Matthew 6:19-21 

 ‘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 rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

• DAILY READING – Revelation 1; Nehemiah 1-2; Psalm 96

Ancient Egyptians believed in an afterlife. As a result of this, wealthy people prepared for their death, by  assembling items for a luxurious second life. Pharaohs ordered builders to construct elaborate burial chambers stocked with food, furniture and favorite items, including pets for comfort and servants that will serve them in the afterlife. The servants and the pets were all executed to join the king in his next life. Treasures buried with the ancient Egyptian kings included valuables owned during their lifetime, and new items made to demonstrate their high social and political position to the people in the afterlife. Some rulers included items such as silver boats, to carry them on their long journey to the other side of life. 

For instance, archeologists in 1922 excavated the tomb of Egyptian King, Tutankhamun, who was buried in 1323 B.C. In the tomb, the team discovered more than 2,000 treasures, including a throne decorated with precious stones and silver, gold coffins, gold-plated chariots and alabaster vases. Researchers also found more than 200 pieces of jewelry, tucked into the king’s body wrappings during the excavations. All these items were meant to aid him in the afterlife.  

However these treasures Egyptian kings laid up for an opulent after-life, only ended up as a treasures for thieves to cart away. Even in ancient times, tomb robbers emptied the tombs of these valuable contents. The items that survived these raids were only those stored in hidden chambers within the tombs. And it is these items that have helped archaeologists to make educated guesses about the contents of other tombs based on the length of the pharaoh’s rule and the wealth of the kingdom at the time.

Though these kings laid up treasures on earth to use in their afterlife, we now know none of those treasures followed them there. Rather the treasures were laid up for moth and rust to corrupt and for thieves to steal. 

This is what Jesus meant in Matthew 6:19-21 when He said ‘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 rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

The worldly treasures that people accumulate in this life can’t be taken with them after they leave the earth. Money, houses, cars, jewelry, and electronics are all things that will fade away after men have passed through this mortal existence. The question however is; what will a man be left with when he has been stripped of these worldly treasures?

The Heavenly treasures we laid up while on earth are what will matter in the end. Earthly treasures will someday fade away but eternal treasures abide forever.  Therefore rather than laying up earthly treasures, we need to lay up eternal treasures. And the way we store up treasure in heaven is by investing in getting people to Heaven. Whatever earthly treasure we have been entrusted with should be used for the purpose of investing in the spread of the Gospel. 

1st Timothy 6:17 – 19 says ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,’

These means that the way to be rich in Heaven is to be rich in good works. We lay up treasure in heaven by laying down treasure on earth. And as we sow into God’s Kingdom then God will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19). 

Indeed when we seek first the Kingdom of God, every other thing will be added unto us. 

PRAYER: Father please help me to focus on laying up Heavenly treasures, rather than laying up earthly treasures. I know indeed that when I seek  first Your kingdom, then every other thing will be added unto me  in Jesus Name.
QUOTE : 

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222. 

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]