Treasure in Heaven

One day as the Savior was with a group of disciples, he started talking to them about treasure, and the importance of laying up treasures in Heaven.

I was reading the verses depicted in the attached meme and couldn't help but ask myself, again, "What does Christ mean by 'treasures in Heaven'?" and "What am I doing each day to lay up 'treasures in Heaven'?"

Those are profound questions that can't be answered in one or two sentences. Why? For me the reason has to do with the fact that the actions required by the answers are life long, not something we do in an hour or a day and then we are done.

What does Christ mean by "treasures in Heaven"?

Part of the answer to this question is found directly in Matthew 25:34-40:

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e34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Those who serve Christ, will look for ways to bless the lives of others, not only when they are hungry or thirsty, but also when they are tired, poor, naked, ill, or in prison--not just physical prison, but spiritual prison induced by poor choices. We will forget ourselves and go to work, ever striving to give a hand up to anyone we can within our own sphere of influence.

Are there other ways to lay up treasures in Heaven? What about taking the time to listen? How about taking the time to play with a child, call a friend and say hi, welcoming a new neighbor to the area? All of these actions are acts of service that can lift and encourage the souls around us. How do these things help us lay up treasure? An ancient prophet king, known in the Book of Mormon as King Benjamin gives us the answer. It is found in Mosiah 2:17:

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

When we serve our fellow beings, we serve God. When we serve God, we lay up treasures in Heaven as our actions are recorded by the angels there and for which we will someday give an accounting.

What am I doing each day to lay up 'treasures in Heaven?

This is a very personal question--one that we must each answer for ourselves.

What do I do? I pray for the God to show me, or lead me to someone who life I can bless. I look first to those closest to me, meaning my dear wife, children, and wonderful mother-in-law. What can I do to help them today? How can I serve them? What can I do to bless and uplift them?

Then I work out from there. Is there a neighbor, either near, or far (with today's technology they can be half way around the world and still be a neighbor) that I can help? We have neighbors next door that we've adopted as surrogate grandparents. We get their mail for them. We take the trash out for them. We visit and talk with them and listen to them. We shovel the snow for them when needed. These are simple things, but they bless their lives.

The list of things we can do to bless others is endless. Each one of us has to determine what we do based on our time, talents, and abilities. What will you do?

On a final note, we must always remember that there is a key that unlocks the door to Heaven's treasure room where our treasures can be laid. We must always be sure that our motivation for doing what we do is not only because we the hope to receive a reward, either on earth or in Heaven. We must do what we do out of selfless love, just as Christ did. Only then will our actions turn the key and open the door. He is the keeper of that door, and He knows the thoughts, intents and desires of our hearts.

May each one of us live to hear the Savior say, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," (See Matthew 25:34).

Author

Randy McNeely is a father of five, an aspiring author as well as a singer/songwriter. He has written several patriotic songs, children’s songs and multiple religious hymns, including Oh Jesus, Savior of Mankind, which won a Special Recognition award in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 2008 Music Submission contest.