From my reading in Luke 12:32-59 in the One Year New Testament.

The No-Risk Investment

Jesus told the people to sell their possession and to give to those in need.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven!” Luke 12:33a

Now this doesn’t mean sell ALL of your possessions, but it does mean generously and creatively find ways to give. Some of people say, “I can’t afford to give, I’m strapped”, but I think that what Jesus is getting at here is “you can’t afford not to give.” Whatever you give with a pure heart you will be rewarded for!

When you give creatively and sacrificially you are storing treasure for yourselves in heaven. Heaven is going to be great for all Christians but there will be different levels of reward for those who are faithful.

Glass Fully Full

One illustration that helps me understand rewards in heaven is this. In heaven we will all be completely happy. It will be like having our glass all the way full with joy. Those who have obeyed God and followed closely will be rewarded with bigger glasses and therefore have greater capacity for joy. Those who don’t follow closely but believe in Christ will be completely full of joy but might have a lesser capacity.

This is just one perspective that helps me but we don’t know exactly how the reward system will look in heaven. What we do know is that it is meant to be a legitimate motivation for our obedience. If it wasn’t then why would God put the verses that talk about it in the Bible?

The Safe of Heaven

“And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.” Luke 12:33b

Your investment is totally secure in heaven. There are no robbers in heaven because there is no sin in heaven! If you give to those in need you will be rewarded, period.

Lead Your Heart

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Luke 12:34

In the movie Fireproof they talk about how destructive it can be if we listen to the world’s instructions to “follow your heart.” Following your heart can lead to sin and a ruined life. Instead we are to “lead our hearts” to obey God and do what we know is right. As we lead our hearts our desires will come with it and over time God will change our desires to fit more closely with God’s.

When you choose to give you will end up caring about what you give to.

Giving does many things for you, but perhaps the greatest thing it does is change our hearts.

What can you do to give sacrificially this month?

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