Concerning what is eternal.
One of the scriptures you just quoted speaks of laying treasures in heaven. Do you think if I lay enough financial or material treasures in heaven from the earth now, that it won't be eternal?
Of course, you will agree with me that I need to have the treasures here on earth first, before laying them in heaven.
Otherwise, if I don't have any treasures on earth now, which one will I lay in heaven from here?
Ok, this really made me laugh! You keep talking about earthly treasures, trying to justify your erroneous doctrine. You twist various verses to fit your narrative, to mean "rich right here and now" ignoring the multitude of verses that show how wrong your false doctrine is.
But then you do an about face, when confronted with your nonsense, and make it to say that we have to make our "treasures" now, so we will have them in heaven. As in material treasures! Like heaven would need such filthy things!
I don't know how anyone could be more mixed up. Either you take the heinous position of Word Faith and make it about everyone gets riches now, or you have to admit you were wrong and the purpose of our "treasures" is to store them in heaven. Which is certainly NOT in the text, the chapter, or the purpose of the Sermon on the Mount. (This passage is part of that sermon - perhaps read it all!)
Context! Context! Context!
"19 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matt 6:19-21
So far, we have established this text is part of the Sermon on the Mount. Someone already posted Matt 5, but let's review the first part.
"When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them by saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way." Matt 5:1-11
I'm not seeing one reference to being rich, physically. I am seeing how God helps those who are spiritually poor, are persecuted and are peacemakers. There's a good topic! Why not develop a doctrine about peacemaking? Oh right, you aren't sure how it would mesh with Old Testaments commands to occupy the land. Again, a study of covenants would help you there! (Thanks 7seas!)
Back to Matt 6.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matt 6:24
So, which are you despising, with your focus on money? Just curious! Oh wait, I guess God just drops the money on your lap? Because making a lot of money usually takes a lot of focus. And, before you come back at me about my poverty, again, I am quite comfortable in this life. We spent 20 years being dirt poor, but honoring God and putting him first. One day we turned around, and we had enough money for the rest of our lives. Oh, not for mansions, but a nice home, and cars, boats all paid for. Comfortable, as I said.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:25-34
This is following right after the verse you mentioned, plus the verse on not serving God and money. And what does it say?
That in fact, we are NOT to worry about our needs! God will provide for our needs, but nowhere does it say anything about riches or money. I guess Jesus already dealt with that in verse 24. Don't serve money, serve God. Why any preacher of the gospel would get pulled into this ridiculous heresy is beyond me.
Anyway, back to the final passage in Matt 6! It says the unconverted pursue food, drink and clothing. But, as Christians, what are we to pursue?
"But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matt 6:33.
What you are encouraging is they very opposite of this verse! We are not to focus at all on material things, although, in my case, anyway, we did become comfortable, partly because we focused on God and his righteousness.
First, aren't you a preacher in Africa? It no longer says in the profile, as it did on the old format. Whether I am right or not doesn't matter. The point is, this disgusting North American Word Faith or prosperity gospel exists, and it has been exported to places like Africa.
My former Greek professor does a lot of teaching in Africa. He said the local churches are being obliterated, as people flock to these new prosperity gospels, and then give and give when they have so little, and get nothing in return. Of course, the tide will turn. Or maybe all those converts to Christianity will walk away, when they realize these false teachers have fleeced them of what little they have, for a false gospel.
My advice to you, is to study hermeneutics. Every single post you have had on this thread, has bad hermeneutics. You start with your faulty supposition, (God wants me to be materially rich) and then pull bits and pieces out of Scripture, heedless of context or whether it actually applies to New Testament Christians and then cobble together a bad, unsound doctrine to prove your point.
I would challenge you to read the whole chapter of Matthew 6. Then read the whole Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is not promising riches. The only one promising that is false prosperity gospel preachers, like you. Much more to say, but this post is already too long!
