Treasures in Heaven – 2

24“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Do store up = θησαυρίζω thēsaurizō 8x = from thēsaurós (2344), treasure. To lay, store or treasure up goods for future use.

Treasures = θησαυρός thēsauros = treasure (wealth): accumulated wealth in the form of money, jewels, or other valuables.

Store up (θησαυρίζω thēsaurizō) appears eight times is Scripture.

Five of the occurrences are warnings.

Three are instructions about financial stewardship.

One of the three carries a condemnatory tone but describes a completed action rather than a warning against future behavior.

Matthew 6:19-20 are the first two instances of thēsau-rizō. The rest of the occurrences appear in the following Scriptures.

Luke 12:21 (NIV84)

21“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

The rich fool who stored up things for himself but was not rich toward God.

Romans 2:5 (NIV84)

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

Thēsaurizō (you are storing up) here refers to storing something up for future judgment.

2 Peter 3:7 (NIV84)

7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Thēsaurizō (reserved) describes how the present heavens and earth are “being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

1 Corinthians 16:2 (NIV84)

2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Saving it up = θησαυρίζω thēsaurizō = store it up, esv; emphasizes a positive instructions about financial stewardship for the collection.

Should set aside = τίθημι tithēmi = to put or place in a particular location.

Looking at the Greek word, one may assume that this word is related to tithing. It is not related to tithing.

The word for tithing in Greek is δέκατος (dekatos) or related forms like δεκατόω (dekatoō), which derive from the concept of “one-tenth.”

Tithēmi, by contrast, is a general verb of placement and positioning with no inherent connection to the tithe or any fraction of wealth.

2 Corinthians 12:14 (NIV84)

14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Thēsaurizō here refers to parental responsibility rather than issuing a warning.

James 5:3 (NIV84)

3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Thēsaurizō here condemns the hoarding of wealth, which is “the godless, selfish accumulation of goods—heaping up possessions and savings beyond the ability to enjoy or spend them.”

Th majority of these instances underscore a consistent concern about misplaced priorities.

As we go through each these occurrences in more detail, let’s ask ourselves,

“What are we storing up for our future?”

“Where are we storing up those things?”

These verses stress where the valuable treasure is being stored. Stop treating earth as your storehouse.

When you place your valuables in an unsafe storage facility, you can incur moths, rust, and thieves.

The only safe storage is in heaven.

Last week, we looked in the usages of thēsaurizō in Luke 12:21 and James 5:3.

We’ll now look at some of the other usages of this word in the New Testament.

“Concerning the Collection”

1 Corinthians 16:1–4 (NIV84)

1Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.

2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

3Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.

4If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

We touched on this last week. Let’s look into it with more detail.

Collection = λογεία logeia 2x (only here and verse 2) = the act of collecting contributions, especially those involving voluntary response.

Every Sunday each believer (v. 2) was privately to set aside and store up some money in proportion to the income of the previous week, so that collections would not be needed after Paul arrived.

This giving should be an act of free will, a noncompulsory sharing of one’s material possessions with no stipulated amount.

“Do what I told the Galatian churches to do.” The Galatian churches as well as the Macedonian (Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea) churches were involved in the relief gift. There is no direct reference to such instructions in the authorized letter of Galatians.

But the book of Acts indicates that “Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia” on Paul’s second missionary journey before they visited Macedonia (Acts 16:1–10). This part of Paul’s ministry, then, would have preceded his first visit to Corinth (Acts 18:1).

The Corinthians were to follow the same instructions for the project that Paul had already given to the Galatians and the Macedonians.

On Sunday, “the first day of every week,” every person should “set aside a sum of money in keeping with [his or her] income” (1 Cor 16:2). Each person was to reserve an amount of money that was appropriate and then present it as a form of worship on Sunday.

The amount of money per person was not specified, nor was an amount demanded (as the tithe is often construed).

In keeping with your income. This is an amount to be set aside in reserve and given in proportion to a person’s revenue. They were not to give so much that they put their own economic situation in jeopardy (2 Cor 8:13), but to give generously as evidence of God’s rich grace in their lives (8:9) and according to their ability to do so.

2 Corinthians 8:1–15 (NIV84)

1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:2 (AMP)

2 For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.

Generosity = ἁπλότης haplotēs = sincerity: the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech (the absence of affectation or pretense).

Of simple goodness, which gives itself without reserve, without strings attached, without hidden agendas. (No expectation of return whatsoever.)

2Co 8:3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

Although the Macedonian churches were experiencing extreme poverty, they begged (implored) Paul again and again to be allowed the privilege of sharing in this service on behalf of the fund to aid the Jerusalem church in its poverty.

Their extreme poverty was most likely due to social ostracism and harassment on account of their new faith; the poverty was largely “a Christian phenomenon.”101; (Due to persecution)

5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

They put themselves in God’s hands, surrendering themselves to him to be used as he was pleased to do.

Once they had given themselves to the Lord, it was clear that all they possessed was also his, so giving themselves to Paul’s mission became simply the practical expression of having first given themselves to the Lord.

But what keeps us from giving sacrificially, eagerly, and wholeheartedly to the Lord?

John Calvin: For what makes us more close-handed than we ought to be is:

When we look too carefully, and too far forward, in contemplating the dangers that may occur;

When we are excessively cautious and careful;

When we calculate too narrowly what we will require during our whole life, or, in fine,

How much we lose when the smallest portion is taken away.

Basically, we start thinking like all the other people in the world who do not know that they have a Father in heaven who loves them and has promised to take care of them.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (AMP)

4 He who observes the wind [and waits for all conditions to be favorable] will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Excessive caution can prevent action.

2Co 8:6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Grace = The Manifested Presence of God

The manifested presence of God, expressed through His grace, was evident in the Corinthians’ faith, speech, knowledge, and in their complete earnestness and love for the apostles.

They were being urged to allow that same excellence of God’s grace be displayed in the way that they gave.

8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

Sincerity = γνήσιος gnēsios = the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech (the absence of affectation or pretense).

Giving is a natural response of love.

The love of the Macedonian believers for the Lord, and for others, sparked their generosity.

They proved their love by their sacrificial giving.

Paul urged the Corinthians to follow their example and prove the sincerity, authenticity, or genuineness of their love, by finishing what they started to do in giving to the believers in Jerusalem.

By their giving, they would demonstrate their faith, trust in the Lord, and the sincerity of their love.

They would reveal what was really going on in their hearts.

Romans 12:9-21 (NIV84)

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Sincere = ἀνυπόκριτος anypokritos = to being without pretense, genuine, sincere, lit. ‘without play-acting’

Unhypocritical: not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed.

How can we show sincere love? Look at following verses.

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2Co 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Rich = πλούσιος plousios = rich in glory, dignity, bliss, etc.

Of the preexistent Christ for your sake he became penniless, though he was rich (here the emphasis on wealth vs. poverty relates esp. to status.)

Misuse: The verse is taken to mean that Jesus became materially poor so believers could become financially wealthy.

Misuse: Some interpret the verse to mean that Christians should embrace poverty as a sign of being spiritually superior.

Paul was speaking about spiritual prosperity, not financial prosperity.

This fits both the immediate context in 2 Corinthians and the broader context of Paul’s other writings.

If financial prosperity was provided for in the atonement, one must wonder why Paul informed the Philippian Christians that he had learned to be content even when going hungry (Phil. 4:11–12).

One would think he would have instead claimed the prosperity promised in the atonement to meet his every need.

2Co 8:10And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.

11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

They are to give from what they have. They are not to go out and borrow money in order to give. [This means don’t add to your credit card balance.] It isn’t a matter of amount. If the enthusiasm is present, then the gift is acceptable.

The standard by which God would judge their contribution would be how much they gave in relation to how much they had; not simply how much they gave. God does not expect us to give what we do not have.

Don’t worry about giving what you don’t have. Just do what you can.

2Co 8:13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality,

15as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

V. 13, Paul was not trying to make everyone economically equal. He wasn’t pushing a system where the rich become poor and the poor become rich. Instead, Paul promoted a balance, where those who have more than they need willingly help those who don’t have enough.

Equality isn’t about everyone having the same amount; it’s about no one being overlooked.

Christian generosity isn’t driven by guilt or policy, but by love and trust that God provides enough for all of us when we share what He’s given.

These verses were not promoting socialism.

V. 14, At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Needs are to be met out of a person’s surplus; not out of one’s necessary income (which one needs for life’s basic necessities).

The Macedonian churches, in giving out of their poverty, were the exception rather than the rule. The norm is the Corinthians’ plenty supplying what the Judean churches need, so that in turn their plenty can supply what [the Corinthians] need.

2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (AMP)

6[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

7Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].

8And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

Selah.

What are some other things that people store up besides wealth?

Next Week!!! (The Lord willing)

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