Treasure Principle

“The Treasure Principle”
Scripture – Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

    Jesus wants us to invest in treasure that will last. Warning us about the futility of collecting treasures on earth, he encourages us to discover the joy of collecting treasure in heaven. By investing in eternity while we are still on the earth, we live the truth of the “Treasure Principle” – You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead!

    There are six biblical keys that will help us understand and live this treasure principle in our daily lives. But, before getting into the six principles, I want to talk a little more about “treasure”.
Scripture – Matthew 13:44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
     This parable of hidden treasure is just another of the many references Jesus made to money and posses-sions. In fact, He spoke more about this subject than all of his combined teachings on heaven and hell. While we may try to divorce our faith from our finances, God sees them as inseparable. Let’s look at Luke 3:9 – “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” ( What was John taking about? Giving. ) Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” John told them they must “produce fruit consistent with repentance”...and when they asked what they should do… John replies with things concerning money and possessions.
    God’s Word never changes, and what was required then “in keeping with repentance” is still required today. This is why Jesus said “You cannot serve two masters”. This is why we were given the principle of “sowing and reaping”…and giving and receiving generously, “for whatever measure you give it shall be given unto you”.
    The man in the treasure story made short term sacrifices in order to obtain a long term reward. It says that “in his JOY” he sold his possessions and bought the field. He was trading lesser treasure for greater treasure.
    In our first scripture, Jesus says “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Are earthly treasures bad? No, Earthly treasures just don’t last!  “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead”.
    When Jesus warned not to collect treasure on earth, it was not because it might be lost…it’s because it will always be lost. It will either leave us while we live, or it will leave us when we die. No exceptions.
1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Only three kinds of treasure will last; A person – Jesus… A place – Heaven... and Eternal Rewards. 

Treasure Principle – “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead”. This means that anything we try to hang on to here will eventually be lost, but anything we put into God’s hands will be ours for eternity. The money God entrusts to us, that which we have today – no matter how much or how little we may think it is – it is  E.I.C. “Eternal Investment Capital” and everyday we have opportunity to buy shares in God’s Kingdom.

I will get to the six keys of the treasure principle tomorrow.