Treasures in Heaven

When we are tempted to invest our faith in things like clothes or cars or cash, Jesus inevitably reminds us that there will also be things like moths and rust and thieves:

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

When we put our faith in that which lasts, our hearts and lives and investments of time, talent, energy and wealth will naturally follow.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Matthew’s gospel has a unique focus on “the kingdom of heaven,” but it is Luke who records that Mary was told that the kingdom would be eternal:

“But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.’ ” ~ Luke 1:30-33 (see also Daniel 2:44; 6:26)

Worship and Giving

It may have been as long as two years after Jesus was born that the seekers of signs in the stars found Him (see Matthew 2:16 ), but when they did find Him, they worshiped Him and gave Him gifts – including gold that may have helped finance the escape to Egypt to save His life from Herod:

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ~ Matthew 2:11

Bowing down in worship and giving gifts to God have always been closely associated in scripture and in the hearts of those who seek Him then and now. We worship and give in faith that He will use our gifts – however great or small – to achieve His purposes among us.