Real Treasure

4:17 "Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account."

In this verse Paul contrasts the value of the increase in his financial standing as a result of having received their monetary gift with the value of the increase in their eternal standing as a result of having given it to him. Clearly, the latter far outweighs the former.

The reason that Paul can make this assessment is because heavenly treasure is far more valuable than earthly treasure:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." (Matt.6:19-20)

REAL treasure is heavenly treasure. The money of this world is not the real thing. It is a Satanic counterfeit that deceives many. We are all vulnerable to the temptation to think of this world’s treasures as somehow ultimate. In essence human sin is exchanging the glory of the Creator for the glory of the created. The things of the earth are created by God to reflect Him, but they are never to be put in His place. THAT is idolatry.

As with everything else on the earth, money is given to us to use for heavenly purposes. This is exactly what the Philippians did by sending their gift to Paul. Jesus tells us to use our earthly treasure to make friends in heaven (i.e. to obtain heavenly treasure):

"I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9)

God cares about how we use money. He wants us to use it - ALL of it - for heaven. And we will prove that we are not worshipers of money when we use it for heaven. Then the Lord will " know that you fear God, since you have not withheld" your money from Him (Gen.22:12). If we do not use our money for heaven, then we show we are not worthy of heaven:

"Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?" (Luke 16:11)

There is nothing wrong with longing for riches - but make sure that what you long for is real riches, not just counterfeit riches.

God says: You take care to obtain the real riches and I, God, will worry about the pretend riches; about the imitation riches, about picture riches. You worry about being "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21); I’ll worry about how rich you are in earthly things. You seek My kingdom; I’ll make sure all the things you need are provided for you (Matt.6:33)

Forgive me, Father, for turning tools into treasures. What kind of treasure is it if moths can ruin it? What kind of treasure can be destroyed by rust? Real treasures are heavenly treasures. Father, I yield everything I have to You. Help me to store up for myself an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. Help me not to seek after money or to spend it foolishly or for myself. Help me to use everything You give me on earth for the purposes of heaven.