Jesus speaks of treasure in heaven during His encounter with the rich young ruler in Luke 18. The young, wealthy man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded that he knew the commandments, implying that if he could keep these commandments, he would indeed inherit eternal life. The young man, emphasis on young man, replied that he had indeed kept these commandments since he was a youth. And that’s where he revealed that he was actually NOT a keeper of all the commandments.

So Jesus lays the road to eternal life before him. Keep in mind, this was his original question. This was what he was seeking. Jesus said, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

His response is both shocking to us and normal for us! “But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”

The disciples, upon seeing his response and hearing Jesus’ revelation that salvation is impossible apart from God, were reeling. So were they truly saved? If the young, rich ruler couldn’t make it, had they made it? Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed You.” And He said to them, “truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

In order for us to get our minds, and more importantly, our hearts around this concept of treasure in heaven, I’ve made the following 5 observations based on this text.

1. The rich young ruler was fooled by fool’s gold. That’s what this world’s wealth is in light of eternity. It’s not the real thing. It’s a counterfeit. An illusion. A fake. This world’s wealth promises you things it can’t deliver like comfort, security, and happiness. Tragedy of all tragedies that this young ruler could not see how far superior, how far outlasting, how far outstanding is treasure in heaven compared to his wealth. The Bible describes this man as “extremely rich,” and yet all of his wealth could not even rise to the level of a comparison with what Jesus called treasure in heaven. Treasure in heaven DOES deliver what it promises; comfort, security, and happiness!
2. What made the young ruler “very sad” should have made him very glad! Jesus answered his question! The most important question anyone can ever ask in this life, and Jesus gave him the answer right then and there! He should have been overjoyed that he now KNEW the answer to the most important question of life. Furthermore, he should have been glad to know that even though he sell all his possessions, in the end he would not have lost ANYTHING! What he would gain with treasure in heaven would far surpass whatever he might give to the poor on earth. What a trade! He should have been glad, not sad.
3. What made the rich young ruler “very sad” would have made him eternally glad! If he would have been willing to go without this world’s goods for the brief period of time we spend on this earth, he would have inherited an ETERNITY of being in the presence of God! WOW! If he would have let go of what he thought to be his joy in this life, he would have known unimaginable, unspeakable joy for life everlasting, or as Jesus called it, treasure in heaven.
4. What does it look like to live for treasure in heaven? Peter and Jesus answer this question. As Paul would say, the willingness to count everything as loss in view of surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus the Lord! Peter testified that they had left their homes. Jesus declared that anyone who has left anything for the kingdom, will receive a much greater return! So what does it look like to live for treasure in heaven? Compare the rich young ruler to Peter. The rich young ruler would not let go of anything in this world because he valued his wealth over Christ. Peter would not let anything keep him from following Christ because he valued Christ over everything else.
5. Define treasure in heaven. Jesus gave the definition in his closing remarks, “in the age to come, eternal life.” Eternal life is treasure in heaven. Eternal life does not just mean ongoing, unceasing life. Eternal life means life in the presence of God that never ends. Never-ending life, real life, life in the glorious presence of God. Life to the fullest. Life in the freest sense. Life overflowing. Eternal life. Treasure in heaven.