Hebrews 10:34
For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Early believers joyfully accepted the loss of their possessions and comforts under persecution without giving up faith, because they knew they had a better possession that lasts forever in heaven. That heavenly inheritance is of far greater worth than anything earthly, an imperishable and enduring treasure to be sought above all else in trust in God's promises. What is given for God's work and the salvation of souls is not lost but laid up above, where it is secure from disaster and keeps increasing to eternal wealth. To have Christ is to have everything, for serving Him brings assurance of that immortal inheritance and eternal weight of glory. Those who hold this hope live as pilgrims and strangers here, not building on this world but turning from it to gain heaven, letting their actions show that earthly things pass away beside what is reserved for faithful overcomers.
Suffering Loss with Hope
The verse shows Christians under persecution bearing the loss of earthly comforts and possessions yet holding fast to faith in Christ rather than letting go under pressure. In that suffering they strengthened one another with faith and patience and hope. Their trials did not drive them from reward but brought them nearer to rest and reward, because they looked past present loss to what endures in heaven.
For that reason believers can part with worldly possessions with joy and can endure exile and suffering for the truth, knowing they possess in heaven a better and lasting possession. The same confidence that enables joyful loss also moves them to open their hearts and homes to fellow believers driven from their own homes, welcoming and caring for the displaced.
The verse also reflects the experience of dissenters from the popular faith who are robbed of their goods and tortured for religious principle. That spirit of religious intolerance triumphed in the dark ages. It is repeated whenever believers are prosecuted for conscience, such as when they are prosecuted for working on Sunday.
Better Enduring Substance
The heavenly inheritance is an enduring substance of greater worth than earthly possessions or outward display, to be sought as immortal worth and imperishable riches above all earthly things in trust in God's promises with the aim set on God and glory. Believers hold that immortal inheritance and eternal substance as members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Each person is deciding eternal destiny by the character now being developed while God tests and proves fitness for that family. The Lord will not take into His heavenly family those displeased with order, regulation, rule and discipline in this life who break down discipline and insist on their own will and perverse way. Those who despise discipline would bring disorder into heaven as they have brought strife into earthly homes, for the same principles governing life here in probation work out the same result above.
Having Christ is having everything, and serving in Christ's army brings good pay with assurance of an immortal inheritance and enduring substance. That enduring substance is an eternal weight of glory, so that accepting Christ as Saviour is the richest blessing God can give. The better and enduring substance is treasure in heaven laid up by giving to the work of God, where whatever is bestowed for the salvation of souls and the glory of God is not lost but invested in the most successful enterprise in this life and the life to come. Talents of gold and silver given to the exchangers continually gain in value and are registered to the giver's account in the kingdom of heaven to be received back as increased eternal wealth. All so laid up above is secure from disaster and loss and keeps increasing to eternal permanence.
Earthly possessions can be lost, while the heavenly treasure laid up with God is better, enduring, imperishable and never perishing. Those who are wealthy should be sought out with decided interest and urged to lay up lasting treasure in heaven by giving their means to advance God's work.
Pilgrim Life and Calling
The verse teaches that those who know they have in heaven an enduring substance do not build their hopes on this world. They are only passing through it as pilgrims and strangers, not as fellow citizens and dwellers on earth. Their actions testify to faith in that heavenly treasure, and their manners and actions preach that the things of this life are of minor consequence, must pass away, and are outweighed by the treasures of the kingdom reserved for faithful overcomers. This calls for bending all energies to obtain the necessary preparation before probation closes. Turning the back upon the world is laying up treasure in heaven as that enduring substance, and knowing that heavenly treasure spoils this world so that it looks desolate with nothing lovely in it. Those who so turn from the world to gain it are cause for rejoicing and praise.
Its hope means choosing Jesus and the immortal inheritance above worldly wealth, since the heavenly inheritance is worth more than every earthly possession. Created beauty may still be enjoyed without being worshiped, because it points to God its maker. The verse also holds instruction that workers in cities are to read carefully and make their own. It calls them to go forward in faith doing their very best, and as they watch and work and pray God will hear and answer their petitions and give them an experience invaluable for their after work.