From Matthew 6:19-24 / Storing up Treasure – There is much to consider in this matter of storing up treasure in Heaven.

In the first place, we see that “do not lay up” and the following “lay up”, are in the imperative. They are not suggestions, but commands of Christ. They deserve high attention. But I wonder how many of us ever actually think this way consciously?

Secondly, note the contrast – earthly treasures, no matter what they are, physical possessions, money of whatever kind, family, reputation, career, accomplishments, the praise of men, some imagined sense of well-being – all will perish. Only what is stored up in Heaven will remain. How that behooves us to consider what that might be.

Thirdly, whatever we value most, is what we love most – no matter what else we might proclaim. Fourth – what we value and love most, will color all of life. This is the lens through which we see everything.

And lastly, no matter what, we can only have one person or thing which claims our supreme devotion. Why? Because God rightly demands it be Him. So it is the specific “treasures” He refers to in vs. 19, are probably the praises of men – outlined in the 3 examples above. It is earthly treasure in EVERY sense. Whatever I consider valuable within this fallen system – not the least of which is recognition by others. The plural “treasures” in 19, then converts to the single “treasure” of 21 with this result:

I must have 1 treasure –

I must know it is not a part of this earthly and material existence –

I must be applying myself to laying that treasure up in Heaven as my primary pursuit.

What then is the treasure which can be increased in Heaven?

Jonathan Edwards would put it like this: For what can we have there but either more or less of Christ? An increased capacity to know, love, revel in and experience Him. And we can have more or less based on our intentional pursuit. To love Him and grow in love for Him now, will result in my having the joy of Him in greater ways then.

What a glory to look forward to. And why?

Let me give it to you in the words of John Flavel I’ve quoted so often before: “  It is a special consideration to enhance the love of God in giving Christ, that in giving him he gave the richest jewel in his cabinet; a mercy of the greatest worth, and most inestimable value, Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ is: He is the better half of heaven; and so the saints account him, Psal. 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” Ten thousand thousand worlds, saith one,* as many worlds as angels can number, and then as a new world of angels can multiply, would not all be the bulk of a balance, to weigh Christ’s excellency, love, and sweetness. O what a fair One! what an only One! what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One, is Christ! Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden of Eden, into one; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colours, all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness in one; O what a fair and excellent thing would that be? And yet it should be less to that fair and dearest well-beloved Christ, than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths. Christ is heaven’s wonder, and earth’s wonder. Now, for God to bestow the mercy of mercies, the most precious thing in heaven or earth, upon poor sinners; and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as his Son was, yet not to account him too good to bestow upon us, what manner of love is this!¹

¹ Flavel, John. The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel. W. Baynes and Son; Waugh and Innes; M. Keene, 1820, pp. 67–68.TM