Store Up Treasures in Heaven

The ancient Egyptian, Incas, and others were buried with their treasures, which eventually ended up in the hands of grave robbers or museum curators. People today no longer do that, unless they stipulate in their will that they be buried in their treasured car. A few have actually done that. Most people, are buried with nothing, not even a ring. But that doesn’t mean they’re not attached to material things when they die; they wish they could take it with them. Attachment makes dying difficult.

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be. Money and possessions are just two types of treasures. Knowledges, status, a family, and beliefs are others. In the opera Aida, Radames treasures Aida over all the treasure and status that would be his as the Pharaoh’s son-in-law, over life itself. He and Aida are buried alive. Aida was the treasure in his heart. But even human love pales before the splendor of divine, selfless love. That is a treasure of heaven that cannot be destroyed. When we attain it, we can never lose it because it become part of us, for the kingdom (consciousness) of heaven is within.

The rich man asked Jesus what he needed to do to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and follow him. But it was too much for him. The rich man died, leaving his earthly treasure to his children and had no heavenly treasure. He could have been one of Jesus’s greatest disciples. Materialistic people, whether they are rich and successful or poor and aspiring to be rich, think that spiritual goals are nonsense. And they would be right, for spirituality goes beyond the five senses to the essence of life. In the word "essence" is the Latin root "esse," meaning "being." One definition of essence is "the most important ingredient; crucial element." Matter is composed of the four elements of earth, water, air, and fire in increasing levels of vibration that are perceived by the five senses. At the highest level is the fifth element, ether, the quintessence, which can only be percieved by the sixth sense of intuition. This is what heavely treasures are composed of.

You may not think of yourself as a rich person, but we all have “treasures” we can give away. One person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Clean out your garage, attic, and shed. Donate that old bicycle that could be someone’s transportation to a job. Donate that old furniture that could furnish a poor couple’s first apartment. In selfless giving, we accumulate good karma. But don’t even think of that because if you’re attached to the good karma you earn, it’s not totally selfless, and it doesn’t count as your treasure in heaven. Some people think that the good karma is the treasure. But it’s actually the virtue of Generosity. So, don’t think of earthly or heavenly reward, but think of virtues as heavenly gems in your heart: Kindness, Love, Purity, Wisdom, Joy, Faith, Hope, Truth, Justice, and Goodness. These comprise your quintessential treasure in heaven.