What's In Your Account?

There was once a television commercial which was advertising a certain credit card and at the end of the commercial someone would ask the viewing audience 'what's in your wallet?' Well today I'd like to ask you what's in your bank account? Do you know the balance? Probably most people could give me an answer within a few dollars of their balance because we know we need to be aware of how much money we have at all times; its something we need everyday. 


But what if I asked you what was in your Heavenly account? Do you know? Money means nothing in Heaven, in fact the gold that we value so much here on earth is used as pavement in Heaven. So what treasures have you laid up in Heaven? Is your account in arrears or is it flourishing? What's in your account?


The Word of God is very clear that we are to place more emphasis on our Heavenly account than our earthly bank account.  

“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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)

So what sort of treasure are we to be laying up in our Heavenly account? Any work that we do for the Lord and not selfish ambition becomes a treasure for Him. It could be a kind word, an encouraging word or it could be a kind act, a sacrificial act. The Lord, Himself, told us that when we do something to the 'least of these' we are doing it for Him. (Matthew 25:40) So we know that He sees what we are doing and He will reward us for it. 

But God's accounting system is different than the world's. In the world when someone is successful they are almost expected to brag about it; to have the limelight on themselves. We see their accomplishment and as a society we feel they have a right to crow about it and have their '15 minutes of fame'.  But with God it works differently. When we do something kind or good for someone and we brag about it, we lose whatever reward we would have had. "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."

Matthew 6:2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

We are to give to the needy. We are to care for the helpless and we are to show the love of God to all. And we are to do it as secretly as possible so only our Heavenly Father will see it. That's not always possible but it should be our goal  and if it isn't possible, for one reason or another, then we should make sure we are not taking any credit or being prideful of our act.

"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:3-4

What's in your account?