Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-11-05
TREASURES IN HEAVEN.
BY Rev. Theodore l.. CuyIer. D. D.

heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth
corrupt, and Were 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 transactions of the
Bible-of our Lords injunction in his ser
mon 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 70 put what was
,de;lrest TO their hearts out of the reach
of the rust aud the robbers, they must
lodge theul in Coos Keeping there they
would be safe. The shrewdest business
man may often lie awake i'll uneasiness
about the absolute security of his invest
ments; the Master declares that what
I'VE invest in heavenly treasures can new
-er be lost.
Did Christ mean to recommend q large
bestowment of money for charitable pur-
poses in order TO secure a place III heav-
zen? Some have twisted this passage into
this selfish direction, and insisted that
aims giving in this world would purchase
aviation in the next world. But our
Lord never descended to such uerce-
nary morality; God is not to be bargain
ed with for gold or silver. The scope of
this divine injunction is infinitely wider
higher ana holier than any pecuniary
transaction for selfish purposes; it has an
intensely spiritual Significance.
The treasures to which he refers are
all those objects for which an immortal
being ought To live. and the possession
of which is the most pleasing in the sight
of God. When any man gives his heart
20 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 COM
mercial hurricanes, but what is dearest
80 him is secure. Il know whom | have
trusted, and | am persuaded that he is
able to keep that which have commit
ted unto him against that day" This
precious passage covers more than the
salvation of a believers soul 1t EN-
braces all the results and the fruits, and
the outcome of Il genuine Christian lie.
The moment that you are truly converted,
that moment you begin to make spiritual
Investments, you begin TO lay up heaTen-
ly treasures.
The servants Of Christ have a different
arithmetic freIl the wording He coUnts
his gains by the earthly possessions that
he accumulates. The Christian often
gains b. the losses of earthly thiGgs,
HE that loses for my sake finds is an
assurance FIJI of good cheer to many 4
tired and afflicted child of God Grasping
after earthly wealth or honor costs very
often sad loss of grace and godliness.
1t is not what we take up. but what we
are ready to give up, that makes us spir-
itnally rich Giving up for the sake of
our Master hCnors him, and adds to our
treasures in heayen. Therein is the pect-
liar glory of the martyrs; they counted
not even their lives as dear, 50 that they
might honor their crucified Lord. and glo-
rious will be their reward among the
crowned conqucrors ur youder.
1t is impossible TO compute what treas
ures every faithful Christian may be stor-
ing away for that celestial storehouse.
There is constant accumulation. There
is a laying up" da~ by day. God is 4
just accountant and n 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 lead
very differently from the assessors tax
books in this world. Plutus and AIiIas
are assessed in New York or London as
millionaires. Up yonder certain poor
lossal money mongers because she put
into the Lords treasury the two mites
that were all her living That box of ala
sbaster which Mary broke over the feet of
her beloved Master will not lose its fra
GRANGE in heaven.
Every act of self-denial. for Christ is an
investment for heaven. Every word
spoken for him here will echo there. A
,s ~ r. II.
ful parents. and Sunday school teachers.
4nd city mis- sionaries. and the whole army
Of hard toiers in the service of the hest
of masters. Do you sometimes get dis
couraged because you do not see more
Immediate results of your efforts? Don't
worry You are responsible for doing
your whole duty; God is responsible for
results His reward is with him. 10
give to every servant according as Lis
work shall he.
1t goes without saying that. rs ethey
who turn many to righteousness will shine
as the stars" in that celestial armament,
there. are some favored servants of Jesus
who will come into magnificent inherit
ances in heaven. We can Imagine Rob
,ert Raikes surrounded by multitude of
those who were the spiritual trophies of
lis Sunday schools, and Spurgeon vel
coined by the happy souls whom he led to
Jesus, and our own Moody finding his
heaven all TIE more joyous for the mum
bier of those whom his untring labors
won to the life everlasting. Consecrated
talents will then blaze as crowns of re-
j0icing. What an inducement is this IL
every young man and woman who is rails
ing the question: How shall | employ my
brains. my culture or my money 10 the
best ndvantagei Even ono talent if no,
hidden or wasted, shall make some very
humble Christians rich and radiant when
they come into their heavenly inherit.
ance.
In these days, and especially in our
own country. there is an astonishing in,
.crease of men of immense wealth; the
word million" is almost as common as
the word thousands" was in the DAYS
of my childhood. Haste to be rich is thu
prevailing mania; yet only very, very
small proportion Of all the most eager
seekers after wealth will ever attain it.
But every one of my readers may becomt
rich toward God" The secret of it is
to get by giving This is the true para
-d0x in the economy of grace, He that
refuses to give his whole heart to Christ
is doomed TO perish without Christ. lie
that saves for self only loses: he that
loses for Christ's sake is sure to save
Would you secure treasures in heaven
Then learn 10 give. and give bountifully
God loveth the cheerful Eiver. This il
not TO be limited to gifts of the purse; foi
the offerings Of silver and gold are only
part Of what orr Master has right to
we must freely give of everything tka
we have freely received