The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
TREASURES IN HEAVEN. THEY ARE
PLEASING IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
By Rev. II. L.. Cuyler, ID. D., Pastor
Emeritus Lafayette-Avenue Pres
byterian Church, New York.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves do not break
through nor steal."-Matthew vi, 20.
store away stores for yourselves in
heaven" That is the rendering-in one of
the earlier English translations of the Bible
of our Lords injunction in his Sermon on
the Mount. He had just told his hearers
that the treasures laid up on earth were
liable to be consumed by the moth and the
rust, or stolen away by thieves. If they
wanted to put what was dearest to their
hearts out of the reach of the rust and the
robbers, they must lodge them in Gods
keeping: there they would be safe. The
shrewdest business man may often lie
awake in u~neasiness about the absolute
security of his investments; the Master
declares that what we invest in heavenly
treasures can never be lost.
Did Christ mean to recommend a large
bestowment of money for charitable pur-
poses in order to secure a place I'm heaven?
Some have twisted this passage into this
selfish direction, and insisted that almsgiv-
ing in this world would purchase salvation
In the next world. But our Lord never
descended to such a mercenary morality.
God Is not to be bargained with for gold
or silver. The scope of this divine injunc-
ton is infinitely wider, higher and holier
than any p~ecuniary transaction for selfish
purposes: 1t has an intensely spiritual sig
nificance.
The treasures to which he refers are all
those objects for which an immortal being
ought 20 live, and the possession of which
tho -11..s-- g. r. c;rlx - ~
When any man gives his heart to God and
sincerely aims to give his life to the service
Of God he then makes God his trustee. His
property may vanish in the flames or be
swept away by commercial hurricanes, but
what is dearest to him is secure. IL know
whom I have trusted, and / am persuaded
that He is able to keep that which I have
committed unto Him against that day."
This precious passage covers more than the
salvation of a believers soul. 1t embraces
all the results and the fruits and the out
come Of a genuine Christian life. The mo-
ment that you are truly converted that mo-
ment you begin to make spiritual invest
ments, you begin to lay UP heavenly treas
ures.
CHRISTIAN AND wORLDLING.
The servants of Christ have a different
arithmetic from the wording. He counts
his gains by the earthly possessions that
he accumulates. TIL Christian often gains
by the losses of earthly things. HE that
loses for my sake finds Is an assurance full
| of good cheer to many a tired and aflicted
child of God. Grasping after earthly wealth
or honor costs very often a sad loss of
grace and godliness. 1t is not what we take
up, but what we are ready to give up that
makes US spiritually rich. Giving up for
the sake Of our Master honors Him and
adds to our treasure in heaven. Therein is
counted not even their lives as dear so that
they might honor their crucifed Lord, and
glorious will be their reward among the
crowned conquerors up yonder.
It Is impossible to compute what treas
ures every faithful Christian may be stor-
ing away for that celestial storehouse.
There is a constant accumulation. There is
a laying up" day by day. God is a Just
accountant and a generous rewarder. A
book Of remembrance is kept, and God
will give to every one as his work shall be.
That record on high will read very differ
emily from the assessors taxbooks in this
world. Plutus and Midas are assessed in
New York or London as millionaires. Up
yonder a certain poor widow will out
shine many of these colossal money
mongers because she put into the Lords
treasury the two mites that were all her
living. That box Of alabaster which Mary
broke over the feet of her beloved Master
will not lose it's fragrance in heaven.
Every act of self-denial for Christ is an
investment for heaven. Every word spoken
for Him here will echo there. A precious
Encouragement is this for faithful parents,
and Sunday-school teachers, and city mis-
sionaries, and the whole army of hard toll
ers in the service of the best of Masters,
Do you sometimes get discouraged because
you do not see more immediate results OF
your efforts? Don't worry. You are re-
sponsible for doing your whole duty: God
is responsible for results. His reward is