Why a Rich Man May Not Make Heaven!

The time and date when everyone is born and when we will die is known to only God. “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” Matthew 6:19-20

I believe many people do not understand what this statement is all about. The statement is not telling us not to acquire wealth no that is not what it means!

In fact when we store treasures in heaven it’s from the activities we do here on earth that we are able to store up treasures in heaven. The activities we are engaged in, the sowing we sow here on earth is what will make us what we are here on earth and also will determine our stand in future and eternity in heaven or in hell.

When we have worked so hard, we acquire great riches; those riches are not just meant for us to buy jets, build giant mansions and spend on frivolous things, that is storing up treasures here on earth.

We store up treasures in heaven when we amass wealth here on earth and use it to do good, taking care of the poor, widowed and orphans; we are storing up treasures in heaven!

On earth here you work hard, obtain various educational qualifications, get jobs and earn money then we start building big houses, buy cars etc. Yes, that is the reward for the work we have done, we reap it from this earth!

Remember however that at the point of death when you are being buried, you will not be buried with any of those things. If you have been in a burial ceremony before you will notice that the only things that will be put inside the grave with the dead is the cloth used to cover the body, flowers, at most if you are a bishop maybe you will be buried with your bishop regalia, no one takes anything with them to heaven. Not even bible is taken along at the point of death, you don’t need it in heaven, it is meant for use here on earth.

But the good deeds we do while we are on earth are being stored up as treasures for us in heaven; these are the things we will meet if we eventually go to heaven.

If for instance I am the best student in my primary school class, when graduating I will probably be given a scholarship to study in the best secondary school in my state, on completion of my secondary school, if I again make it as a best student, I am likely to be given a scholarship to a Federal University or even flown abroad for further studies.

But remember that first, I must have passed my tests and examinations before I can be promoted and even earn scholarships.

It’s the same way on this earth. Most people have not sat down to think of why it is called a human race, yes it is called a human race because we all on race. We are on a track field, all aiming at the end of the track where each person is rewarded.

God created man and committed some commands into his hands; he requires that man should observe those commands and laws during his life time here on earth. When you pass each stage, you have treasures being stored up in heaven for you; you store up treasures until your death time when those treasures are released to you for your good deeds.

Those treasures are not based on how many cars you were able to buy; it is not based on how many houses you built while on earth, it doesn’t depend on the titles you earn, not on your qualifications. It is based on your good deeds here on earth.

A student who fails an examination is demoted, sometime, maybe expelled. The same way with God, some people will be promoted to heaven for their good deeds here on earth while some others will be demoted to hell.

I say demoted because being here on earth and suffering one form of hardship or the other is better than being in hell where there is continuous hunger, no water, diseases and oppression but no death to stop the pain! What a horrible place that will be!

Therefore when you amass wealth here on earth and you use it to the glory of God, assisting those in need, helping the poor, the less privileged, the orphans and the widows, then you are storing up treasures in heaven for yourself.

The bible says in Matthew 6:21, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be”

This means that if you store your treasures in heaven you will be glad to die because your treasures are stored up there and you will meet it in heaven when you get there. But if you are a wicked rich man who cannot help the poor, or a needy brother, you look down on everyone like they are “nothing” then you are storing up your treasures here on earth. When you die your treasure is left here on earth for other people who didn’t toil with you to lavish when you are gone!

May God reward us for our good deeds, amen.

Praise God!

Notice: Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

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