Don’t 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 don’t break in and steal.
Matthew 6:19-20 (CSB)
Jesus finished teaching about giving, praying, and fasting. Now He talks about money and stuff.
Read both verses again. They’re the same command. Store up treasure. He never says treasure is bad. He asks where we’re keeping it. In His day, wealth was clothing, stored food, and coins. Moths got the clothes. Rot and rust got the food and metal. Thieves dug right through the mud walls. Everything stored on earth can be eaten, rotted, or taken. We know this. Phones break. Cars rust. Money runs out.
This doesn’t make saving wrong. The Bible tells us to plan ahead and provide for our families. The warning is about hoarding. Piling things up for ourselves and trusting the pile.
So what’s treasure in heaven? Everything done for God. The quiet giving. The private prayer. Kindness done for Jesus’ sake. He said even a cup of cold water given in His name gets rewarded (Matthew 10:42). None of that can rot or be stolen. God keeps it Himself.
An example could be making one deposit in heaven, on purpose. It could be, giving something quietly. Or, helping someone who can’t pay us back. Not a rule to keep. It comes from the heart.
And the Bible says our real treasure was bought for us. Not with silver or gold. Those wear out. We were bought with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus paid the one price that never loses value. That’s how safe our future is.