Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
This passage of scripture tells us where the majority of our efforts and energies are to be spent, in building up the kingdom of God, whenever and wherever we can. These verses do not mean that the Christian will not be diligent in business, or that he would not save for the rainy day and retirement, for all of these activities are condoned by the word of God. However, the zeal and enthusiasm displayed in obtaining the material things of this life, when compared to the feeble efforts put forth to save those who are lost, shows that in many cases our priorities are mixed up, and are in dire need of re-adjustment. This was the problem that the rich man in the parable of Luke chapter 12 experienced, and because it was not properly addressed, it ultimately cost him everything, including eternal life. Let's read:
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
The rich man's business acumen was rewarded with great success, even though he did not even credit God with his achievements and possessions, and instead of seeking to help those who were less fortunate, he selfishly hoarded everything he could put his hands on so that he could retire in ease. Whenever the acquirement of wealth becomes all-absorbing, to the point where we become tone-deaf to needs of others, or we become indifferent to the cause of God upon the earth, then we may be certain that our priorities are in reverse order, and we should then urgently seek God to bring about the right balance in our thinking and actions.
In our day there seems to be a feverish rush to become wealthy, in so much that every morning at the opening bell, the stock market erupts in applause over the prospects of pecuniary gain. If the same energy and enthusiasm was manifested in reaching the lost and feeding the hungry, Christ may have come many years ago, but the concentrated efforts to become rich at almost any cost, keeps driving many people into a frenzy that is sure to take its toll in this life and hereafter.
God is now calling on us to re-evaluate our priorities by putting the interests of His kingdom first and if we do, the promise is given that all the other necessities of life will be added. Let's read:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
May we begin to lay up treasure in heaven, for where our treasures are, there will our hearts be also. "Good night" and God bless!