A Treasure Mentality

An excerpt from The Treasure Principle,  author - Randy Acorn

Jesus doesn't just tell us where not to put our treasures.  He also gives the best investment advice you'll ever hear: "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).

If you stopped reading too soon, you would have thought Christ was against our storing up treasures for ourselves.  No.  He's all for it!  In fact, He commands it.  Jesus has a treasure mentality.  He wants us to store up treasures.  He's just telling us to stop storing them in the wrong place and start storing them in the right place!  

"Store up for yourselves."  Doesn't it seem strange that Jesus commands us to do what's in our own best interest?  Wouldn't that be selfish?  No.  God expects and commands us to act out of enlightened self-interest.  He wants us to live to His glory, but what is to His glory is always to our good.  As John Pipers  put its, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."

Selfishness is when we pursue gain at the expense of the others.  But God doesn't have a limited number of  treasures to distribute.  When you store up treasures for yourself in heaven, it doesn't reduce the treasures available to others.  In fact, it is by serving God and others that we store up heavenly treasures.  Everyone gains; no one loses.

Jesus is talking about deferred gratification.  The man who finds the treasure in the field pays a high price now by giving up all he has--but soon he'll gain a fabulous treasure.  As long as his eyes are on that treasure, he makes his short term sacrifices with joy.  The joy is present, so the gratification isn't entirely deferred.  Present joy comes from anticipating future joy.

What is this "treasure in heaven"?  It includes power (Luke19:15-19), possessions (Matthew 19:21), and pleasures (Psalm 16:11, Jesus promises that those who sacrifice on earth with receive a "a hundred times as much" in heaven (Matthew 19:29), and pleasures (Psalm 16:11).  Jesus promises that those who sacrifice on earth with receive "a hundred times as much" in heaven (Matthew 19:29).  That's 10,000 percent--an impressive return!

Of course, Christ Himself is our ultimate treasure.  All else pales in comparison to Him and the joy of knowing Him (Philippians 3:7-11).  A person, Jesus, is our first treasure.  A place, heaven, is our second treasure.  Possessions, eternal rewards, are our third treasure.  (What person are you living for?  What place are you living for?  What possessions are you living for?)

"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Why? Because it's right?  Not just that, but because it's smart.  Because such treasures will last.  Jesus argues from the bottom line.  It's not an emotional appeal, it's a logical one. Invest in what has lasting value.

You'll never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul.  Why?

Because you can't take it with you.

Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, 
when the splendor of his house increases;
for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him. (Psalm 49:16-17)

John D. Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest men whoever lived.  After he died someone asked his accountant, "How much money did John D. leave?"  The reply was classic:  "He left...all of it."

You can't take it with you.

(pages 15-17)