Get Rich

Matthew 6:19–21 NASB95

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Treasures on Earth

What is storing up treasures on earth?

Does it mean a fat bank account?

Does it mean a big, expensive real estate?

Problem is RELIGION

Our religious mindset, with the help of wrong teachings/interpretations, we think to be saved, means to be poor.

We think we are not allowed to have a comfortable living.

When Jesus told us to carry our cross in Matthew 16:24-26 , He did NOT mean to be poor! He meant to deny the prideful desires of our HEARTS!

Matthew 16:24–26 NASB95

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Fighting against your own pride is the most difficult thing in life. Letting go of your “rights.”

I have friends who are very wealthy. Their wealth is in the billions. Does that mean they are going against Christ’s teachings? Absolutely not!

They were actually able to get rich by following His instructions!

Treasures in Heaven

What is storing treasures in heaven?

Does it mean living a poor, paycheck to paycheck life?

Does it mean living while not knowing where your next meal will come from?

Or maybe it means we all outta be out there somewhere in a third world country sharing the gospel?

Absolutely not!

Then what does all this mean? Treasures in heaven vs. treasures on earth?

First, the straightforward answer is in Matthew 6:21

Matthew 6:21 NASB95

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

It is where your HEART is. That is where your treasure is.

Lets get into a bit of details.

Remember I have always said, THE one thing God is after is your heart.

It’s not bodily sacrifice He is after. Though it is not completely out of the question. He may ask for it from some of you, even me, still.

But the one thing that He is after in ALL of us, is our hearts.

He desires to be your sole supplier of joy, happiness, excitement, fulfillment, etc.

In 2007, the entire world went through a major financial crisis.

Banks were valuing properties at a much higher than its true value. We call this a bubble.

The simple explanation is, homes were valued high, mortgage was given to people who clearly were not able to make the payments due to light to non-existing regulations, people defaulted, resulting in mass foreclosures.

Plus the European economic crisis in the same time period.

My friends were divinely told to sell all their assets in early 2007. This is right before the bubble pop. Meaning, selling at this point would have been a very foolish move.

They listened to the Lord, went against all their advisors and sold all their assets. Made billions of dollars in result.

See in this moment, their joy was not in the fact that they made billions of dollars and they would literally fill swimming pools with cash.

Their joy was in the fact that God was intimately involved in their lives!

Maybe we have future millionaires, no, billionaires sitting in this room! I pray that this is so!

However, do not let earthly possessions be where your heart is.

Why are you pursuing what you’re pursuing?

Maybe it is not about money. Maybe you’re pursuing that because you take great interest in it. You just like it!

Do you not see that that is where your heart is?

Your heart is in whatever you’re pursuing!

So what are we to do?

First is the obvious.

Keep the first commandment. Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.

Second, start asking the Lord about your future. It does not matter whether you’re a senior graduating or a middle school student.

“Lord, I really like doing this…I want to pursue a career in this…what do you think? Would you have me do something else? Or is this okay with you?”

Join in with God in His plan, place your heart, desire into His heart. That is how you store treasures in heaven!

It is not the man-made religiosity where you have to be poor and naked.