God's Economics (or Jesus Saves)

Jesus says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures upon 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 will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).

If Jesus says to not do something, it's best to not do it. On the flip-side, if Jesus says to do something, it's best to do it. Right? In the scripture above, Jesus makes a double-edged statement: Don't lay up treasures on earth; Do lay up treasures in heaven. So, it's best to do both of these. But what exactly does he mean?

In the context, when he speaks of treasures on earth, he's speaking about placing our security and trust in what we have accumulated and stored away here for our daily and future provision (see Luke 12:13-34). But what about the other: treasures in heaven? Personally, I think he means the same thing except we're storing up in a much more secure place for our daily and future provision in this life and the next. Instead of storing up down here for life "down here", Jesus says store up "up there" for life "down here" and "up there". Whatever we store up "down here" can get corrupted or stolen real easily "down here"; but whatever we store up "up there" can't be rusted or stolen at all, and we can still access it from "down here" or even after we get "up there". The only question that's left then is, how do we get treasure "up there"?

I looked through a concordance and could only find three places where Jesus specifically answers the question.

In Matthew 19:21, Jesus tells the young rich man, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

In Luke 12:33, Jesus says, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys."

In 1 Timothy 6:18-19, Paul (being inspired by the Holy Spirit) says, "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age...."

In Matthew 6:33/Luke 12:31, Jesus has one more word on it: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

So, we store up treasures in heaven by: 1) seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness; 2) selling our possessions and giving to the poor; 3) doing good; 4) being rich in good deeds; 5) being generous; and 6) being willing to share.

So, if the economy has you down and anxious, here's a better plan...actually, the better plan.

Do what Jesus said; invest in heaven. Go after only what can be stored "up there" and you'll live much more securely "down here"...and "up there".

In doing so, we will "take hold of the life that is truly life" (1 Timothy 6:19).