True Treasure

When Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,” He focused on the ruling elite in Jerusalem who regarded wealth as the indication of divine blessing. This concept was based on what Moses said, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18). However, what they failed to reckon was that personal wealth was a blessing of covenant faithfulness, the true indicator of divine favor. 

Covetous or ill-gotten wealth is not covered in this covenant blessing. The Jews of Jesus' day were largely guilty, for they "devoured widows’ houses" (Luke 20:47). When Jesus taught, "You cannot serve God and money," "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts'" (Luke 16:13–15).

Solomon wisely observed, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income. . . . There is a grievous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt” (Ecclesiastes 5:10, 13). Yet, Solomon also observed that “God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God” (5:19). Interestingly, he closed with “For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart” (5:20). What did Solomon mean by this?

Neither wealth nor poverty is at issue. Neither did the Lord suggest that one’s concern should be only where his wealth was secured—on earth where it is in danger of loss, or in heaven where it is safe. The issue is actually what one makes the joy of his heart. What or who does one truly treasure?

The rich young ruler recognized that his wealth did not give him this joy or sense of security regarding his eternal life. What many readers miss is that Jesus did not condemn the man’s wealth. The problem for rich people is that they tend to look to their riches as the means of their personal fulfillment. It was not his riches that kept the young ruler from eternal life but his love of money. When Jesus asked him to sell all, give to poor, and follow Him, He revealed his heart—what he trusted and loved most. He walked away sorrowful because he could not surrender what he loved. His wealth, not Jesus, was his true treasure.

Unlike the young ruler, Paul said, “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7, 8). In Paul’s case, he treasured his accomplish-ments and privileges in the Jew’s religion. However, when he found Christ, he counted all else as refuse.

In Matthew 13 Jesus illustrated the kingdom treasure that awaited His people: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Matthew 13:44). What makes the kingdom is Jesus. Are we willing to leave all for what truly satisfies—Jesus and the kingdom of heaven?