Storing Up Treasures

Pastor Marvin Williams

I know a man who has built a small empire of wealth – several large houses, cars, trucks, and large envelopes filled with thousands of dollars in cash. In addition to having a few thousands in his house, last year, he resorted to hiding a large sum in cash, under a doghouse in his yard.

No, I am not giving you his address (Smile).

When I think about him and people like him, my heart breaks because, he has pursued and accumulated wealth here and failed to build a relationship with Jesus. I imagine this is exactly what Jesus was talking about, in Matthew 6:19-21, when he said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

To understand what Jesus meant, we need to know what he did not mean. Jesus was not saying we could not have nice things, or that we could not engage in wise financial planning (life insurance policies, 401K/403B, or other investments). Moreover, he was not saying we could not enjoy wealth and the good things in life that God gives us, or we could not run our businesses profitably.

What did Jesus mean?
Jesus is talking about two types of treasures.

The first type is the kind we accumulate on earth. These treasures are vulnerable to all kinds of decay and theft. Jesus is saying, don’t make acquiring and accumulating these types of treasures - houses, cars, degrees, prestige, popularity, vintage comic books, coin collections, paintings, CDs and albums - our main concentration, obsession and addiction, at the expense and neglect of the most important treasure – God and helping those in need.

We should guard our hearts against the addictive pursuit of material wealth because of its dangers – the love of them is the root to all kinds of evils, may hinder people’s response to the gospel, create false security, make people proud, cause excessive worry, and lead people to forget God. Working for them may cause excessive tiredness, enjoying them too much may lead to self-indulgence, and misusing them may foster oppression and injustice.

The alternative, is laying up treasures in heaven. He is not saying people can buy their way to heaven. However, he is calling his followers to simplify their lives and leverage their time, and wealth for the sake of people in need (Matthew 19:21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). When his followers, with pure motives (Matthew 6:1-4), do good, are rich in good deeds, are generous and willing to share with the marginalized, they will be laying up treasures in heaven.

Jesus goes on to say wherever our treasures and wealth are, our whole selves will be entwined with them. This verse becomes a gracious mirror in which we can see where our hearts really are. Jesus is warning us against being totally earthbound at the neglect of eternal values.

So, how can we determine today if we are pursuing wealth at the expense of God? How can we understand where our hearts really are? I believe the following questions can help us:

What occupies my thoughts and daydreams when I have nothing else to do?
What do I fret about most?
Apart from my immediate family, who or what do I most dread losing?
What are the things I measure others by?
What is it that we know we cannot be happy without?

Let’s pray about and determine how much is enough and release the rest to build the kingdom and help others find the real treasure: Jesus.

Which Way to Go, Lord?

Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Which Way to Go, Lord?


Dr. Creflo A. Dollar
God wants you to know exactly where you're going in life. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear spiritual hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take in life. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily!

Like the prophet Jeremiah, you have a God-given mission (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). The key to carrying out the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. God wants to give you detailed instructions about which way to go as well as every situation that concerns you. He doesn't just want to deal with you in vague impressions either, but in specifics. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life.

Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish His master plan for your life. The greatest asset you have as a Believer is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and the study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take gradually enables you to see the bigger picture.

The will of God for your life is not something that is handed to you on a silver platter-you must discover what God desires for you to accomplish. That means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life.

Being born again is the prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior is the doorway to your destiny. Without Him guiding you, you won't reach your final destination. But once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you.

In locating your purpose, consider those things for which you have a passion. What is it that you could do all the time, even without being paid? What attributes and characteristics do others consistently notice about you? Determine the abilities God has given you and the areas in which you get consistent results. These are signposts to help point you in the direction of your destiny.

Praying in the Spirit is another helpful tool in determining the direction God wants you to take in life. When you pray in tongues, you allow the Holy Spirit to pray through you, and release the wisdom you need to move forward in life. Proverbs 20:27 says that the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. The Holy Spirit Who is within your born-again spirit will guide you into all truth, including what it is you are supposed to be doing. When you pray in tongues, you also build up your spirit man and sharpen your spiritual discernment. The more you pray in the spirit and spend time listening for God's voice, the more confident you will be when it comes to stepping out on His instructions.

The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to pray and yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny!



Dr. Creflo A. Dollar is the senior pastor of World Changers Church International, 25,000 member church in College Park, Georgia. He is committed to changing the world one person at a time, and his award-winning "Changing Your World" television broadcast reaches nearly one billion homes worldwide. Visit www.CrefloDollarMinistries.org to learn more. Click here to browse and purchase Books, CDs, and DVDs by Dr. Creflo A. Dollar!

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