Friday 26 May 2017

Treasure in Heaven

Scripture: Mark 10 v 19 - 21:  "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.  And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up thy cross and follow Me."

Matthew 6 v 19 - 21: "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."


Jesus is heard ministering to a rich man who is seeking the path to eternal life.  In this case He saw that this man was bound by his wealth rather than using it to bring people nearer to God.  His wealth was corrupting him.  The 'poor' are those who have not yet been saved.

He had kept the commandments God gave to Moses, i.e. the Law, all his life, but he had no surety in His heart of eternal life.  The Law saves nobody; just being a good person does not qualify you for Heaven.  You must be born again.

In the Old Testament book of Malachi, God says people rob Him in tithes and offerings.  If they would give their tithe of 10 percent of their earnings to Him, He would rebuke the Devourer for them. The Devourer destroys their crops, or their business, or their family, unless God protects them. The tithes go into the storehouse, from which you receive spiritual knowledge.

Malachi 3 v 8 - 11: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
 9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
 10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 
 11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts."

In the New Testament, in Acts 4, the new Christians gave everything they had to the Apostles to further the gospel.  Everything you give to the Lord out of your heart, increases your treasure in Heaven, as well as receiving a hundred fold return here on Earth.  Jesus says where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be.  He wants you to be heavenly minded, because that is in direct opposition to the corrupt, greedy world run by Satan.

The prosperity and wealth of Christians is not measured by the world's standards, which are based in lust for the biggest, best, most expensive, most stylish luxuries.  It is rather based in complete satisfaction with whatever you have.  It is not in your ability to keep up with, or exceed, the Jones's; but to enjoy whatever God has blessed you with, without the need to compete for status or worldly acclaim.

Jesus always knows what you have need of, and will never let you down.  He says I will supply all your needs, and He follows through.  You can depend on His faithfulness and trust His love.

Our God wants us to depend on Him for everything.  Just like a very small child would depend on its parents.  The little child does not worry about family finances or where food will come from.  It does not fear or doubt because it's parents supply all its needs.  If we have treasure in Heaven it guarantees that the Father responds with interest and gives us the same blessings He gave to Abraham.

This is called "living by faith" which greatly pleases the Lord. Luke 6 v 38: "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

2 Corinthians 9 v 7 - 8: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:"

This is how our Father responds when we bless others out of a cheerful and thankful heart!  You are blessed with always having enough to keep meeting those needs.  It's like a river that never runs dry because it comes out of the Throne of God as He multiplies and blesses everything you invest in His Kingdom.

This is not a prosperity doctrine where we name it and claim it or demand the blessings of God.  This is a way of life, sowing and reaping a lifelong harvest based on the quality of what we do in obedience to the Lord in prayer, ministry, faith, giving your time, love, wisdom, money or material gifts to those who have needs.  The Holy Spirit will guide you into what each need requires.

If you want the best of both worlds, you need to follow Jesus with all your heart no matter who objects or what barriers try to block you.  It only matters that you overcome them all and follow the Lord's plan for your life.  Then you will have treasure in Heaven to draw upon forever.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, it is hard for people to comprehend Your power and ability.  I cannot doubt it as You have done so many miracles for me.  I pray that this message strikes a chord in those who want treasure in Heaven, and joy on Earth. In Jesus' name. Amen.