Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on 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 and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus shows us in a simple way that it is unwise to lay up for ourselves treasures on earth. He says that moth and rust destroy them and thieves steal them. Moreover, the main thief who steals everything is death. And Jesus says: “Be prepared; you know neither the day nor the hour…”, and He speaks about a man whose land yielded plentifully and who planned to build large barns and thus to be secure about the future. God said to him: “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” These words are not only addressed to oligarchs or rich people but to every one of us. Why? Because it is also written: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy…” This is a commandment: we are commanded to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. Unless we store our treasures in heaven, we are like the rich man. However, if any rich man is mindful of death and uses his wealth for the good of others, he is wiser than a beggar or a mean person who has almost nothing but clings to something trivial and, moreover, is lazy to lay up treasures for himself in heaven. We store our treasures in heaven by doing good works and fighting against evil, lies, sin, the world and the devil. Everyone can do good works, e.g. in little things: help, encourage or give advice to someone, stand in defence of the truth, confess Jesus and not be ashamed of the faith, find time for prayer or neighbour. The important thing here is the words of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is your treasure? If it is on earth, you will lose it and if you do not care about eternal treasure, you will not obtain it. What is your treasure? The most precious Treasure is Jesus. He died on the cross for you. He prepared for you eternal glory in heaven. If all hated you, all scorned you, if you suffer for His sake and for the sake of justice, if you are persecuted for His sake, rejoice, for great glory is prepared for you in heaven. Of course, we can collect treasures in heaven not only by giving alms, doing good works, fasting or praying but also by bearing suffering and uniting it to Jesus’ suffering in little thing by faith.

Often even the most “burglar-proof” rich man cannot save his wealth from thieves and cheats, but certainly none of us can save it from the thief called death. This is the surest thief who steals everything from everyone without exception.

We are filled with peace at the thought that what we lay up for ourselves in heaven neither moth nor rust will destroy and no thief or even death will steal. Let us be wise, just as our Lord Jesus encourages us. Let us not only have the information, but let us think over this principle and apply it in our everyday life. This is wisdom – to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Download: Reflection on Mt 6:19-21