Matthew 6:19-20 KJV 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.
This is a very popular scripture, yet in our day and time, people seem to struggle with truly grasping why Jesus said this. It’s evident in our insatiable desire and relentless quest for things that do not last.
A fitting confirmation comes from the wise preacher Solomon:
Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 KJV Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
And yet, though people hear it with their ears, it hasn’t entered their hearts what it means. Accepting this truth would be an eye-opener — it would apply the brakes on this frantic, never-ending pursuit of wealth, often at the expense of purposeful, fulfilling lives.
Neglecting this understanding leads many to chase careers that aren’t fulfilling, simply working for money while missing out on the dignity and joy of meaningful labour. That’s why every new market trend promising fast money gets a stampede of attention, as people are constantly swayed by the next “big thing.”
If you still need persuasion, consider Solomon again:
Ecclesiastes 2:18-19 KJV Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? Yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
Have I made my point yet?
Now, don’t get me wrong about living responsibly and leaving an inheritance. After all, scripture commands:
Proverbs 13:22 KJV A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.
But beyond wealth, what legacy of Kingdom impact will you leave? What lives have been transformed because you walked the earth? What eternal treasures have you stored up?
Living with the Kingdom of God mindset, like Jesus teaches, is the only standard for living a truly purposeful and fulfilling life on earth. Unless you reject the idea that we’re pilgrims and sojourners here, you can’t avoid this reality. Jesus prayed for us:
John 17:16 KJV They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
And so we must take it seriously:
1 Peter 2:11-12 KJV Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
As well as James’ warning:
James 4:4 KJV …know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
And I’ll close with this timeless reminder from Paul:
1 Timothy 6:6-7 KJV But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
So I say, lay up treasures in heaven, for that is where moth and rust cannot corrupt, and your true inheritance is secured.
