Compare Ecclesiastes 6:2 with Matthew 6:19-21 on storing treasures in heaven. Opening the Text • Ecclesiastes 6:2: “God gives a man wealth, possessions, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy them; instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a grievous evil.” • Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Immediate Observations • Ecclesiastes highlights the tragedy of earthly riches withheld from their owner’s enjoyment. • Jesus warns of earthly wealth’s vulnerability and calls for heavenly investment. • Both texts expose the insecurity of tangible assets and shift focus to what endures. Stark Contrast of Outcomes • Earthly treasure (Ecclesiastes 6:2, Matthew 6:19) – Can be lost to strangers, moth, rust, thieves. – Offers no lasting satisfaction or security. • Heavenly treasure (Matthew 6:20) – Immune to decay or theft. – Aligns the heart with eternal realities. Cautionary Tale from Ecclesiastes • Wealth, possessions, and honor are God-given, yet enjoyment is also God-given. • Without divine enablement, abundance becomes “futile and a grievous evil.” • The verse warns that riches themselves are not the problem; trusting them is. Christ’s Positive Command • Jesus does not merely condemn earthly accumulation; He redirects it. • “Store up” is an imperative—active, deliberate, continual. • Heavenly deposits consist of acts of obedience, generosity, and devotion (cf. 1 Timothy 6:18-19). Linking Old and New Testament Wisdom • Proverbs 23:4-5—riches sprout wings and fly away. • Luke 12:15—life is not measured by possessions. • 1 Timothy 6:17-19—hope in God, “treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future.” How to Store Treasure in Heaven • Give generously to those in need (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8). • Invest time and talent in gospel work (Philippians 4:17: “the credit that abounds to your account”). • Cultivate Christlike character—faith, hope, love—qualities that last into eternity (1 Corinthians 13:13). • Seek God’s kingdom first, trusting Him for earthly provision (Matthew 6:33). Heart Check • Where the treasure goes, the heart follows (Matthew 6:21). • Redirecting resources reshapes affections toward God’s priorities. • The emptiness of Ecclesiastes 6:2 is cured when possessions become instruments of worship rather than objects of worship. Takeaway Earthly wealth is fleeting and unsatisfying when hoarded, but it becomes eternally significant when converted into heavenly treasure through generous, kingdom-minded living. |
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