The Greatest Investment

Matthew 6:19-21

‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’

A number of years ago the author Stephen King was involved in a terrible car accident. He found himself lying in a ditch alone at the side of the road. 

Writing of that day he said:

‘I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you’re lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair, no one accepts MasterCard. We come in to this world naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we’re just as broke... All you have is on loan. All that lasts is what you pass on.’

Stephen King as far as I’m aware is no follower of Christ, but here he captures so much of Jesus’ teaching on money. The best use of money is to give it away. In doing so we invest in people and communities. Jesus also teaches us that, as we give, we invest in eternity and literally store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

We can’t take our bank savings into heaven with us. But every penny we give today goes on ahead of us into eternity to build up treasures and blessings! When we give as an offering of worship to the church, when we give towards initiatives like Love Your Neighbour ... we are releasing God’s Kingdom here on earth, and at the same time we are investing in our eternal future.

As Corrie Ten Boom writes, ‘I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.’ 

Prayer – Lord release generosity in my heart. Envision and equip me to be effective in giving in such a way that I store up treasures in heaven.