What's the Treasure?

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

(Matthew 6:20 NIV)

Gold coins and chains, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires—that’s what I think of when treasure is mentioned. But when I read about treasure in the Bible, there’s a disconnect. I can’t imagine that Jesus means gold and gemstones. There’s talk of crowns and riches in some scriptures, but somehow riches don’t seem important to our Lord.

Sometimes Bible verses bug me. What’s the treasure this verse mentions? How do you store up something in heaven? How can anything I do now affect eternity? I checked a commentary.

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-6/ iii. Our material treasures will not pass from this life to the next; but the good that has been done for the kingdom of God through the use of our treasures lasts for eternity, and the work God does in us through faithful giving will last for eternity.

I know we’re created for good works, but I do them because I love, not for rewards. The idea of treasure in heaven kept popping up in my life and troubled me. The wonderful thing about the Bible is that I know the author, so I asked him about this verse. 

“Lord, I’ve never known you to be materialistic. What’s the treasure in heaven that you want me to store up?”

And like many times, I heard another question in my spirit.

“Sue, what is the only entity in this world that you know for sure will be in heaven besides me?”

I had to think. “Is it people, Lord?”

“Yes! People are the treasure. Think about eternity. Who do you want to be there with us? Pray for them. Love them so well, that they will want to know me too. Answer their questions; I’ll be there to help you. That’s how we store up real treasure.”

What a shift in my eternal perspective! God treasures and loves

 people. Together, I pray we will fill heaven with every precious person we meet.

Susan Boltz

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(Matthew 6:21 NIV)