In America we are quite prosperous regardless if you are low, middle or upper class. Each of us have so much more than any of the third world countries it is outrageous. This prosperity many times leads towards laziness and a lack of passion for the purpose of God in this world.

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

First, the word treasure in Greek means deposit or wealth. Why does Jesus tell us to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven instead of here on earth? Contrary to popular opinion it is because it is for our own good. How do I come to that conclusion? In considering how long eternity is our time our time here on earth is just a blink of an eye. If we store up treasure on earth then we have it for only a short period of time because moth and rust corrupts the treasures we have here on earth and a thief can steal it.

You can’t take your treasure with you, but you can send it on ahead.

When you die your treasure is gone. You’ve spent years storing up your treasures and when you die you have nothing. Here Jesus tells us that you gone use your treasure (ie-money) here on earth to store up treasure in heaven.

If you store up money in stocks, bonds, savings, property, etc. here on earth you are being very short sighted. Corruption will come upon these assets and when you die you will go to hell and be punished or if you are born of the Spirit you will go to heaven, but you will have a very small reward.

There are many different rewards in heaven.

If you are faithful with what God has entrusted to you here on earth in the kingdom age you’ll be given authority over cities. You will be a mayor or maybe even a governor in the kingdom. (Luke 19:7) Paul’s faithfullness to the Lord earned him a crown of righteousness. For those of us who love Christ’s appearing there will be a crown for us also. (2 Timothy 4:8)

Do not limit your deposits to here on earth because banks fail and the FDIC limit is only so much. Make your deposits in heaven where the bank of God never fails and the FDIC is never necessary. The interest rate here on earth is maybe 4% or so, but in heaven the intereset rate is 10,000%! (The hundredfold of Matthew 19:29). You’d be completely unwise to pass up that offer!

Now, to the most revolutionary concept that Jesus brings out. Where your deposit or wealth is there will your heart be also. Your heart or your strongest desire or passion will be in the place where you are putting your money. Of course there is nothing wrong with saving money, building homes, etc. However, where is your deepest passion and desire? What gets you the most charged up? You’ll probably find out that your money is going to that as well.

I’ll use myself as an example. There was a time that all I could think about was backpacking. I wanted to go backpacking every weekend. I studied backpackers and gear and invariably I spent money on it as well. Why? It was because my heart was there and thus followed my wallet.

If your heart is focused on the things of God and eternity then your deposits will follow suit. If your putting your money on the stock market then you’ll think about it all the time and you’ll want to focus on it as much as is possible. So watch where your money goes and you’ll find out where your heart is. For some people you’ll see on your bank statement how often you go out to eat or to the coffee shop. Follow the money stream and you’ll find the heart.

You always hear the statement, “God loves a cheerful giver” and that is correct. However, looking at the previous principle you can see why. If your heart is on the things of God when you give to a missionary and you hear of God converting souls there your heart will be filled with joy.

Recently a minister from South Korea that our church had been giving to came into to town for a short period of time. I tell you what, to hear his testimonies and just to see him gave me such joy and excitement. Giving is such a fun thing to do. Hudson Taylor said, “The less I spend on myself and the more I gave to others, the fuller of happiness and blessing did my sould become.”