Connect Job 21:21 with Matthew 6:19-21 on storing treasures in heaven. Setting the Scene • Job 21 captures Job’s frank observation that the wicked often prosper in this life without apparent consequence. • Verse 21 sums up his point: “For what does he care for his household after him, when the number of his months has been cut off?” (Job 21:21). • Centuries later, Jesus addresses the same issue from the Sermon on the Mount: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth … But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). • Both passages force us to decide whether we will live solely for the present or for what endures beyond the grave. What Job Observes about Earthly Wealth • The wicked man “doesn’t care” what happens after he dies. His chief concern is squeezing every drop of satisfaction out of this brief life. • Job’s lament is not jealousy—it is dismay over a worldview that stops at the grave. • Earth-bound living, Job insists, leaves no lasting legacy. When life’s months run out, earthly gain instantly loses value (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19). Jesus’ Teaching on Lasting Treasure • Jesus takes Job’s observation further: earthly treasure is not merely short-lived; it is exposed to decay (“moth and rust”) and insecurity (“thieves break in and steal”). • Heavenly treasure, by contrast, is secure and indestructible. It travels with us past death’s threshold (1 Peter 1:4). • Location of treasure reveals location of heart. Where we invest shapes who we become. A Common Thread: Perspective Beyond the Grave • Job highlights the emptiness of a life disconnected from eternity; Jesus prescribes the remedy—shift the investment portfolio heavenward. • Both passages underscore that what we do with our resources is inseparable from what we believe about life after death. Practical Takeaways: Investing in Eternal Treasures • Prioritize generosity: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Giving to kingdom causes converts perishable wealth into eternal dividends. • Cultivate righteous deeds: God “will repay each one according to his works” (Romans 2:6). Acts of mercy, service, and faithfulness accumulate heavenly interest. • Anchor identity in Christ, not possessions: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2). • Hold assets loosely: “We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). Supporting Scriptures • Proverbs 23:4-5 — Wealth sprouts wings and flies away. • Luke 12:15-21 — Parable of the rich fool illustrates Job 21:21 in living color. • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 — The wealthy are urged to be rich in good works, “storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future.” • Hebrews 10:34 — Early believers joyfully accepted the seizure of property, knowing they possessed “a better and permanent one.” Handling Wealth Wisely Today • Budget with eternity in view: carve out deliberate space for giving first, living second. • Evaluate motives: ask whether purchases serve God’s purposes or merely showcase status. • Partner with ministries that advance the gospel; such investments echo into eternity (Philippians 4:17). • Live simply to free resources for eternal projects; simplicity magnifies contentment (Philippians 4:11-13). Job warns that life lived for the now evaporates at death; Jesus invites us to channel today’s resources into tomorrow’s kingdom. Choosing the latter secures treasure that no moth, rust, or thief can ever touch. |
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