Moving Toward Your Treasure

People will always move toward their heart's nudging, sometimes with, sometimes without reason leading the way. If you have surrendered your heart to Christ and are living for Him then your treasure is Christ, the Lord forever. If you have not done this and you die without Christ as your personal Savior, your reward(s) will match your deeds. 

In Randy Alcorn's book, Deception, a much loved character of mine, Obadiah says, "The one who spends his life movin' away from his treasures is goin' to despair. But the one who spends his life movin' toward  his treasures is goin' to rejoice!" (p.255) Sounds like very familiar advice that I once read from The King and my Savior - Christ Jesus - 

"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 6:19-21)

What helps an incredible amount as Christians live daily life here on earth is to set your treasure(s) in Heaven. Better yet, set what you cherish as Christ and everything that we find in Him and you will be in the right mind, attitude and spirit forever. 

Humans can have an intent focused life with hope of making a difference in the world, but if Christ is not in their lives, their work is only temporary and so is their life. What we do here on earth echoes into eternity. 

God said we will be rewarded for our deeds. This occurs at two prophesied judgements - the Bema Seat or Judgement Seat of Christ where Christians will receive their reward(s) and/or The Great White Throne Judgement where the damned will stand before God with all the books opened for their judgment of deeds.

What one decides about their relationship with Jesus determines their eternal destination - Heaven or the Lake of Fire. What a person continues to do (deeds) either as a believer or non-believer will also follow them to their respective destinations and either bless/reward them (the Christian) or deliver continued judgement (the damned).

As a start, Paul supplied a list of action items to his apprentice, Timothy, for the kinds of things to store-up in Heaven. He presented it as a challenge to a certain group of people.

1. Challenge the rich to not be stuck-up and prideful about their finances, putting their hope in such an uncertain and fluctuating thing as money.
2. Have them place their hope in God who is The Great Provider.
3. Challenge these same people to do good,
4. Be very active in doing good,
5. Do not hold back from giving to those in need
6. And be willing to share at a moments opportunity.

Paul concludes, "In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."

The whole passage reads -

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Tim. 6:17-19)

Besides having Christ as our ultimate reward or treasure, believers can see that living the daily, Christ-like life will also be rewarded. Believing in the eternal salvation Christ provides from eternal separation from God is not all that Jesus calls Christians too. The goal is active participation in one's relationship with Christ and others that bears fruit for His kingdom and Moving Toward Your Treasure.