Earthly Treasures vs Heavenly Rewards

Listen, church, we all face a choice: "You can get with this or you can get with that." But Jesus made it clear in Matthew 6 that we can't serve two masters. Today, I want to help you understand what it really means to choose between storing up earthly treasures and heavenly rewards.

The American Storage Problem

Did you know that America has 90% of the world's storage units? Think about that: we're only 4% of the world's population, but we have 90% of the storage units. Houston, we got a problem!

We've got clothes in our closets from seasons we're never going to see again. You know who you are, holding onto those jeans thinking, "I'm gonna fit back in these one day." I'm talking about myself too, so don't get sensitive on me. I had some 36-36 jeans that now look like track pants, but they're still hanging in my closet "just in case."

There are 51,000 self-storage facilities nationwide, more than McDonald's, Starbucks, and Subway combined. We're paying money every month on stuff we're never going to use again. That stuff could be helping somebody else, but instead, we're hoarding it.

What Jesus Really Said About Treasure

Let's look at what Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19-20:

"Do not store up for yourselves material treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But contrast, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in."

When they spoke about earthly treasures in biblical times, they were talking about fine clothes, polished armor, weapons of war, gold, and jewels. Today, it's not much different: we just have more stuff to accumulate.

But here's the key: storing up treasures in heaven isn't just about giving to the church. It's about serving others, helping people, and perpetuating the gospel.

Five Ways to Store Treasures in Heaven

So I asked God, "What are the things I can get props in heaven for? How can I store treasures in heaven?" Here's what He showed me:

1. Doing Good Works

Ephesians 6:8 says, "Knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether he is slave or free."

God's got good credit, and He's going to pay you back. I'm holding onto that one.

2. Persevering Under Persecution

Luke 6:22 tells us: "Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you from their fellowship, insult you and scorn your name as evil because of your association with the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for your reward in heaven is great."

If you've got haters, turn them into your motivators! Not everyone's going to like you, and you need to get over yourself. Some people just wake up and don't like you. You can't give it energy.

Let's say it together: Some will, some won't, so what? Some will like you, some won't like you, so what? Divorce yourself from the opinion of people because everybody's got an opinion.

3. Showing Compassion for the Needy

Luke 14:13-14 says, "But when you give a banquet or reception, invite the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Help somebody who cannot pay you back. The Bible says when you help them, you're actually lending to the Lord. Not everything you do has to come back to you.

4. Treating Our Enemies Kindly

This one's going to hurt a little bit. "But love that is unselfish. Seek the best or higher good for your enemies. Do good. Lend expecting nothing."

Now let me talk about that lending part. If somebody owes you money and enough time has passed, stop calling it a loan and call it a seed. God doesn't bless someone who's indebted to you, but He will bless you when you sow.

Here's what happens when you lend people money, they start acting funny. They don't answer your calls anymore. "Oh, I thought you were calling about..." Yeah, exactly.

In our family, we have a benevolence fund. We have a number already set, and if someone asks for something, this is what it is. If they take it, God bless you, we don't want anything in return. But if it's used up for the month, you've got to come back next month. Have some structure, some order to your life.

5. Helping People Share the Gospel

Matthew 10:41-42 says, "He who receives and welcomes you, receives me... And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of water to drink because he is my disciple, I say to him, he will surely not lose his reward."

Whatever area you help a person in, you will be a partaker of their reward.

A Divine Appointment at Lowe's

Let me tell you what happened to me recently. I was at Lowe's picking up some pipes for a DIY project, yes, DIY, not DUI. Y'all stay too negative!

I met a young man named Jonathan who offered to help me to my car. God told me to talk to him, so I started asking questions. Turns out Jonathan wants to be a fireman and he's taking classes at Hillsborough Community College.

I said, "You know what? I see why God had me talk to you today." I called my friend Ken Ford right there and connected them. Ken can help steer him in the right direction.

After we got off the phone, Jonathan asked, "Man, who are you?" I said, "I got the hookup!"

See, there's no benefit to me. It has nothing to do with me. Our job as believers is to help somebody who can't help us back. He was skipping back into Lowe's after that conversation.

Everyone you meet should feel different after they have an encounter with you. You don't have to preach from a pulpit, I was preaching in Lowe's. Wherever you go, God can show up.

Where Your Treasure Is, Your Heart Will Be

Matthew 6:21 says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart, your wishes, your desires, that which your life centers on will also be."

Jesus made it clear that wherever your treasure is, if you're not careful, it'll take you in the wrong direction. What we treasure controls us. What we think about, talk about, and spend our money on controls us.

Get rid of anything that you can't let go of, it's become an idol.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Where do I spend my time?
• Where do I spend my money?
• What do I sacrifice for?
• Who do I serve that doesn't benefit me?
• Who am I willing to submit to?

You Cannot Serve Two Masters

Matthew 6:24 hits hard: "No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate one and love the other, or will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Mammon means money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever you value most.

The greatest idol I believe in our time is our kids. I know you love baby Johnny, but what you'll do for baby Johnny, will you do for God? You'll change your whole life for that child's sports schedule, but will you do the same for God's kingdom?

Either we store our treasures with God, focus our eyes on God, and serve Him alone, or we don't serve Him at all. Where does your allegiance lie?

You Have a Heavenly Account

Philippians 4:17 says, "Not that I seek the gift itself, but I do seek the profit which increases to your heavenly account, the blessings which are accumulating for you."

Every single one of us has a heavenly account. The question is: are you filling your account with things that have eternal value?

1 Timothy 6:17-19 instructs the rich "to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share with others... storing up for themselves the enduring riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of truly life."

God has no problem with you being rich, as long as you're rich in good works.

The Chat GPT Test

I asked ChatGPT, "How can I tell if God is my king or money?" And ChatGPT gave me some challenging questions to ask myself:

1. What excites me more, growing spiritually or increasing my income?
2. Do I make major life decisions based on God's will or financial gain?
3. Am I more concerned about tithing and giving generously or keeping more for myself?
4. Do I spend more time planning how to make more money than I do in prayer, Bible study, and serving?
5. Is Sunday a day of worship or just another opportunity to work for more money?
6. Do I feel anxious when I give or tithe because I'm worried I won't have enough?

Listen, when we first started ministry, we had about $418,000 in the bank and found land for $400,000. A friend asked, "You're going to empty the account out for it?" I said, "It's not mine to begin with."

With our last building, we had $3 million when we started and emptied it out. With this building, we had eight million, and we're about to empty it out again.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. If God allows us to have resources and sees that we can let it all go, you know what's coming next? More! Because now He understands you've no longer made money an idol.

It's just a tool. Once you get free of that, God can trust you with more.

More Questions to Consider

• Do I feel more secure because of my savings account or God's promises?
• Do I evaluate people based on their wealth or their walk with Christ?
• Would I feel valuable if I lost everything financially?
• Have I ever compromised my values, honesty, or time with God to make more money?
• Would I say yes to a high-paying job that pulls me away from my calling, my church, or my family?
• Am I willing to sacrifice comfort and financial success to obey God's call?

My Story: When God Said No

I want to be real with you. Back in 2006, I had about $450,000 in my business account. God wanted me to start a church. I said, "I ain't no dummy. I ain't going to live off tithes and offerings. I know how to make money. I don't want to be a pastor."

I told God, "Once I stack my million in my business, then I'll become a pastor."

He said, "Okay."

Then I went through bankruptcy, foreclosure, and they repossessed my Mercedes Benz.

God said, "How you like me now? Do you want to listen now, or do you want some more pain?"

I said, "Sir, where do you want me to start preaching?"

See, I was chasing money. And God says, "Son, money is small stuff." Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and I'll give you all the stuff."

We chase the wrong thing, and once you get it, you realize it's not enough. You want more and more, and you'll never be fulfilled. It doesn't matter how much money people have, they always want more.

But until you allow God to fill your heart, you can't be thankful for where you are. I'm not saying it's bad to have more, but you can't make money your God.

When God Wins the Battle

All of us are in this tug of war. Sometimes God is winning in your life, and sometimes you let your issues take over. There were times when you were fully locked in with serving God, then something happened and you went to the other side.

But you've got to get to the place where it's not a fight anymore. It's not a fight because you've made a decision that whatever God tells you to do, that's it.

Your relationship with God has to grow to the point where you realize He's not a man that He should lie. If God calls you to something, it's only a matter of time before it happens.

I don't have to worry about whether God's going to come through. The Bible says, "I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor their seed begging for bread. My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

You have to have your relationship with God right to realize He is not a deadbeat dad. He's a faithful father. He is righteous. He is holy. You don't have to worry about God doing what He's going to do.

Do what you're supposed to do and trust God.

Where Is Your Treasure?

So let me ask you today: Are you storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Are you more influenced by money or God's will?

It's time to make a choice. You can get with this, or you can get with that—but narrow is the way that leads to the Lord.

Drop the fight. Surrender your schedule. Surrender your finances. Surrender your control. When you make what's important to God important to you, whatever issue or challenge you were working on, by the time you get to it, it's already taken care of.

Because when you're serving His kingdom, whatever was your fight becomes His fight. Whatever your challenge becomes His challenge.

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