May 11, 2024 Devo

As we were walking into a restaurant yesterday, I noticed a group of teenage girls huddled together. They were talking rapidly in hushed voices, interrupting each other. I imagined that they were talking about the usual: school, boys, summer plans, or Taylor Swift. As I walked past them, I saw that they were each taking money out of their pockets and putting it into the hand of one girl, who was obviously the ring leader. She then took their collected money and walked over to where a homeless man stood and handed him the money. I was close enough to hear her say, “Here, this is enough to buy you a meal.” The man was startled. But not nearly as much as me. I had to choke back the tears in admiration of such caring, selfless teens. Those girls probably didn’t know it, but they’d just made an investment into the Bank of Eternity.
Jesus teaches that there are things that last and things that don’t. Things like clothes and make-up and iPhones and jewelry rust, wear out, and fade away. That’s why Jesus says don’t invest in them as if they are treasures. They’re not. Instead, in our verse today, Jesus tells us to “store our treasures in heaven.” But what does that mean?
Well, most of us in church leadership would tell you that it means to make sure you’re putting your money into ministries, missions, and things that are trying to achieve eternal goals, like the salvation of souls. That’s certainly one way to do it. But I think what those girls did was another way. Investing your time, energy, or money into helping someone who truly needs help. Giving up an hour of social media to cut the grass of the yard of an elderly person is an investment. Giving up an afternoon a week, like our Whiz Kids volunteers do, to help at-risk kids learn to read is an investment. Paying a kid’s way to church camp who can’t afford to go is an investment. Acts of kindness, generosity, and sacrifice are all a currency that the Bank of Eternity accepts. Because it makes a difference in someone’s life by touching them with the love of Jesus. Revelation 14:13 tells us that our “good deeds” follow us when we die. Our “stuff” doesn’t. I watched some teens store up some treasure in heaven by giving a homeless man a chance to have a decent meal. It made me want to make sure that I’m banking some eternal currency myself. I hope it inspires you, too. That’s God’s Word for you today.