Matthew 6:20

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

‘But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.’

Matthew 6:20

The love of accumulation is such a principle in our nature, that it will be doubted whether there is any man who is altogether free from the power of its fascination. The object will appear according to a man’s education, or circumstances, or bias.

I. The only true investment.—Every man who reflects will directly admit that the only true investment, for an immortal being, must be in eternity. The man of the world heaps up everything in that tabernacle that is dropping about him, and he can find nothing in that city, whither every day he is hastening! Yet, is not there many a silent monitor which tells him this is no treasure-place, no safe? Do not the many ‘thieves,’ of many cares, ‘break through and steal’ of his peace and his treasure? When the object is gained, does not some polluting thing come in and spoil the joy? But the Christian, every portion of his being, here; every moment he spends; every word he speaks; every thought he thinks—has its result and its reflection in that unseen world. Thus, everything done for God’s grace, and for God’s glory, is like something planted out of this world into the soil of another state. It is a deposit, which will appear again.

II. Treasures in heaven.—Let us take an instance or two of the manner in which a Christian may ‘lay up treasures in heaven.’

(a) Friends in heaven. As we go along the little journey of life, one and another quickly passes away. If these companions and friends of the way were associated with us by no other than the common ties of fellowship, then, when they die, they are, to say the least, no longer precious to us. But what, and if they were the children of God, are they not ‘gone before,’ to their Father, and our Father; to their home, and our home? And is not each departed one an actual increase of the deep and holy ‘treasure,’ which is awaiting us in another state?

(b) Those to whom we have been useful. The joy that surpasses all other joys, which we carry with us from this world, will be the meeting again with those to whom we have been useful in this present life. Who shall conjecture what will be the interchange of such love—the delightful memories, or recognitions of passages of thought and sympathy, which there were between us in this lower state? And then, the blended hallelujah! St. Paul does not hesitate to say that such was his ‘joy, and his crown of rejoicing, in the day of the Lord Jesus.’ Surely the very light of those whom we have led to Christ will be cast back in greater radiance to our own honoured spirits, in order that we may ‘shine as the brightness of the firmament, and as the stars for ever and ever!’ What a motive is here to act that part—to do good to the soul of somebody!

III. Talents for heaven.—Every man has his time, and his talents, and his influence, and his money, as working materials. So that if in the use of these, he is constantly considering their value for eternity; that he so spends his time, so exercises his talents, so apportions his money, that some effect shall be produced, which shall outlive this world, and does it with that avowed object,—gradually, that man takes up more and more interest, and connects it with the future state—more of his time is spent on the things of God—more effort is made to extend God’s glory upon the earth—a larger portion of his income goes to holy uses,—that man is putting by ‘treasures,’ gradually into God’s bank.

—The Rev. James Vaughan.