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Investing in Eternity

The document discusses investing in eternity rather than earthly possessions. It notes that true wealth is not what you have monetarily but what you store in heaven. Jesus taught to store treasures in heaven, not on earth. While many in modern society spend excessively on luxuries and recreation with little thought to eternal matters, true happiness and fulfillment does not come from wealth or possessions. The lifestyle and spending habits of Christians often differ little from non-Christians and true enjoyment comes from investing in eternal things as God intended through giving to his kingdom.

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88 views

Investing in Eternity

The document discusses investing in eternity rather than earthly possessions. It notes that true wealth is not what you have monetarily but what you store in heaven. Jesus taught to store treasures in heaven, not on earth. While many in modern society spend excessively on luxuries and recreation with little thought to eternal matters, true happiness and fulfillment does not come from wealth or possessions. The lifestyle and spending habits of Christians often differ little from non-Christians and true enjoyment comes from investing in eternal things as God intended through giving to his kingdom.

Uploaded by

sizquier66
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Grace to You :: Unleashing God's Truth One Verse as a Time

Investing in Eternity

Investing in Eternity
By John MacArthur

J. H. Jowett once said, “The real measure of our wealth is how much we would be worth if we lost all
our money.” He was right. Earthly riches or the lack of them has nothing to do with real wealth. The
only treasure that matters is the treasure you lay up in heaven.
Jesus taught, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon 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 or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your
heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). That is a mandate, not a recommendation. Invest in eternity!
What an appropriate message for a culture like ours. People in our society are wealthier than any
civilization in the history of man. Sadly, they rapidly squander their blessings on things that cannot last.
If our treasure reveals the condition of our hearts (v. 21), this generation is in serious spiritual trouble.
Our buying habits show little concern for anything of eternal value.
Americans are spending a significant portion of their incomes on luxury items and recreation—and they
are spending it fast. Why wait until you can afford something, if you can charge it and have it instantly?
Outstanding consumer debt in this country has skyrocketed, leaving many in financial shambles. They
pursue the “good life,” the so-called “American dream.”
But there is no “good life” you can buy no matter how much money you have. The “American dream”
is nothing but an illusion and chasing the dream can become destructive. Statistics indicate the more
money you have the more likely you are to commit suicide; life expectancy decreases as income
increases. Money adds to stress, and that in turn takes years off your life. One study shows that wealth
also intensifies moral decline and family disintegration. Marital infidelity and divorce rates rise with
income levels. Obviously, money cannot buy happiness.
The apostle Paul was on target when he wrote, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a
snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of
money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and
pierced themselves with many a pang” (1 Tim. 6:9-10).
While obsession with money incites crime, destroys families, and wrecks lives, the ultimate price for
loving temporal things is eternal damnation. Jesus hinted at this when He asked, “What does it profit a
man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Perhaps the saddest observation of all is that the spending habits of people in the church differ little
from those of the world. The lifestyles of most professing Christians are not substantially different from
anyone else’s. Too many in the church have adopted the world’s indulgent attitude toward money.
Almost every form of materialistic extravagance and excess has found its way into the fellowship of
believers. It is as if the church has forgotten Jesus’ mandate to invest in eternity.
When money-lovers creep into the pulpit to steal from the treasury, it’s an obvious scandal. But isn’t
the money-lover in the pew — the person who refuses to give at all — just as disgraceful?
One study of several denominations revealed a gradual decline in giving over seventeen years, though
average income increased sharply in that time period. Material riches are proving to be a spiritual
liability. Christians now have more money at their disposal than at any time in human history, but they
proportionately invest far less in the kingdom. The same study further revealed that almost half of all
charitable giving in the United States comes from households with annual incomes under $30,000.
James 2:5 comes to mind: “Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the
kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
Hosea 13:6 sums up this tragic disparity: “Being satisfied, their heart became proud; therefore, they
forgot Me.” When we become prosperous, we become proud. Then we forget God. Frankly, for most
peple persecution is easier to endure than prosperity. In other words, there is a clear connection between
your attitude toward money and your spiritual health. Where you invest your treasure reveals where you
have set your trust and affections. That is why the Lord had so much to say about money.
Do you want to take your spiritual temperature? Look at your checkbook. Where are you investing your
treasure? That’s where your heart really is.
God does not give you riches to hoard, but to use for His glory. True enjoyment of wealth comes not
from possessing it, but from investing it as God intended—in things that count for eternity.
Available online at: http://www.gty.org/Resources/articles/20
COPRIGHT (C) 2007 Grace to You
You may reproduce this Grace to You content for non-commerical purposes in accordance with Grace
to You's Copyright Policy (http://www.gty.org/MeetGTY/Copyright).

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