In the Old Testament God promised material prosperity to his faithful followers. In the New Testament we find a new approach to material prosperity and possessions. In Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus taught us how to relate to money and possessions. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:19-21, NIV). The antidote to materialism is saving up for your eternal retirement. This keeps our hearts pure from disordered attachment to possessions.
Of course, we have material needs, but we have a Father who knows our needs and directs us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matt. 6:33, NIV). And even though he was the Lord of glory and destined to be enthroned as king of the world, he had “no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58, NIV). Is he not our model for our heart’s relationship with material things? There is no teaching in the New Testament about inheriting the world’s wealth in this age. Scripture acknowledges that sometimes believers may even lack food or clothing or security:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
(Rom. 8:35-36, ESV)
The Apostle Paul had very few possessions and considered himself a model for believers (1 Corinthians 4:8-16). We are in phase one of the arrival of the kingdom of God, the age of the “already/not yet” or of “sowing and growing”. In phase two of the kingdom, after Christ returns, we will have all the material blessings of the New Garden of Eden, which will be far greater than the blessings under the old covenant.
Below is a meditation to help us purge materialism and worldliness, and save up for our eternal retirement account.
- Absorb Scripture. Read Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (NIV). Read it with your name in it. Picture yourself letting go of earthly treasure and storing treasure in heaven. Imagine Jesus standing in front of you speaking these words to you; how does this affect you? How does the passage relate to loving God? Ruminate on it, understand it and let it sink in.
- Feelings and Emotions Reflection. Ask yourself: What feelings or emotions (for example, peace, joy, gratefulness, doubt, fear, pain, anger, resistance), if any, did I experience during or after absorbing this passage? Why was I feeling this way? What desires did I feel?
- Truth Commitment. Invite God to reveal your heart then ask yourself: How much do I embrace the truth that treasures in heaven are vastly more valuable than treasures on Earth? If you have not fully embraced it, ask yourself why.
- Action Commitment. Invite God to reveal your heart then ask yourself: How much do I follow the instruction in this passage? How is Jesus a model for me to follow? What implications does this passage have for my financial and buying decisions?
- Reception (Contemplation.) Ask God to show you anything you have not fully embraced and anything else he desires to show you or ask Jesus a question about this topic. Sit with a quiet and open heart for at least 60 seconds.
How do you position your heart so that you prioritize treasure in heaven?
