When I was a high school senior, the one thing that you didn’t want to receive was “the empty box.” The empty box was given to those students who were seniors but had not met all the requirements to graduate. They were allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony, wear a robe, and even march in with all the graduates. I
n every way, they looked like all the other graduates. Their name was called. They walked across the stage. They were even handed a diploma case. The difference was their case had no diploma in it. The box was empty. Even though everything else looked the same, they ended up with no reward.
When Jesus talks about storing up treasures in heaven, I believe he makes a similar case. As we approach this topic of storing up treasures in heaven, I want you to think about what will happen when you stand before the Lord. Will a reward be waiting for you, or will you get an empty box?
Where Does the Bible Tell Us to Store Up Treasures in Heaven?
In the middle of the sermon on the mount, Jesus turns his attention to treasure and its place in your heart.
“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.” (Matthew 6:19-20)
When I read this passage, the first question that comes to mind is, “what is treasure?” One way to define treasure is the things you value that capture the affections of your heart. Since Jesus matches your affections to what is in your heart, how do you measure what your heart is drawn to? The answer is simple. Look at how you spend your time and how you spend your money. Here is another way I like to phrase this. You will find your heart at the intersection of your time and your money. Once you come to this intersection and understand the things you value, you can determine whether you are trying to store up treasures on earth or in heaven.
What Are the Treasures in Heaven?
Since Jesus contrasts with the treasures of earth and heaven, it makes sense to define the treasures of heaven. One of the biggest differences between the treasures on earth and the treasures in heaven is the former is temporary, and the latter is eternal. The treasures in heaven don’t rust or decay.
They can never be taken away from you. In thinking about these treasures, I want you to consider the treasures of heaven by thinking about the things God values. For this article’s purposes, let’s divide these values into two categories: treasures of character and treasures of work.
1. Treasures of Character. Treasures of character include the way you live before God and the way you live before men, especially how you treat them. Heaven values holiness, righteousness, honesty, humility, sacrifice, mercy, justice, and other similar qualities.
In Matthew 22, Jesus says the two greatest commandments are to love God with all your heart, mind, and soul and to love your neighbor as yourself. These are treasures of character that God places high value on. Treasures of character are important because they become the foundation of who you are and lead to the next category.
2. Treasures of Work. Treasures of work are not just about what you do but the attitude you do it with. Many people are doing good works, possibly even for the kingdom, but for the wrong reasons. That’s why your character matters: lack of character can nullify your work.
In this same sermon on the mount, Jesus talks about people who do things for the wrong reasons.
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)
As followers of Christ, we are all called to do good works which God has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). However, some people are working for the applause of men—which could mean recognition, fame, or even fortune (all treasures of earth).
The tragedy for such people is that they wanted to be seen, were seen, and received their full reward. There is no further reward waiting for them. When you compare this to eternal reward, you soon recognize how fleeting and empty it is to seek after the treasures of earth.
The works that God values are the ones that are done with the right heart and right attitude. This attitude focuses on doing God’s work for his glory, seeking to build his kingdom rather than your own. You must ask God to search your heart regularly and check your motives consistently to ensure they are pure.
The goal is to move past doing things because people see you. Instead, you aim to do things for God’s eyes only. This doesn’t mean people won’t notice, but that won’t matter because that is not your motivation. When you do this, you are moving toward storing up treasures in heaven.
Do Treasures in Heaven Mean We Are Not Saved by Faith?
It is important to note when you store up treasures in heaven, you are not attempting to earn your salvation. The treasures flow out of your salvation. Let me take you to one of my favorite verses in the Bible, which I referenced earlier.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
All I want you to do is pay attention to the progression. Before you can get to the good things God has planned for you to do, you must first be created anew in Christ Jesus. This means your salvation must come before your service. Doing it any other way earns no reward.
To work for the kingdom, you must first become part of the kingdom, which only comes through your faith in Jesus Christ to save you. Once you have settled your eternal destination, you can start earning eternal rewards and storing treasures in heaven.
How Do We Start Storing Up Treasures in Heaven?
There is only one way to store up treasures in heaven. You must be the person God has called you to be, do the things God has called you to do, and do them with the right heart, motivation, and attitude. Here is an interesting aspect to all this.
People can see the things you do, but no one can see the heart you do them with. Only God sees your heart. That’s why in all honesty, you don’t know if a person is storing up treasures in heaven or if they have received their reward in full here on earth.
I will leave you with this final thought. Storing up treasures in heaven is not just about doing it is also about being. Consider these words from Corinthians.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
This passage speaks to character, but I want you to focus on two phrases. I am nothing. I gain nothing. Repeatedly Scripture tells us God is not just interested in what you do. He is interested in the heart you bring to what you do. In other words, why you do is just as important as what you do.
I want to encourage you to do the right things, for the right reasons, for God’s glory and not your own, for building his eternal kingdom and not your temporary one. When your heart shifts in this direction, you will begin to store up treasures in heaven, and you won’t get an empty box when you stand before the Lord.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Eshma
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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