TEXT: MATT. 6:20; LUKE 12:33
''But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal''
''Sell that you have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not, where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts''
The eternal salvation of our souls is bottomed on nothing, but on the merit of Christ; the forgiveness and blotting out of sin-debts is solely by the blood of Christ. Our works cannot gained for us heaven, but the merit of Christ can. However, our state and measure of glory in heaven, rests on our work in this life. Our rewards in heaven is dependent on how we manage what mercy gave us in time. Yes, a treasure awaits us in heaven, but we are responsible to send it there. If a man wishes to send a thing to his account with God in the realm of eternity, he should give it to the needy. The safest and durable barn or bank, is a needy person, the poor and destitute. Whatever is given in charity, waits at the gate of heaven to welcome us. So, to 'lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven' and to 'provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not' consist in giving alms to the destitute and desolate. Hence, men who understand this heavenly transfer of resources to their accounts with God, 'Sell that' they 'have, and give alms.' When we stretch out our hand to the poor, we stretch them toward God. The hand that does not minister to the needy, is lifted up to God but in vain; He would not take notice of it. He that gives to the poor, lends to his maker. How dare we lift up our hands to God in prayer, when we hesitate to stretch them toward the needy in charity?