Is It Selfish to Store Treasures in Heaven?

Store your treasures in heaven where moths and
rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20

You’ve heard, “You can’t take it with you when you go”  or “You never see a U-haul behind a hearse.” It’s true; when you die, you can’t take anything from this earth with you into eternity.

And the Bible confirms it: We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us (Eccles 5:15).

However, when Jesus tells you to store your treasures in heaven and not on earth, it’s like He’s saying you might not be able to take it with you, but you can send it on ahead (Mt. 6:19-20).

So, what are treasures in heaven?

 Are they the same as treasures on earth? Can the believer expect to arrive in heaven to find material wealth?

For example, a bigger mansion or gold?

First of all, it’s a mistake to equate earthly treasure with heavenly treasure. 

And second, if Jesus tells us to do it, how can it be selfish?

Therefore, it must mean something else, something unselfish.

So, let’s get started. 

Is It Selfish to Store Your Treasures in Heaven?

It cannot be selfish to store treasures in heaven if Jesus tells us to do it. But the church, other Christians, or our own sense of morality and virtue has taught us it is. In other words, this way of thinking did not come from the Bible. When you look at what the Bible actually says about treasures in heaven and see how often Jesus promises rewards for the way we live now, you must conclude it does indeed please God when we store our treasures in heaven.

What are Treasures in Heaven?

You can connect treasures in heaven to the rewards believers are promised for what we do on earth in this lifetime. Our deeds after salvation do indeed matter. For us and those who benefit.

And just as a parent initiates rewards for their children for good behavior and obedience, so does our heavenly Father. The key is that He came up with the idea, not us. 

Growing up, you didn’t tell your dad that you would only obey him unless he rewarded you in such and such a way.

Nor did you say, when he offered a reward, “Oh, I can’t do it for a reward; that would be selfish. I will simply obey you because I love you, dad.” No, accepting a reward doesn’t mean you don’t love your dad. Or that you’re being selfish.

However, demanding he gives you one is. 

Do you see the difference? When we tell God the conditions of our obedience, it’s wrong (and comes from selfish motives).

But when God tells us that certain things we do in this lifetime get a reward, He wants us to accept it joyfully.

Many times we won’t see the prize until heaven. And I believe working now for what we will receive later is one way of storing treasures in heaven.   

First Things First

First, let’s be clear: our good works have nothing to do with salvation. I think many people fall into the trap of thinking their good deeds somehow make them look more acceptable to God. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Consider the following verses:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Psalm 14:3 No one does good, not a single one!

Isaiah 64:6 …All of our righteous acts are like filthy rags [to God]. 

Additionally, God wants us to know that there is nothing we can do on our own to be reconciled to Him. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works so that no one can boast.

But look what happens when you accept, by faith, His gracious gift of salvation through Jesus.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 6:8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do…  

Do you see it? Once you get saved, you are

• God’s masterpiece
• Created anew in Christ Jesus
• To do the good works He planned in advance for you to do (and are broadly found in the Bible)
• Rewarded for the good you do

When you hear what the Bible says about good works and rewards, hopefully, you’ll now understand that this is His plan. And it makes all the difference.

Now, let’s look more closely at Matthew 6:20-24 and treasures in heaven.

Storing Treasures in Heaven vs. Treasures on Earth

Treasure is something you can store. You can either store it on earth, which is temporary, or you can store it in heaven, where it will last forever. 

According to the Bible, storing treasure on earth is unwise because not only is it temporary, it’s uncertain and unreliable (v. 19; 1 Tim 6:17). 

You’ve heard of people who lose everything overnight. A house burns down, a car gets stolen, a job is lost, the stock market crashes, or your country gets invaded.

On the other hand, none of these things can happen to the treasure you store in heaven.  

Treasure is also connected to the heart: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt 6: 21). 

When we want or rely on the things in this world more than we want or rely on God, we are storing our treasures on earth because that’s where our heart is.

However, when we put God first and know that The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Ps 25:1), we will be more interested in doing His will and what pleases Him.

Treasure in Matthew 6:19-24 refers specifically to money. 

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Money isn’t bad; that’s not what God is saying here. We need money to live…to buy food, clothes, and shelter. But when it takes the place of God for your security, pleasure, or sustenance, then we are serving it instead of God.

If you want to store treasures in heaven, use your money the way God wants.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future [heaven] so that they may experience true life.

What Does It Mean to Store Up Treasure in Heaven?

Final Thoughts

So, as you can see, it isn’t selfish to store your treasures in heaven.

The Bible tells us to store them there rather than on earth.

Admittedly, this isn’t an easy concept to grasp fully. We live on earth, and heaven might seem far away. Or not that exciting.

Plus, we are programmed to want things now. Waiting for heaven isn’t as appealing.

But most of us understand the concept of living to please God, and doing what He says is important.

Just think of doing those things as a way of storing your treasure in heaven.

And one way (there are many other ways too) to do it is by knowing how to view and use your money. The concrete actions of 1 Timothy 6:17-19 tell us as much.

So to recap, here are the main points of these verses:

• Don’t trust in your money. Instead, trust in God.
• Use your money to do good. 
• Be generous to those in need. 
• Always be ready to share.

And remember, where your treasure is, your heart will be also.

Indeed, storing treasures in heaven can be an exciting adventure!

I recommend Randy Alcorn’s book to learn more about how your giving can be storing treasures in heaven.

The Treasure Principle: Discovering the Secret of Joyful Giving