Introduction

On March 21, 2021, Pastor Eric spoke on:

How to Build Lasting Treasures.

In 2020, many of us learned that what we thought was permanent, was in fact temporary. Many
people lost their life savings, their homes or their jobs. Jesus talks about this in Matthew
6:19-21:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

God is not anti-treasure.

God is not against wealth –  He’s the one who gives us
wealth. Money is from God. It’s the love of money that is the root of all evil. In
Ecclesiastes 5:19 we read,

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and
possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in
their toil – this is a gift from God.

We also read in Haggai 2:8:

The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord.

God gives us the ability to produce wealth and accumulate possessions.

When the people of Israel were in the desert for 40 years, they had a desert
mentality. They simply focused on what they needed for that day. God was
training them to depend on Him for their daily needs. God did not want the
Israelites to stay in the desert. He was preparing their transition to the Promise Land. When we are in the Land of Promise and all our needs are met, God wants
us to remember Him. Deuteronomy 8:18 says:

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

God is concerned with where our treasure is stored.

Jesus wants us to invest in eternity. We should not store treasures on earth where they can be lost, stolen or destroyed. God wants us to store our treasures in heaven where they will be
safe for all eternity. Matthew 6:19 states:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

How do we do this?

We are to pay attention to how we treat God’s people.

We are ambassadors of God’s Kingdom. When we speak, we speak for all God’s
people. But most importantly, if we dishonour Christians, we also dishonour
God. Luke 10:16 says:

Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.

God watches how we welcome and treat his people, and He takes it personally.
Matthew 10:42 also states:

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

We are to be faithful until the end.

We are to be faithful and rejoice, even in tough times, because our reward will be great. In 2 Timothy 4:7 Paul says:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Matthew 11:5 also states:

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

We are to give to the less fortunate.

Every time we do something for someone in need, we are lending to the Lord. When we give, God will reward us generously. God’s reward will be much greater than any human reward.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul says:

…Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

By Tithes and Offerings.

God also wants us to honour Him with our tithes, in order to allow our church to invest in souls, in people and in their destiny. Proverbs 3:9
says:

Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

Watch video here: