Should we be actively trying to lay up treasures in heaven

[maw444]

Listening to some preaching recently on gifts and giving, the preacher made several references to the fact that we should not be laying up treasures here, but should be building up our treasures in heaven.
Verses like Matthew 6:19-20 were referred to, the fact that God is no mans debtor and Paul refering to crowns in heaven.

The thought crossed my mind this could become dangerous. If my motive to give is to get a reward in heaven, then is that the wrong motive. Should I not want to give because I want to bless, rather what is in it for me?

While I think God will say , well done, when we get to heaven, I don't think the reward should be our aim

 

[ViaCrucis]

Listening to some preaching recently on gifts and giving, the preacher made several references to the fact that we should not be laying up treasures here, but should be building up our treasures in heaven.
Verses like Matthew 6:19-20 were referred to, the fact that God is no mans debtor and Paul refering to crowns in heaven.

The thought crossed my mind this could become dangerous. If my motive to give is to get a reward in heaven, then is that the wrong motive. Should I not want to give because I want to bless, rather what is in it for me?

While I think God will say , well done, when we get to heaven, I don't think the reward should be our aim

If we are paying close attention to what Jesus says, then we recognize that "treasure" when it comes to the heavenly isn't what we think of when we think of earthly treasure. If we treasure humility, gentleness, kindness, love, lowliness, etc then we shouldn't be imagining that treasure in heaven is "cool stuff" or some kind of system of brownie points with God. Instead, it is the radical changes of what we view as important What actually matters? What is actually valuable? Is it silver and gold? Is it temporal prosperity? No, it's being shaped and transformed by the will of God to being the sort of people that value what God values--to love the undesirable and the least of these, to be the least rather than the greatest, to be a servant rather than a master.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[timf]

While I think God will say , well done, when we get to heaven, I don't think the reward should be our aim

The "treasures" Jesus was describing may apply more to those of Israel. However there is a parallel for those saved by the gospel of grace.

1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The point here may be that we can be mistaken about what we do for Christ and those "works" would be burned up. Rather than attempting to selfishly accrue rewards, the motive should be that we truly understand how we can be of service to others.

 

[NBB]

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life

It doesn't mean you would have wrong motives.

 

[com7fy8]

Listening to some preaching recently on gifts and giving, the preacher made several references to the fact that we should not be laying up treasures here, but should be building up our treasures in heaven.

In case a preacher is saying to give money in order to have treasures in heaven . . .

Give money to whom????

Please note, by the way, that tithes were used to feed and *satisfy* widows, orphans, priesthood people, and strangers > according to what I have read in Deuteronomy 14:22-29. This scripture also says the tithe was to be used as food for the tither while the tither went to the place of feasting where the LORD directed His people to go. Plus, it was used to feed the Levite and widow and fatherless and stranger so they were "satisfied".

So, yes there was giving involved in the tithing described in this scripture. But also the tither took part in eating it . . . so that, I understand, there would not be only giving, but sharing as family. And so, I can see how certain people were indeed robbing God . . . not by not tithing, but *in* how they did their tithing and offering - - possibly robbing God by misusing the tithe > robbing God's needy ones of it, and thereby robbing God by robbing His priesthood people and His widow and fatherless and stranger of tithed food, enough to *satisfy* them.

So, I see the possibility that God rewards what we do to give in order to share as His family. And what we do for the least of Jesus' people, we do for Him. And we have how slaves will receive from the Lord for what they do > "knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free." (in Ephesians 6:8)

I now think of this > it looks like a slave has just as much of a chance to receive from the Lord, as a free person does. What could be the same for both? Family loving and caring and sharing works. And so, I would not want to just do my own things, for my own reward, but in order to share as family with all my brothers and sisters in Jesus. So, God does not mean some sort of isolated effort to get rewards for myself. Actually, I might give to someone else so he or she can be blessed in giving! And sharing can be better than just giving.

 

[com7fy8]

Also . . . does anyone suppose they can use money to "buy" what is so much more, in Heaven??