Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity – Monday

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor dust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Matthew 6:19-21.

Treasures on earth are extremely perishable and uncertain. Moths corrupt costly garments. Mold and rust destroy palaces. Thieves of all types plan very shrewd and devious ways to get other people’s money and goods.  You, as a Christian, are warned not to lay up, not to seek earthly treasures as your most important treasures; they are temporary; you cannot take them with you when you die.  Jesus spoke the truth when He said: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (v. 21).

If you consider earthly things to be your most valuable treasures, then your heart will be earthly-minded.  However, Jesus instructs you to lay up, to seek heavenly treasures as your most important treasures.  Remember, dear Christian, your life on this earth, is very short and always uncertain. Treasures in heaven are absolutely imperishable and always certain.  Jesus’ “blood” (I John 1:7; I Peter 1:19; Revelation 1:5) and His “righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6), the glorious dress wherein you do and will stand before God, by His grace, now and forever; these are some of the heavenly treasures which are imperishable and completely certain.

Consider also the imperishable treasure of the “many mansions” in heaven, which Jesus has prepared for you, His dear believer.  Listen to what your dear Savior teaches and reteaches you in John 14: “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (vv. 2-3). The mansions in the Father’s house, which Jesus has prepared for you, one of His precious “saints” (I Corinthians 1:2), will stand firm forever; they will never come to an end. The great heavenly treasures which God has imputed and given to you through “the Gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16) — “not imputing their trespasses unto them [not imputing your trespasses to you]” (II Corinthians 5:19); “being justified freely by His [God’s] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24), this justification received and enjoyed in your daily life by saving “faith” (v. 28) in this “good Shepherd,” who gave up “His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

In your temporary life in this world, let these heavenly and everlasting treasures remain your most important treasures, your most important riches.  In Christ Jesus, you do most certainly have those permanent and everlasting treasures, as St. Paul reassures you in II Corinthians 8: “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9).      

PRAYER – Help me to remember that my earthly treasures are only temporary, but that my heavenly treasures, from Thee through Christ Jesus, are permanent, never-changing, and everlasting.  Amen.

My guilt, O Father, Thou hast laid, on Christ, Thy Son, my Savior.  Lord Jesus, Thou my debt hast paid and gained for me God’s favor.

O Holy Ghost, Thou Fount of grace, the good in me to Thee I trace; in faith do Thou preserve me.     (Hymn 375, st. 5; TLH)