Treasures in Heaven

Article for Ash Wednesday February 18, 2026

Matthew 6:19–21 19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I have said this before; we put more importance on this life than we do on our real life to come.  That is, we worry about this life more than we worry about our life in heaven.  I know, this life can get very tough at times and take up a lot of our effort to stay afloat.  But that is life on earth and no matter what our lot in life is, we still can lay up treasures in heaven.

  How do we lay up treasures in heaven you ask? By loving God as He loves us.  Do you think you come to church to look good to others or even to God that you might earn God’s favor?  I hope we come to show our love to God for all that He is doing for us in this life and in the next. 

We come to church to humble ourselves in front of the one who shows us His love through salvation and eternal life.  What better means of love than to forgive with grace and mercy.  Most want to condemn and pay back with vengeance.  But God does not look to get even, rather God looks to show us grace and mercy and a more loving way.  This is the true treasure in heaven that we know God loves us and that we love God.

Matthew 6:1 1[Jesus said:] “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

If there is one thing that bothers me the most it is people who are self-righteous.   Those who practice their self-righteousness, steal the glory from God.  We should approach every act of kindness in that it brings the glory to God.  Why?  Because the good in me is from God.  How do I know?  Because I, like all of you, have a sinful nature.

Stop and think about what this verse is saying, what you sew you will reap.  In other words, you will have a temporary reward rather than an eternal reward.  And most of the reward you receive at the expense of God’s glory will create animosity among those around you and yes, I see it every day.

Sometimes I feel like telling someone what I have done as if I have to live up to their expectations.  I really hate it when some people through insults at others when they feel others should bow down to them because of their righteous acts.  That is the fastest way to lose my respect.  Though I forgive them, I hold them at arm’s length from me.

Matthew 6:2 2“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

We cannot say we as a church give to many who are needy.  Rather we can say that we work with many who work with us to give to the needy.  And we thank and give the glory to God that our community works together to provide for the needy. 

Now when I say the needy, I am not making these people less than us, for indeed many of them may be more than us. As it says in Hebrew 13:2 we never know when we have entertained angels unaware.  And those that are not angels?  Let me remind you, you are no angel either and neither am I.

Matthew 6:5 5“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Being a Christian is not for show or a means to show yourself to be better than the one sitting next to you or in the pews behind you.  Being a Christian is being a disciple of God and following all of what Jesus teaches us in His word.  We are no better than anyone else and no one else is better than us.  So, if you are, stop acting like you’re better than anyone else.

Some ask whether we should stop coming together to pray as they think we should go to our closets to pray.  If that was the case the church would have to replace the pews with closets.  When we pray together it is like whenever two or three are gathered Jesus Christ is with us. 

No what is being said here is do not do anything for the sake of show but do everything for the sake of giving glory to our God who loves us to life.  What we do for God needs to be genuine.  God’s love for us is genuine and our love and worship should be just as genuine.  This is our creator.

Matthew 6:3 3But when you give to the needy, [pray, and fast do not do anything to be seen or give glory to yourself.]  And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

For Jesus came in humbleness to suffer and die for our sins.  Jesus came dressed like the common person and sat with the common sinners.  This is a true savior, one who walks in our shoes or sandals.  Jesus Christ died on the cross without yelling or shouting or saying look at me.  Rather Jesus in His dying breadth said forgive them.  This is a savior, one who proves salvation after His own death through His very own resurrection to show us the way and that there is eternal life. 

Amen.