You Don't Have to Be Rich to Have a Great Home in Heaven

You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Have a Great Home in Heaven

(This is a sequel to the blog “What’s God Got Against Barns?”)

The incident where Jesus was hanging out with His disciples across from the Temple treasury in Jerusalem where people deposited their tithes and offerings gives the cue.  When a widow woman whom He said only had two small copper coins amounting to one cent to her name placed them in the coffer He remarked, “That woman has given more than anyone else, though some had deposited large amounts.” (Mark 12:41-44)

Jesus made it clear that our gift is measured more by how much we keep than by how much we give.

What's God Got Against Barns?

What’s God Got Against Barns?

Luke 12:13-21

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” 

¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ ²¹ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Someone might read this and think, “Why is Jesus so upset with this guy who simply has great crops and needs a place to store them?  Why doesn’t He commend him for being responsible?”

The guy’s problem was that all he could see was his wealth and the security he associated with it.  Jesus gave this illustration when He was teaching about the false security associated with greed.  This life is a brief blip in comparison with eternity, and yet people will treat it like it is forever, while missing opportunities to do what Jesus taught us to do which is to give to Him first--right off the top, and be generous with others, thus laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven where there is no risk of loss or need to worry about storage.

Where is your security?  Where is your treasure being laid up?

There is a parable-type fable about a man who dies and finds himself in heaven being led to his dwelling there.  On the way to it many jaw-droppingly beautiful homes are passed.  However, when they arrive at the place designated for this man it is small and shabby.  He is shocked.  The angel, seeing the dumb-struck look on the man’s face tried to comfort him by saying, “I'm sorry, but we did the best we could with the funds you sent ahead.”

If there is any truth in that story, what’s your place going to be like?