[Greek] θησαυρίζω (thēsaurizō), [Latin] thesaurizare, [Latin] thesaurus, [Latin] recondere, [Latin] repositus, [French] cacher: to store up, to lay up, to keep in store, to gather up, to reserve; Mt.6:19-20, Lk.12:21, Rom.2:5, 1Cor.16:2, 2Cor.12:14, Jas.5:3, 2Pet.3:7
Accumulating spiritual treasures
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to store, to treasure up, to lay up, to hoard, and to preserve
Xenophon’s Cyropaedia 8.2.24: “He had observed that most people lay up for themselves what will serve to supply the wants of people.”
Herodotus’ 2.121: “The memorial of his name left by him was the western court of the temple of Hephaestus.”
Plato’s Phaedrus 276d: “The gardens of letters will treasure up reminders when he comes to forgetfulness of old age.”
Isocrates’ Antidosis 15.229: “Whom have these traducers ever seen reserving and treasuring up their depravities for use instead of divulging from the first evil instincts present in their nature?”
Old Testament: This term means to lay up treasures in a righteous store in heaven by good works.
Notable scriptures about spiritual treasures:
“Give alms from your possessions. Do not turn your face away from the poor, so that God’s face will not be turned away from you.” Tob.4:7
“Give in proportion to what you own. If you have great wealth, give alms out of your abundance; if you have but little, do not be afraid to give alms eve of that little.” Tob.4:8
“You will be storing up a goodly treasure for yourself against the day of adversity.” Tob 4:9
New Testament: This term means to store up, to set aside (save), and to reserve. We are called to store up heavenly treasure which last longer. These heavenly treasures are rich in what matters to God. Paul states that one must set aside money (collections) in service to others. Parents ought to provide for their children. Since earthly life is fleeting (brief), earthly goods and possessions will decay and erode. Our sinfulness, stubbornness, and hardness (of heart) will store up wrath for ourselves when we face our judgment.
Scripture:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroy, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart.” Mt.6:19-21
Earthly treasures do not last. Heavenly treasures, lasting much longer, are acts of love which come from the heart.
“Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself is not rich in what matters to God.” Lk.12:21
Heavenly treasures are by far more valuable in God’s ‘eyes’.
“By your stubbornness and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath and revelation of the just judgment of God.” Rom.2:5
One can actually store up wrath from God from your actions at the time of judgment.
Etymology: The Latin verb recondere means to put away, to hide, to put away, to hide, and to build again. A thesaurus is a treasury, collection and store house (of words). The related Latin verb abscondere means to hid, to conceal, and to put out of sight.
Conclusion:
Thesaurus, repository, cache, condo, condominium, abscond
The Old Testament culture develops the notion of laying up of a heavenly treasure by good acts (acts of love).
In the New Testament, Jesus continues this idea of repudiating the focus on the laying up of earthly goods. Paul stresses the importance of calling others to set aside collection for the poor and unfortunate. The Gentiles offering collections for the church in Jerusalem provides a symbol of unity (between different ethnic groups). The value of the true worth of treasure will be seen at the day of judgment. Every rich (wealthy) person must examine himself/herself) in how he/she uses this wealth.
I would say that many people are already aware of the notion of accumulating spiritual treasures in heaven. How many may actually consider doing this is another question.
Spiritual treasures ultimately come from the heart.
However, I don’t think many people are aware that one can store up wrath from God (by one’s actions).
–Useless Word Alert—
Recondite: hard to understand, hidden, little known
Update: Potentially destructive and devastating natural disasters can provide opportunities for many to donate blood, products and services to victims.
Giving of one’s time in ministry (serving others) can be a spiritual treasure.
Simple acts of generosity can become a spiritual treasure: mentoring a younger person, taking care (visiting) the elderly, walking an elderly person across the street, donating old clothes (and other items) to charity.
The wealthy (movie stars, professional athletes, politicians, etc.) can potentially help the poor (unfortunate) with their resources through charities and foundations, and out-reach programs.
In this culture of death, one must be very careful in not storing up sinful activity (just because you have the ‘right’ to do it). You also will be judged for this on the day of judgment.
Offering this advice is a lay up (relatively easy task). But actually doing this is not exactly a slam dunk. ☺☺☺
What is in store for my next post talks about about saying no. There is no denying the fact that what kind of treasures we focus on may determine our eternal fate. We need to accumulate spiritual treasures rather than earthly treasures. One cannot refuse the fact that spiritual treasures are much longer lasting. Each of us could potentially store up wrath by God when we face Him at our judgment. Then He may reject and renounce us.
Next post: to deny and to reject