“Do not lay up for yourself treasures here on earth…lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew.6:19)
Satan will do everything he can to confuse us — to suggest smaller dreams, lesser glories, and other gods to our hearts. And the glory he offers is real glory — real pleasure and real purpose. But all the glory he offers is small and short compared with the glory for which we were made (Isaiah.43:7). And to the degree that it distracts us from God and his glory, any earthly dream or pleasure can be suicidal. It’s not going anywhere good. It’s not safe, or full, or lasting. It expires, and it kills us in the process.
The world has an awe-inspiring glory of its own. “The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory” (Matthew.4:8). If Satan wasn’t afraid to try and tempt Jesus with the glory of the world, why would he and his demons hold back with you and me?
Lay Up Glory in Heaven
Psalm 49 says, “Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him” (Psalm.49:16-17). You see the wealthy person’s glory on television and in social media — larger houses, more cars, nicer clothes. But all of it dies with him at death. He has more, and more, and more, and then suddenly absolutely nothing.
God’s glory will not abandon and betray you like that. Jesus says,
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew.6:19-21)
Some wealth never wanes. The riches God supplies satisfy the heart today and endure forever, proving their worth and reliability in this life, at death, and for eternity in glory.
Marshall Segal (staff writer at Desiring God)
