As we read and study the 49 scriptures that are Jesus’s commandments, let’s ask God to help us observe these words, apply them, and faithfully follow them throughout our lifetimes. The command we will focus on today is “Lay Up Treasures.”
Verse of the Day
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:19–21 KJV)
Lesson of the Day
Jesus commands us to lay up treasures in heaven. He teaches us not to store up treasures on earth, where they can be destroyed or stolen, but to store up treasures in heaven, where they will last. Where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also.
This is about what owns our hearts. Earthly treasure rots, rusts, and gets stolen. We can spend our whole lives piling it up and watch it fall apart, get taken, or simply drain us as we try to keep it. Heaven’s treasure lasts forever because we invest in things that last forever: people’s souls, the Kingdom, and the things God cares about.
So, how do we spend money for heaven? Yes, tithes and helping the needy are part of it. Proverbs 19:17 teaches that when we give to someone in need, we are lending to the Lord. Helping a neighbor, supporting our church, and feeding someone are all ways of laying up treasure where moths cannot destroy it.
But here’s the thing that gets us every time: it’s a heart question, not just a budget question. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” If our hearts are wrapped up in the business, the house, or our possessions, then that’s where our treasure really is, no matter what we say we believe. And if our hearts are wrapped up in God and His people, then our money will follow. How we use our money will also shape our hearts.
The question isn’t just, “How much do we give?” It’s, “What are we actually living for?” Let’s lay up our treasure where it lasts, and our hearts will end up there too.
Encouragement
This lesson hits home with me. God is always teaching me lessons that I didn’t even know I needed. At first, I didn’t fully understand laying up treasures. I thought it was just paying tithes, giving to the needy, and being generous to others. However, in writing this devotional, God opened my eyes to what it is really about. God is in the business of changing hearts. All of these commands point back to the heart.
I have always had a heart to give. God always blessed my husband and me with plenty. Since we really care about people, we were always giving and sharing all that God had given us. Those were some great days.
However, our finances changed. I can only speak for myself. Where I messed up was getting into so much debt buying equipment so that I could run a business making all kinds of custom products. I love making things and getting paid for them, but I now realize that, financially and physically, I was better off before I started the business. Owning a business wasn’t the problem. The problem was allowing it to consume my heart and putting my finances and health at risk.
I have to spend money to make money. The business keeps me busy and costs me money for upkeep and supplies. Sure, I make money, but it’s not enough. The more money I make, the more money I have to spend to keep the business running. It’s a never-ending cycle that feels meaningless when I lose sight of the purpose behind it.
Our Father God in heaven sees us making a mess of things, yet He patiently teaches us and helps us recognize where we went wrong. I knew something was wrong with my decision. I was working a job that paid a six-figure salary and medically retired because of my health, but I was willing to risk my health by starting a business making all kinds of custom products. The business income doesn’t even come close to what I used to make, and I’m working harder than I ever did. I was so hung up on this business that I forgot about laying up treasures.
It’s a lot harder to lay up treasures when we’ve sunk all of our treasure into a worldly dream. I now see that I missed the mark by losing sight of why I wanted to start the business in the first place. I’ve always had a heart for children, and I originally set out to help guide them into the world of entrepreneurship. It’s still a part of my vision for the business, but I haven’t even started making it happen. I got off track. I’ve been praying for more orders, but I should be praying for the entrepreneurship program.
I thought God didn’t have any more assignments for me working with children. I believe that assignment has been waiting on me the whole time. It took writing devotions for me to find my way home and realize how I will be storing up my treasures in heaven. Now, the business has meaning, and I have hope.
I pray that this devotional blesses you and guides you toward your calling so that you, too, will lay up treasures in heaven.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are an awesome, mighty, wonderful God. Our hearts are filled with gratitude. You know exactly what we need, and You know exactly how to guide us onto the right paths. Because You care, we have opportunities to do the right thing.
Forgive us for our selfish ways, and help us to have hearts for others. Give us enough provision to take care of our responsibilities and freely give to help people in need. Give us our assignments so that we will have opportunity after opportunity to give from our hearts.
Father, we get it now. You aren’t concerned with our treasure alone; You’re concerned with our heart posture. Thank You for giving us hope for a better tomorrow. Thank You for providing for the needy through us. Thank You for caring about us so much, Lord.
Where would we be without You? We don’t want to know. All we need to know is that You love us and You want us to love others. May our thoughts be Your thoughts, may our mouths speak Your words, and may our hearts be filled with Your love.
In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.