“But what about earthly investment?” you might ask. “If we give all of our attention and effort to heavenly investment, will we not inevitably neglect necessary earthly investment?” We sense a conflict between the two kinds of investment. “Is it wrong for us to save for our children? Should we give all our possessions to the kingdom? May we have a savings account?”
Not all earthly investment conflicts with heavenly investment. Wealthy parents who save treasure for a needy child are building both earthly and heavenly treasures at the same time (Prov. 13:22). Proper enjoyment of some earthly treasures can help us to become more excited about the much greater enjoyment that our heavenly treasure will give. The point is that our earthly treasure must not become an end in itself. It must instead be used as a means to achieve other, more important goals.
No one rule can determine the rightness or wrongness of every specific action for every person in this regard. Should I put my bonus in a savings account or give it to a worthy Christian cause? There is usually no clear-cut answer. The important thing is the direction in which my life is tending. When I add several decisions like this together I should be able to detect whether I am becoming more attached to my earthly investments or my heavenly ones.
WHICH WAY AM I TENDING?
The following considerations will help assess the direction our lives are taking:
1. What is our primary source of confidence in life? If we are building our confidence on earthly investments, we are making the same mistake as the rich fool. A growing treasure in heaven provides a better source of confidence. It offers a thrilling enticement that helps us trade confidence in earthly treasures for the promise of everlasting abundance in the presence of God.
2. What gives us our greatest joy? Earthly possessions and pleasures should be increasingly overshadowed by the spiritual first fruits of the lavish banquet that will be ours in heaven. Such joy enables us to rise above the frustrations of our efforts to find security in earthly things.
3. What inspires our strongest commitment? A commitment to building our future by saving our treasure can only fail. A growing commitment to heavenly investment, though, compels us to give up such attempts at success. It helps us to pursue single-mindedly the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
There must be room for different practices among Christians. There will never be complete agreement on such practices, and we need to respect each other’s varying convictions.
One Christian’s faith may allow him to face the future with very little earthly treasure. Another Christian’s faith may enable him to maintain a large earthly treasure without putting undue confidence in it. The important thing is that all of our actions flow out of faith rather than a simple personal preference. Each of us must be convinced that what he does is right, for if we are in doubt we are condemned (Rom. 14:22–23).s
