HEAVENLY TREASURES
Greg and Nanette Robinson
Today’s Scripture: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Matthew 6:19-20, ESV
Theme: Earthly treasure will end up as trash; heavenly treasure is of eternal value.
WHAT WILL WE LEAVE BEHIND
As Nanette and I began to discuss the theme of this devotion, both of our minds went to one of our favorite songs by Randy Travis titled, Three Wooden Crosses. The chorus of the song goes, “There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway. Why there’s not four of them heaven only knows. It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you; it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” The song is about a farmer, a teacher, a prostitute, and a preacher who are all together on a bus headed for vacation in Mexico when they are involved in a tragic accident. The only survivor was the prostitute. The preacher, who knows he is dying, reaches out to the young woman and gives her his blood-stained Bible. Sharing the Gospel with her was the last thing that he did before transitioning into heaven, and it was an act that radically transformed her life. The storyteller of this song is the woman’s son, who was given her Bible at some point in his life. His mother’s testimony of redemption inspired him to become a preacher, and he is sharing this story with his congregation. Much like this preacher, Nanette and I both have had our lives positively impacted by those whose testimony and sacrifice has helped us grow spiritually.
HEAVENLY TREASURES HAVE ETERNAL VALUE
Greg: My Father was a successful entrepreneur, but what I respected and admired most about him was not his worldly success but rather his wisdom, passion, commitment, and faithfulness. His inspiring character has been memorialized in a golf tournament that he founded 29 years ago for Mobile Meals, a private Christian charity. Since its beginning, this tournament has raised over $9,000,000 to feed frail and homebound individuals across the upstate of South Carolina. By investing in the needs of others in his community, my dad was laying up treasures for himself in heaven.
Nanette: My Grandmother never had many material things and whatever she had, she gave away to anyone in need. She has now passed, but all who knew her remember her as generous, sweet, kind, loving, helpful, honest, and as a faithful follower of Jesus. She left behind a wealth of spiritual fruit that nourishes her family and friends well after her passing. Through her righteous living and selfless investment in others, she was laying up treasures for herself in heaven.
HEAVENLY CROWNS
The Bible describes heaven as a perfect place of many mansions where streets are paved with gold. It also mentions crowns that will be bestowed on believers by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
These crowns certainly sound like treasures. I don’t know how they may benefit us in heaven, but historically crowns signify authority, power, glory, royalty, nobility, and achievement. I know Nanette hopes to have a wardrobe of crowns that she can wear while strolling the golden streets of her heavenly mansion! There is a lesson here for all of us that no matter our backgrounds, we can lay up treasures of eternal value for ourselves in heaven by following the teachings of Jesus, outlined perfectly in His Sermon on the Mount.
Make It Personal: Randy Travis’s song mentions two other people that died in the accident who made personal investments in the lives of others. The first is a farmer who planted faith and a love for growing things in his young son’s heart. The second was a teacher that left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children and did her best to give them all a better start. Which of those four people from the song (the preacher, the teacher, the farmer, or the prostitute) most impacts you and why? Where are you placing your treasure? How can we refocus away from temporary treasure (that will end up in the trash) and onto heavenly treasure that will last?
Pray: Father God, may I be guided by your Holy Spirit to invest my time, energy and resources in the things that have eternal value and significance, such as love, faith, and service to others. Help me to see that true wealth is not found in material possessions that moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Rather it is in the joy of knowing You and living in accordance with Your will. Let the treasures of eternal value be the legacy that…I leave behind me when I go! Amen
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Philippians 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:2; Revelation 2:10, 1 Peter 5:4, 1 Corinthians 9:25
Weekly Memory Verse: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1, ESV