Treasure in Heaven by Bible Student

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 15, 1857

Treasure in Heaven.

By Bible Student

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break thro' and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is there will your hearts be also." Matt. vi, 19-21. This is the language of Him who came down from heaven; and if we ever enter there we must obey his words, for by them we shall be judged in the last day. I am aware that in presenting the plain truths of God's word upon this subject I may wound the feelings of some; but I act from a sense of duty, and to such I would say that the time has come when instead of being hurt by the truth we should live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

What are we to understand by not laying up for ourselves treasures upon earth? Not that we should idle away our time or squander our means. O no, for we should not be slothful in business, but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality. What then? Why, if we lay up treasure upon earth at all it should be for God, to be used for his glory, just as he has directed in his word. Are you still at a loss what to do? "Learn of me," says the meek and lowly One. He commands you to love one another, as he has loved you, and added that "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."

That he means just as he says is plain, for John says we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. All that a man hath will he give for his life, hence if he is ready to do this he will not withhold aught that he possesses, but will feel the truth of the saying, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He will not turn away sorrowful when called to sacrifice, but will rejoice that he has a chance to use some of his Lord's money as will be well pleasing in his sight.

Doubtless many are ready to say that they are keeping all of the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus. Perhaps you are not more sure than was the young man who inquired the way to eternal life. He says, "I have kept the commandments from my youth up; what lack I yet?" "If thou wilt be perfect," saith the Son of God, "go sell that thou hast (and put it to interest? O no,) and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven." Here was a test which undeceived him, and I fear a similar one would undeceive many now. Although he thought he had kept the commandments, he had not from the heart, neither was he willing to keep them. His treasure was on the earth instead of in heaven. He like others was self-deceived. Christ says, "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity." We know by the fruit, God knows by the heart, and if we serve him from the heart we shall bring forth much fruit to his glory.

We have seen by what passed between Jesus and the young man what it is to have treasure on earth, and its effects, for Christ says a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven; also how to lay up treasure in heaven.

I would now call your especial attention to Christ's description of the events to take place when he shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, as recorded in Matt. xxv, 31-46. Read it with care, meditate upon it in the fear of God and in view of eternity, for the time is at hand. Here are two classes brought to view; one, it seems, had that deep-rooted piety which led them to do good without being proud of it or even seeming to know what they had done. To such the King says, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me drink, I was a stranger and ye took me in, naked and ye clothed me, sick and ye visited me, I was in prison and ye came unto me."

Dear reader, will these blessed words be addressed to you? Will the lovely Saviour welcome you to the kingdom prepared for the righteous? or will yours be the sentence, "Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels? For (or because) I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat, I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink, naked and ye clothed me not, sick and in prison and ye visited me not." It will be in vain for you to ask when you saw your Saviour thus; you know that inasmuch as you do it, or neglect to do it to the least of his brethren it is to him. And now to you who profess to be keeping all of the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus, let me say, to you these Bible truths apply in full force; and if you, instead of obeying them lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, you will be left without excuse. There can be no excuse for those who believe that the end of all things is at hand, and have made the high and holy profession that you have, for laying up treasure here. What do you, what can you, I ask, want of treasure here? Do you believe what you have been for years proclaiming to the world that this earth with the works therein shall be burned up? Then show your faith by your works, cease to contradict your profession by your daily walk and deal, not only with the world, but with even your poorer brethren and sisters. Cease thus to dishonor the cause you profess to love, cease to lay up what God commanded to distribute, cease to say that you love God while you are breaking his commandments.

I have presented a few of the commandments of the Son of God; if you love him you will keep them, for he says, if any man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him. Now in conclusion let me say that wherever the happy saint is found in whose heart the Father and the Son make their abode, he will not be laying up treasure on earth, but in heaven, by keeping all of the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.