
3. "You should travel"
4. "You should retire fully and play golf"

But regardless, all say would say to Jake; "you are a fool." To which I would hope that Jake would reply in the words of Dr. Don Wilton, "I'm a fool for God...who's fool are you!?" For Jake's treasure is in heaven, not on earth.

The church needs more believers like Jake. We need to realize that it is God who gives us the ability to gain wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18), not to build up our own kingdom, but to further His.