Matthew 6.19 and treasure in heaven
A reader wondered about Matthew 6:19-20. "Lay up for
yourselves treasure in heaven." Does this suggest we are to serve in
order to gain reward? I’m sure that’s not the Master’s point here. In
fact the whole section (19-24) looks in the opposite direction and calls
for a radical self-giving to God. Christ said we can’t serve God and
money (the Semitic "mammon"—money or possessions). We can’t have our eye
on two things. In saying we "can’t" serve God and possessions Christ is
choosing his words carefully. It isn’t only that God won’t let us; it’s
that in light of the relationship we would want with God it isn’t
possible. Discipleship as imaged by the Son is a full self-surrender to
God and leaving it to him to give us what he sees fit. It isn’t for us
to work to supply our own needs as if God did not provide them.
Those who trust themselves to God in trust have done with worry
(6:25-34). The person who worries (in a distrustful sense—for not all
"worry" is worry) and makes it is/her life’s aim to supply their own
needs against every eventuality is trusting in the wrong things. They
trust in themselves as the provider and they trust in the things they
gain and in doing this they lose their way. Not only do they
make the wrong things ultimate (clothes, food, possessions—6:25-32)
since they are not ultimates, they lose sight of God in the process
(6:33).
I'm sure that Jesus here is calling his followers to a way of
thinking and acting that puts earthly possessions and success in their
place. Such things do have their God-given place but they must
always be viewed as serving the higher aspects of our entire existence.
How we relate to God should shape how we relate to riches or success
here in this phase of living and I'm sure that's what Jesus is saying
about securing the future in light of heaven.
Wealth (or any other instrument of power) is given to us as stewards. We are not to lay up treasure for "ourselves"
here on
earth; we're to so use it that we will gain heaven's approval (be sure to see Luke 16:9-13). So
the last thing on Jesus’ mind in this section is teaching
about degrees of reward for services rendered and when he speaks of
"treasure in heaven" he means "heavenly treasure," that is real or "true
riches" (compare Luke 16:11) as over against mere passing possessions.
Discussion about what "heaven" entails will wait for another time; but the notion that rewards (in the sense of some kind of "possessions"—maybe status or
some other benefit) rather than relationship are the central thrust of
life with God (here or hereafter) is way off the mark. Life doesn’t
consist of what you possess (Luke 12:15) but what you are; and this is true whether you live on earth or in heaven.
But the idea that we will serve God and not find ourselves
rewarded (blessed) as a result of our service is nonsense. Of course
we’ll be rewarded. Imagine thinking that a lovely marriage can come to
its pinnacle of intimacy and honor and our not being richly blessed as
the result of it? We know that serving God is rewarding and
that in its completeness it is richly rewarding. We’re told that ahead
of time and we can expect it to be fulfilled. But to say that is not to say that we should serve God so that we will be rewarded. When we think that way a distortion enters. Then we become hirelings, then we labor for an employer.
Finally, some people talk of "disinterested" service or worship of
God. By this they mean service without thought of reward, service that
is not given with the aim to gain reward. If that’s what we mean, it’s legitimate speech. But we shouldn’t pretend that we don’t think we will be rewarded—Christ says we will be! And since God is generous and gracious we know
we experience blessing as a result of serving him. We might as well
pretend that we don’t expect a loving and honorable friendship to have
no reward. We know that such relationships result in our
blessing. If God called us to willingly serve him and assured us that
the better we served him the more he would torment us and that he would
finally toss us in an eternal rubbish pit—if he assured us of that we
wouldn’t serve him. Of course it’s a nonsense scenario but I just want
to make the point that talk of "disinterested" service can be nonsense
talk.
Let me summarise what I think on this one aspect of this text. The
entire section calls for a way of seeing life that has as its driving
centre the righteousness of the kingdom of heaven (kingdom of God)—6:33.
This means we are not to hoard our wealth as if it could bring security for the future or
as if we were not stewards of our wealth. It also means that we will be
securing the future in the best possible way. Anything committed to
heaven's (God's) keeping is secure and no theif or rust can devour it.
When the time comes we'll find our treasure intact and we'll discover
that is perfectly matches our heart's longings.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.