Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. NIV
I heard the story of a preacher who was tight-fisted. He doesn’t contribute nor give towards anything in the church. This man died in the 60s but before he died, he had a vision. God took him to heaven in that vision. He saw the magnificent mansions of other believers but when he saw his, he felt bad. His mansion was a far cry compared to what he saw prior to his. The angel told him that they don’t have resources to build a great mansion for him in heaven because they can only use what believers on earth send to build. The preacher demanded to know how he could send resources to build his mansion.
The angel told him he could do that through giving and acts of kindness. Immediately he awoke from the vision, he rushed to the church to meet his parish Pastor to know if there were needs in the church. He told his Pastor that if there were needs in church, he should be informed first before telling the whole church. His orientation changed immediately. How else can we tell believers who hold tightly to earthly things that they are only stewards of those things and that God can demand for it anytime? God is the source of the resources you have and he kept it with you as a trust.
Many a times, we sound possessive about the things God gave us when they aren’t ours in actual fact. We have a treasure bank in heaven, the more we give towards kingdom expansion, the more we credit our treasure bank in heaven. Someday, God will say thank you. We shall receive rewards that are commensurate with our work here on earth and giving is part of it. If we have to imagine what your mansion in heaven, what would it look like? How much of your earthly resources have you sent to the treasure store of heaven for the construction of your mansion in heaven?
father, I receive grace to lay up treasures for myself in heaven. Amen