Store Up Your Treasure by Giving It Away

by Rick Warren — January 4, 2024
From God’s Amazing Promises

“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity!”

1 Timothy 6:18-19 (TLB)

Your generous giving is a premise to one of God’s generous promises. He promises that when you give, you’re not really losing anything. God is actually storing it up in heaven.

“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven—it is the only safe investment for eternity!” (1 Timothy 6:18-19 TLB)

You can know that God has a bank account for you in heaven because Jesus mentioned it five times— and if God mentions something five times, he must really want you to get the message. Jesus uses the repeated command to store up treasure in heaven because he wants you to understand that it’s the most important thing you can do with your treasures here on earth.

So when you give to God or you give to somebody in need, you’re not losing anything. Your treasure is actually growing! Only in the kingdom of God are you storing something up by giving it away.

It’s important to plan for your future. But even more importantly, you need to start thinking about your eternal bank account in heaven—because that one’s going to last forever!

How do you fund that eternal investment? How do you store up treasure in heaven? Jesus says, “Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home” (Luke 16:9 NLT).

Any money that you give in the cause of Christ, you’re actually investing in eternity. If you invest in other people so that they have a relationship with Jesus, then one day you’re going to get to heaven, and you’re going to hear, “Thank you! I’m here because of you. I’m your friend for eternity!”

You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead. Store up your reward in heaven by being generous with everything you’ve got so that others can hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Talk It Over

  • What does your bank statement reveal about what you treasure on earth?
  • How can you shift your mindset to focus on storing up your treasure in heaven and not on earth?
  • In what creative ways can you invest for eternity regardless of how much money you earn?

God loves you, no matter what you’ve done.

Because we’re human, we’ve taken Satan’s bait and been hooked into sin more times than we can count. But no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you’ve got a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know that when I die I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess I have ignored you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and turn toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from the sins and the habits that are messing up my life right now. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at [email protected]. I’d like to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.


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