A treasure is something we generally place a greater value on than other items in our possession, usually, but not always, its value is greater to the individual than to others. They are not the pirate’s chest of old that were buried on islands, saved hopefully for future use, but can be as simple as a photograph, an heirloom handed down through the family line. Perhaps it is a family member, or other individual that is of significant value to you, more than likely for many it is of course money, for in this world we equate the word treasure with materialistic wealth, the shiny gems and jewels, the gold and silver, the paper we have all agreed on that has an assured value.
Not one of these are the treasures that are spoken of in the Scriptures, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matt. 6:20) Not one item you believe you possess here on this earth, no matter the intent of your emotional attachment to it is, is coming to heaven with you. That one individual that is the closest to you may be in heaven, but they are not your treasure, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze. 18:4) So then, what is your real treasure, exactly what are we supposed to be laying up in heaven?
Our rewards may in part be our treasure, there are at least five crowns that we are to be striving for, crowns that not all will receive, for they must be sought after diligently, they must be earned, not one will be awarded to any who have not pursued them. When Abraham was speaking with the Lord after the battle of the Five Kings, (Gen. 14) the Lord said to him, “I am thy exceedingly great reward,” (Gen. 15:1) and so, as you should have understood from the beginning, long before in fact you began to read this letter, Jesus Christ is our greatest reward, He is our treasure, He is the prize. (Phil. 3:14) So then, how do we lay up this treasure, what must we do to inherit the kingdom and all that Almighty God has prepared for those that love Him. Faith. “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
The treasures that await us are only accessible by faith, the works we allow the Holy Spirit to accomplish through us by the power of God. If indeed you have been crucified with Christ, (Gal. 2:20) if your life is hid in Christ, (Col. 3:3) then all that is done is done through you, our free will is negated when we give our lives to the Lord, it is His will that is done, not ours. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18) “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) “There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt. 19:17)
These verses and many more like them inform us that all we attempt to do for Christ on our own merits, through our own desires, are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) The treasure that we are laying up in heaven is only waiting for us if we allow the Lord to use us here, one cannot lay up what one has not been given. If you are not profitable to the kingdom of God here, exactly what profit do you believe you will be there, if there are no fruits of the Spirit of God visible in your life on this earth, why do you believe they would be visible there, how can one lay up treasure he has not received. The works of God are done through us, not by us, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) But only the willing are used.
God does not tempt us with anything, whether it be evil or good, He offers all, we simply need to submit and accept His will. He forces His will upon none in this area, submissive servants are profitable, unwilling, stiff-necked servants are not. Those who are allowing the Lord to direct their steps are laying up for themselves treasures in heaven, those who have applied and live by Proverbs 3:5-6 are those who have treasures awaiting them in the kingdom, and only those who have submitted totally by their own free will that will to the Father for His glory will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23) As the shirt that my beautiful wife purchased for me says, “God does not choose the qualified, He qualifies the chosen.” But you must let go, you must give Him the entirety of your life, no matter how He has determined to call you, for “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14)
Not one of these are the treasures that are spoken of in the Scriptures, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.” (Matt. 6:20) Not one item you believe you possess here on this earth, no matter the intent of your emotional attachment to it is, is coming to heaven with you. That one individual that is the closest to you may be in heaven, but they are not your treasure, “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze. 18:4) So then, what is your real treasure, exactly what are we supposed to be laying up in heaven?
Our rewards may in part be our treasure, there are at least five crowns that we are to be striving for, crowns that not all will receive, for they must be sought after diligently, they must be earned, not one will be awarded to any who have not pursued them. When Abraham was speaking with the Lord after the battle of the Five Kings, (Gen. 14) the Lord said to him, “I am thy exceedingly great reward,” (Gen. 15:1) and so, as you should have understood from the beginning, long before in fact you began to read this letter, Jesus Christ is our greatest reward, He is our treasure, He is the prize. (Phil. 3:14) So then, how do we lay up this treasure, what must we do to inherit the kingdom and all that Almighty God has prepared for those that love Him. Faith. “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)
The treasures that await us are only accessible by faith, the works we allow the Holy Spirit to accomplish through us by the power of God. If indeed you have been crucified with Christ, (Gal. 2:20) if your life is hid in Christ, (Col. 3:3) then all that is done is done through you, our free will is negated when we give our lives to the Lord, it is His will that is done, not ours. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” (Romans 7:18) “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) “There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matt. 19:17)
These verses and many more like them inform us that all we attempt to do for Christ on our own merits, through our own desires, are like filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) The treasure that we are laying up in heaven is only waiting for us if we allow the Lord to use us here, one cannot lay up what one has not been given. If you are not profitable to the kingdom of God here, exactly what profit do you believe you will be there, if there are no fruits of the Spirit of God visible in your life on this earth, why do you believe they would be visible there, how can one lay up treasure he has not received. The works of God are done through us, not by us, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) But only the willing are used.
God does not tempt us with anything, whether it be evil or good, He offers all, we simply need to submit and accept His will. He forces His will upon none in this area, submissive servants are profitable, unwilling, stiff-necked servants are not. Those who are allowing the Lord to direct their steps are laying up for themselves treasures in heaven, those who have applied and live by Proverbs 3:5-6 are those who have treasures awaiting them in the kingdom, and only those who have submitted totally by their own free will that will to the Father for His glory will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23) As the shirt that my beautiful wife purchased for me says, “God does not choose the qualified, He qualifies the chosen.” But you must let go, you must give Him the entirety of your life, no matter how He has determined to call you, for “Many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14)
