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Build up your treasures in heaven

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[Matthew 6:19-20]

“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.

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In the word of Jesus we have always read, He has given us two commands. The first is to keep the treasure on the ground. The second is to build up treasures in heaven.

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Jesus said that when he had built up treasures on the earth, vermin would be created, rusted, or thieves would steal. Let me explain what Jesus meant by this story.

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There was a rich farmer. In one year he had a huge harvest that he could not imagine. This rich man has become even richer.

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This rich man decided to demolish the existing warehouse and store much larger warehouses to store all the grain and goods there in order to keep the tremendous grain he will reap.

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The rich man who built the warehouse put all his own things in it. The rich man feels so good. The rich man has a lot of fortune, but he has no intention of giving it to the poor and has only accumulated it for himself.

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This rich man thought he had earned enough property to use himself. So he was very pleased with himself and said: “Now I have accumulated plenty of wealth in the storehouses that I can use for many years, so I will enjoy life at ease.”

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But God's thoughts were completely different. God, the Lord of life, told the rich man: “Foolish man! Tonight, I will take your soul. Then who will take the property that you have prepared?” That night the rich man died.

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This rich man peddled treasures on the earth diligently, but never tried any. Treasures on the ground have problems for a variety of reasons, as happened to this rich man. Jesus expressed the various problems that arise in the treasures that he has built on the earth that mold, rust, and thieves are right.

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Jesus said of this foolish rich man: “He is a man who has worked hard to build up wealth for himself, but has not been able to use the riches of what God is pleased with.” He who does not know how to use money for God's pleasure, It is said.

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Jesus told us to build up treasures in heaven. Then, what are some people building treasures in the sky? Jesus told us what will happen on the last day of judgment.

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On the last day, people gathered to judge before the judgment seat of Jesus. Jesus divides them right and left.

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Jesus proclaiming to the right people that they will enter the kingdom of heaven, saying:

You gave me something to eat when I was hungry, and gave me a drink when I was thirsty. And when I was a stranger you invited me and when I was naked you clothed me. When I was sick, you took care of me and found me when I was in prison.

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Those who heard Jesus asked Jesus. “Jesus, we have never did you what you said.” Jesus said to them, “What you did to the poor man, that you did to the weakest of these brothers, was done to me.” Jesus told them that what they did for the hardest people on earth was what they did for Jesus.

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These were the people who did what God pleased when they lived in the world. They used their time and money for hard and difficult people. Their actions were treasures in heaven. In the Gospel of Luke, today's Word is expressed in this way: 『Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.』 Lk 12:33~34

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He who builds up treasures in heaven likes to do what God pleases. He enjoys using money and time for what God is pleased with. These people will call Jesus a good and loyal servant and will exalt them.

  I hope that you will have good habits of using time and materials to glorify God for the work that God is pleased from when you are young.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)