Heaven or Earth?

”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

What if everything you owned could disappear overnight?

Jesus presents you with a choice: you can store treasures on earth where they can be destroyed, or in heaven where they cannot. In the original Greek, the word for "store up" and "treasures" is exactly the same word. What Jesus literally says is, "Do not treasure your treasures in the wrong place."

Every earthly treasure comes with an expiration date. Your car rusts. Your house needs repairs. Your clothes wear out. Stock markets crash. Thieves break in. Moths destroy. Nothing on earth lasts forever.

But heavenly treasures are different. When you invest in God's work and God's people, you're building something eternal. Every moment you spend serving, every dollar you give to help others, every act of kindness—these create treasures that thieves cannot steal and time cannot destroy.

So how do you know if you’re treasuring the right things? If making money and spending money are more important to you than giving money, you're treasuring your treasures in the wrong place.

Ever feel tempted to hoard your resources? Instead, ask yourself, "Will this matter in eternity?" Are you facing tough financial decisions? Pray, "God, help me invest in what lasts forever." If leaving a generous tip feels difficult, remember that kindness creates eternal treasure.

You can trade the temporary for the eternal. The question is: will your treasure survive beyond this life?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me loosen my grip on temporary things and invest in what lasts forever. Show me how to store treasures in heaven, starting with treasuring my relationship with You. Then show me how to value what you value, Lord. I pray this in the powerful Name of Jesus, Amen.