How to Store Treasures in Heaven
Have you ever lost something of monetary value? Has your home ever been burglarized? Did you ever have something precious get broken?
I remember as a child having a toy sewing machine I liked to play with because I would make clothes for my dolls. One day I allowed my cousins to use my sewing machine and afterwards, I discovered it was not working anymore. I never did get another toy sewing machine. Gone was the creative time I spent designing and making clothes for my dolls.
Sometimes, we lose something more precious than a material item. We can lose a special person in our lives.
Typhoons, hurricanes, severe storms, and natural disasters wreak havoc damaging homes and taking lives. For many of us, it may be an overwhelming feeling to lose all of our possessions and having to start all over again. Moreover, it is devastating to lose a loved one, even through the senseless tragedy of a school shooting or an act of terrorism.
The truth is we came to this world with nothing and we depart this world without any earthly possessions; hopefully, we will have Yeshua in our hearts and lives.
Yeshua tells us,
“19 ‘Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. 20 Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal. 21 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also’” (Complete Jewish Bible, Matt. 6.19-21).
Moths
Moths are insects and there are about 160,000 species of moth. They eat at our clothes, linens, rugs, and shoes. Outside, moths will eat our fruits and vegetables and other plants to the point that it can destroy an entire forest.
It begins by having holes in our clothing, etc.
In our spiritual life, what holes do we have? What holes are penetrating our behavior and as a result eating away at our conduct and our righteousness?
Rust
The word for “rust” in Hebrew is וְרָקָב which means rottenness. This is in reference to small parasites, mold, flees, and vermin. These can get in your food, your plants, and your pets acting as a disease which can infect others. If you accumulate too much food, it can go bad. If your pet gets flees, it can cause an infestation in your home. Lice, also, can get in your scalp. In other words, living things will not last.
Burglars
Burglars invade to steal your possessions and sometimes hurt us or our love ones.
“13 Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Rabbi, tell my brother to share with me the property we inherited.’ 14 But Yeshua answered him, ‘My friend, who appointed me judge or arbitrator over you?’ 15 Then to the people he said, ‘Be careful to guard against all forms of greed, because even if someone is rich, his life does not consist in what he owns.’ 16 And he gave them this illustration: ‘There was a man whose land was very productive. 17 He debated with himself, “What should I do? I haven’t enough room for all my crops.” 18 Then he said, “This is what I will do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and I’ll store all my wheat and other goods there. 19 Then I’ll say to myself, ‘You’re a lucky man! You have a big supply of goods laid up that will last many years. Start taking it easy! Eat! Drink! Enjoy yourself!’” 20 But God said to him, “You fool! This very night you will die! And the things you prepared — whose will they be?” 21 That’s how it is with anyone who stores up wealth for himself without being rich toward God’” (Luke 12.13-21).
About Rewards
“23 Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord. 24 Remember that as your reward, you will receive the inheritance from the Lord. You are slaving for the Lord, for the Messiah” (Col. 3.23-24).
What are the treasures that can be stored for heaven?
Trust
“Commit your way to Adonai; trust in him, and he will act” (Ps. 37.5).
Follow His Commandments, Especially on Shabbat
“14 Therefore you are to keep my Shabbat, because it is set apart for you. Everyone who treats it as ordinary must be put to death; for whoever does any work on it is to be cut off from his people” (Exod. 31.14).
Don’t Have Idols
“17 ‘Do not cast metal gods for yourselves’” (Exod. 34.17).
Celebrate His Appointed Times
“23 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Lord, Adonai, the God of Isra’el” (Exod. 34.23).
Justice
“4 On the day of wrath, wealth doesn’t help; but righteousness rescues from death” (Prov. 11.4).
Righteousness
“30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls” (Prov. 11.30).
Mercy and Sacrifice
“6 For what I desire is mercy, not sacrifices, knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hos. 6.6).
Blessings
“22 The blessing of Adonai is what makes people rich, and he doesn’t mix sorrow with it” (Prov. 10.22).
Knowledge
“9 With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered” (Prov. 11.9).
Wisdom
“14 Without clever tactics an army is defeated, and victory comes from much planning” (Prov. 11.14).
Understanding
“2 All a person’s ways are right in his own view, but Adonai weighs the heart” (Prov. 21.2).
Telling others about Yeshua
Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness
“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col. 3.12).
Being Thankful
“And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts” (Col. 3.16).
Giving
“25 The person who blesses others will prosper; he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself” (Prov. 11.25).
Service
“10 For God is not so unfair as to forget your work and the love you showed for him in your past service to his people — and in your present service too” (Heb. 6.10).
Taking Care of the Poor and Needy
“49 The crimes of your sister S’dom were pride and gluttony; she and her daughters were careless and complacent, so that they did nothing to help the poor and needy” (Ezek. 16.49).
Love
“14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body” (Col. 3.14-15).
Prudency
“3 But you, when you do tzedakah, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6.3-4).
“6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6.6).
“18 so that no one will know you are fasting — except your Father, who is with you in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6.18).
Things not to do:
“1 ‘Be careful not to parade your acts of tzedakah in front of people in order to be seen by them! If you do, you have no reward from your Father in heaven’” (Matt. 6.1).
“2 So, when you do tzedakah, don’t announce it with trumpets to win people’s praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already!” (Matt. 6.2).
“5 ‘When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners, so that people can see them. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already!’” (Matt. 6.5).
“16 ‘Now when you fast, don’t go around looking miserable, like the hypocrites. They make sour faces so that people will know they are fasting. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already!’” (Matt. 6.16).
Our treasures in heaven consist in our actions and behavior toward ourselves, others, and God. We must rid ourselves of all greed, jealousy, anger, impatience, lies, addictions, gossip, immorality, and bad, bodily actions. We must concentrate in loving God along with loving and helping our neighbor.
