December 26th

The Financial System of Heaven

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

Laying Up Treasures

Jesus taught much about the principles of the kingdom of God as He spoke His three-chapter message in the Book of Matthew, often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. This passage is about laying up treasures upon earth contrasted with laying up treasures in heaven. Jesus taught concentrated messages, and often did not take time to expound upon what He was saying in detail. Much of that was left for the Holy Spirit to unveil to Jesus’ followers at a later time.

Treasures Upon Earth

What does it mean to lay up treasures upon earth? It simply means putting away money and things you own in a safe place for future use. Is it wrong to save up for a rainy day? Is it wrong to save for the future? No, there’s nothing wrong with that. But Jesus is trying to teach us how to operate in the finances of the kingdom. He is endeavoring to teach us another way.

Treasures in Heaven

What is laying up treasure in heaven? We can ascertain from other Scriptures about having treasure in heaven that is refers to giving to others, helping people who are in need, referred to in the Bible as the giving of alms. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell what he had, and give to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven.

The Provision of the Kingdom

The kingdom of God provides for the needs of God’s people. Jesus said not to be anxious and worried so much about earthly needs, but to seek first the kingdom, and all these things would be provided. The kingdom makes provision for God’s people. The trick is in learning to trust the system, a financial system that operates in this world, but is not of this world.

What We Give Returns to Us

So then, laying up treasure in heaven is taking some of what is ours and giving it to someone in need. We are taking something that is ours, and laying it up in a bank account that is heavenly, not earthly. It still belongs to us. It’s just stored up in a different place. It is based upon faith that God will return it to us when we need it.

Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

It is a Scriptural principle in both Old Testament and New Testament that what we give returns to us with the blessing of God upon it.

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

The Blessing of the LORD

We can be confident that what we give to help others in need will return to us at a later time, and, not only that, it will return multiplied and blessed of the LORD. This is a principle of the kingdom that we can take to the bank, our heavenly place of stored treasure.

Start the lifestyle of giving and blessing others today. Laying up a little heavenly treasure will produce a little heavenly blessing in your life, but doing so on a continuing basis will produce blessing on every wave that comes. And little by little, we will begin to put our trust in a financial system that will never fail us, where thieves cannot break through and steal, and where moth and rust cannot damage it. It’s the sure blessing of the kingdom.