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Wealth

Where is my treasure? What is important to me? Is Jesus my Master?

Jesus told us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). He linked this command to the desire of our hearts: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

Scripture mentions rewards that await the believer who serves the Master faithfully in this world (Matthew 10:41). A “great” reward is promised to those who are persecuted for Jesus’ sake. Various crowns are mentioned (in 2 Timothy 4:8, e.g.). Jesus says that He will bring rewards with Him when He returns (Revelation 22:12).

One day one of the local officials asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?”

Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don’t you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.”

He said, “I’ve kept them all for as long as I can remember.”

When Jesus heard that, he said, “Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go. | Luke 18:18-23 (The Message Bible)

When I hear Jesus tell me to give money to the poor and homeless, does it make me sad? Do I obey Jesus or do I walk away?

I am to treasure the Master Jesus most of all. When Jesus is my treasure, I will commit my resources — my money, my time, my talents — to His work in this world. My motivation for what I do is important (1 Corinthians 10:31).

  • Now this is good news. Paul encourages me that God has an eternal reward for those who are motivated to serve the Messiah: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Master as a reward. It is the Master the Messiah you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24).
  • Matthew 13:44  — “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
  • Matthew 13:45–46  — “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.“
  • Matthew 13:52 — And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”