Posted on 08/27/2025 3:56:19 AM PDT by ViLaLuz
Jesus told us to “store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:20). He linked this command to the desire of our hearts: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21; see also verses 10–20). ...
(Excerpt) Read more at gotquestions.org ...
We are to treasure the Lord Jesus most of all. When Jesus is our treasure, we will commit our resources—our money, our time, our talents—to His work in this world. Our motivation for what we do is important (1 Corinthians 10:31). Paul encourages servants that God has an eternal reward for those who are motivated to serve Christ: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23–24).
When we live sacrificially for Jesus’ sake or serve Him by serving the body of Christ, we store up treasure in heaven. Even seemingly small acts of service do not go unnoticed by God. “If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42).
Everyone, but especially those with more visible gifts such as teaching, singing, or playing a musical instrument, might be tempted to use their gift for their own glory. Another temptation they face is finding their identity in others’ acknowledgment of their gift. Those who use their talents or spiritual gifts coveting the praise of men rather than seeking God’s glory receive their “payment” in full here and now. The applause of men was the extent of the Pharisees’ reward (Matthew 6:16). Why should we work for worldly plaudits, however, when we can have so much more in heaven?
The Lord will be faithful to reward us for the service we give Him (Hebrews 6:10). Our ministries may differ, but the Lord we serve is the same. “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8).
The rich young man loved his money more than God, a fact that Jesus incisively pointed out (Matthew 19:16–30). The issue wasn’t that the young man was rich but that he “treasured” his riches and did not “treasure” what he could have in Christ. Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor, “and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21). The young man left Jesus sad, because he was very rich. He chose this world’s treasure and so did not lay up treasure in heaven. He was unwilling to make Jesus his treasure. The young man was religious, but Jesus exposed his heart of greed.
We are warned not to lose our full reward by following after false teachers (2 John 1:8). It is important to be like the Bereans, who “examined the Scriptures every day” to check what Paul was teaching (Acts 17:11). In studying God’s Word, we can know the truth and better recognize falsehood.
The treasures that await the child of God will far outweigh any trouble, inconvenience, or persecution we may face (Romans 8:18). We can serve the Lord wholeheartedly, knowing that God is the One keeping score, and His reward will be abundantly gracious. “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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There’s a video on the topic at the link as well.
Good morning!!
Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing me safely through the night and for waking me up to a new day. May I honor You today in all I say and do. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Ephesians 2:8-9, works don’t save us, but salvation produces works that glorify God.
Amen!!
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
(But..if you wanna boast, do like Paul and boast of what Christ has done!!)
Awesome post and very timely fir me as a reminder!
Blessings!
Matthew 6:20 was dealing with people to whom this dispensation and were waiting for the King to restore the Davidic Kingdom in their lifetime.
The urgency of their day was the preaching of the Davidic Kingdom, that it was "at hand" ---- could be touched, for the King of the that Kingdom was present with them, Jesus Christ the Son of Man.
To put riches in heaven, they had to literally give up all earthly possessions and follow Jesus Christ as the King of Israel ready to take David's throne. EVERYTHING . . . surrender EVERYTHING.
They would have it restored later, after Daniel's 70th Week, and after the resurrection of the Old Testament saints and the destruction of Israel's enemies, and upon the King sitting on David's throne in Jerusalem.
The question was asked of Matthew 6. The answer is given in the whole of Matthew 10, and Matthew 19:16-30 (rarely read and believed all together as one context) which are of much closer context than the Pauline epistles.
. . . to whom this dispensation was not revealed . . .
I’m going to think about this post of yours today as I go about my business. Thank you.
Like they say: If I can’t take it with me, I don’t want to go.
I don’t have any special talents; I simply help others when I can. If someone needs a ride, I’m there for them. I have also bought groceries for people in need. Interestingly, the last time I did this, I received a $400 gift the very next day, and that evening, someone treated me to pizza. The waitress wouldn’t tell me who paid for it.
Our prayers are stored in vials in heaven.
Amen. But it is quite obvious from simple observation that most Christians in this world--those who would sincerely consider themselves saved--are not automatic works machines by virtue of that salvation. Can that person be saved if he does not perform the good works or deeds that God sets in his path before him to do? Scripture indeed speaks of our good works glorifying God, but it also speaks to Christians as to salvation being contingent on their works. Here are are just a few, which could be multiplied:
Matthew 25:41-46:
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ 46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
John 5:28-29:
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
Romans 2:6-11:
6 For he will render to every man according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
1 Corinthians 3:13:
Each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
2 Corinthians 5:10:
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.
James 2:14-17:
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
1 Peter 1:17:
And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.
Revelation 20:11-13:
11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.
And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done.
Revelation 22:12:
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done.
Wonderful Roman_War_Criminal! Thank you! God bless you too.
That is interesting. Thanks for sharing the context.
Your welcome reasonisfaith. It’s a good reminder to focus on the important things of life that really matter. God bless you!
LOL!
There would be very many vials! I’ve also read that God keeps our tears.
Thanks for sharing the Word. When one is saved by faith in Jesus Christ the good fruit follows. We’ll be rewarded for our good works in the afterlife.
That’s right, because as these verses show, the faith that leads to salvation is not simply a matter of professing an intellectual or emotional faith in God and his promises, but also includes playing our part to obey his commandments and performing the good works that he gives us to do. To do otherwise is to disobey him which is sin, and as Paul tells us the wages of sin are death. Of course, no amount of good works will save us if they are performed outside of God’s grace. Jesus is not only our Savior who saves us, he is also the Lord that requires our cooperation with his grace. God also will crown our merits as extra reward for our faithfulness in “striving for holiness without which no one will see God” and ‘outdoing each other in charity”, but even in doing this comes from his grace to complete even this.
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