Luke 12:33, commentary and pictures

Christ's command is to sell what is owned and give generously to the needy and to advance His work, thereby storing up a secure treasure in heaven that cannot fail, be stolen, decay or be destroyed as earthly riches can. The unfailing bags are heavenly treasuries where means used for God is safely invested and constantly accumulates without wearing out. All possessions belong to the Lord, so believers are stewards who must honor Him with their substance first, give willingly, cheerfully and sacrificially in proportion to means, and not hoard wealth in houses, lands, costly display or earthly investments. Where the treasure is placed the heart will follow, so using wealth for God's kingdom fixes the heart on heaven, calls for repentance from selfishness and covetousness, and belongs with watchful readiness for the Lord's return as pilgrims to a better country. Such self-denying investment turns earthly wealth into lasting security, enriches life now, brings joy to the giver, wins souls who in turn give glory to God, and lays a foundation for eternal life and glory, while wealth hoarded or withheld perishes with eternal loss.

Heavenly Treasure Described

Luke 12:33 promises a treasure in the heavens that does not fail and is secure where no thief approaches and no moth corrupts. It is laid up by using what is possessed to give alms, to help those in need, to serve God and support His work, rather than trusting in, hoarding, or spending means on earthly wealth, houses, land, costly goods, self-gratification and worldly investments. Earthly riches by contrast can be stolen, spoiled, destroyed and decay, while the treasure kept in heaven cannot be lost to theft or decay, taken or spoiled. That heavenly security is set against ministers urging investments in mining stock or city lots for quick profit, since serving God while pursuing such gain divides the heart. Greater wealth brings greater obligation to do good and to be humbled by what has been given, and glad conscientious giving both benefits those in need and revives the giver's spiritual life.

The bags which wax not old are the heavenly stores and treasuries where means put to use for God constantly accumulates. Gifts placed there are a safe investment in bags without holes that do not grow old or wear away, cannot be stolen or destroyed, and cannot be lost, worn away, corrupted by moth, consumed by fire, or broken in upon by thieves. Money entrusted as a stewardship becomes lasting heavenly treasure when put into preparing people for Christ's return, spreading the truth, meeting real needs, and helping others rather than spending on costly houses or needless adornment. Such self-denying sacrifice makes faith visible, challenges worldly ambition, brings a sure reward and cause for joy, and is to be willing, sacrificial and proportionate to means, for even those with little should deny themselves something and give what they can, as the widow's two mites show that a small gift given with sacrifice may exceed larger gifts from abundance.

The unfailing treasure includes title to the unsearchable riches of Christ, secured by sending property beforehand to heaven and laying it up beside the throne of God. Even those who have squandered entrusted goods still have this opportunity open to secure lasting riches. It is a sure title to an imperishable treasure and a mansion above, safer than perishable earthly property, carrying no danger of failing time or interest but bringing large returns, obtained by pursuing only a course God can approve so as to have His blessing, which makes a person truly rich even owning no earthly land while comfort and happiness in this life stay secondary to the better life. Using earthly wealth to relieve the poor lays up this unfailing treasure secure from theft and decay, and those who give means and sympathy from responsibility to God gain the durable riches and righteousness that wisdom offers. The treasure includes the crown of glory Christ gives those He redeems and saves, and a life that measures with the life of God received through the gospel.

Selling and Giving Commanded

The command is to sell what is owned and give to charity, using property and resources generously to help the needy and to advance God's work, so that treasure is laid up in heaven where it cannot fail, be taken, stolen, spoiled, destroyed or decay. Earthly riches are unreliable, but heavenly treasure is secure from thieves and moths, and the call is to dispose of worldly possessions, give up unnecessary property, return God's own resources through offerings, and transfer means to spreading the third angel's message while opportunity remains rather than hoarding in houses, land or costly goods. The heart follows what is valued, so placing treasure in heaven fixes priorities on God's kingdom rather than earthly security, and this giving belongs with readiness for the Lord's return, which is not idle waiting but faithful work and service. Glad, conscientious giving benefits those in need and revives the giver's spiritual life.

All possessions belong to the Lord and money has value only through its use, with money invested in the Lord's work having the highest value because it is entrusted by God and not owned outright. Believers are therefore stewards under sacred responsibility who must not follow worldly customs with money, but must follow Christ's example in investing the Lord's goods to bless humanity, help the poor, needy, orphan and fatherless, establish missions in all parts of the world, and prepare people for Christ's return, knowing they must render an account. Property is a talent entrusted for generous use in advancing truth and saving souls, and putting it into that work is laying up lasting heavenly treasure safer than earthly money or property, pictured as bags that do not grow old. Those given riches are not to settle into idle ease to eat, drink and be merry, nor to hoard wealth in expensive mansions or bank-stock, for wealth comes by God's gift with power to get it by honest labor, to be received with thankfulness and returned to the Giver rather than used for self-gratification; honest riches are not condemned, but doing less than one can do brings guilt, and untold hoarded wealth weighs nothing against the salvation of souls for whom Christ died. Obeying through self-sacrifice makes faith visible and challenges worldly ambition.

Greater wealth brings greater obligation to do good and to be humbled by what has been given, rather than trusting in earthly wealth. The call means more than paying tithe: stewards of God's goods must honor Him with their substance, meet His claims first at whatever cost or sacrifice, put God's kingdom first rather than live to gratify selfish desires, and guard against a selfish, covetous spirit. All that is possessed belongs to the Lord, so offerings are to be given and tithe faithfully returned, with both large and small gifts sustaining the work and bringing people to Christ. Those with large farms and large possessions are to cut down their possessions and cut down the principal, bringing thank-offerings and sin-offerings and giving up needless ornament, extravagance and selfish indulgence, so that God's work will not languish for lack of means but will be extended in foreign lands and in unentered fields at home.

Giving is to be done while living, after the pattern of Christ who though rich became poor that others through His poverty might be rich, by denying self and giving a portion of property for the same saving work for which He gave His life. It forbids hoarding up property through life and then at death leaving a portion to some benevolent cause, holding wealth until death, or leaving it unused for others to dispose of afterward, and it forbids spending for selfish indulgences to gratify the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. The aged especially are to make a right disposition of the Lord's goods while living and in possession of reason, directing means to the instrumentalities established to advance truth and glorify His name, including arranging for resources to support the cause, advance truth, provide for faithful ministers who have ministered in word and doctrine, and continue to produce returns. Intended gifts delayed may be lost before they benefit the cause. Money so placed is sent beforehand to heaven instead of being bound in worldly enterprises, buildings and speculation, and is put out to the exchangers where it constantly accumulates, because the light of truth brought to others leads them to receive it and use their talents in turn so the work progresses and talents increase, and rendering God's entrusted capital with interest gives treasure in heaven in bags that wax not old; grudging giving for selfish investment receives no reward.

True obedience is willing, cheerful, generous, sacrificial giving proportionate to means, without fear that sacrifice is foolish, since all comes from God and Christ gave Himself to save. Those with abundance should give willingly, and those with little should still deny themselves something they can do without and give what they can even at personal cost, for a small gift given with sacrifice, like the widow's two mites, may exceed larger gifts from abundance. Money given for high and holy purposes becomes a consecrated offering when given willingly in response to His call, whatever the amount, and gives more elevated and permanent enjoyment than spending on personal gratification or hoarding selfishly for gain, laying up treasure that moth cannot corrupt, fire cannot consume and thieves cannot break in and steal, a safe investment placed in bags that have no holes and in heavenly stores and treasuries that do not grow old. It is heeded when selfish, grasping persons receive a new heart in conversion and stop using all skill to gain more for themselves and stop making bitter, stunted sacrifices, devoting abilities, toil, hardship, sacrifice, labor, zeal and energy to God and working as laboriously and zealously for Him as was once worked to obtain riches, and this holy and beneficent working testifies that conversion is genuine. Giving up earthly comforts in this way will be a cause for joy, and self-denying sacrifice for the cause brings a sure reward.

The verse was Christ's special instruction to the seventy as His delegated forerunners sent to give publicity to His work, create interest in Him and herald His approach, the same order He gave to the twelve for how to conduct themselves and what preliminary work to do. It means they were not to keep their goods, bind them up in a napkin and hide them in the earth, but to put to use the talents given them and put them out to the exchangers by using every ability of money, mind or influence in furthering the communication of the light of truth to souls sitting in darkness.

Limits and Misuses Clarified

The command to sell and give does not mean selling whenever others demand it nor selling everything regardless of circumstance. When available means can meet the present suitable need of God's cause, the duty is to give from what is at hand rather than to surrender a farm, a home, or land and the fruits of labor. Giving must answer a genuine call and serve a suitable purpose, and refusal to sell without a clear duty is not neglect and is no ground for burdening, condemning, or accusing a willing giver of covetousness. The person so taught is still to use time and strength responsibly, provide for the household, and stand ready to support God's work as real needs arise. Pressure to sell for the relief of distress, as when Bro. S. was urged to sell and give as though that would free him from distress, is selfish and wrongly directed when he already had means ready for the cause.

Selling and giving are for spreading the truth and sustaining the cause of present truth and for laying up treasure in heaven, not for maintaining in idleness those who are able to labor and support themselves. Those able to work should labor with their hands at what is good, supply the wants of their families, and have something to give to the cause. It is sin to support and indulge idleness in the able-bodied, and giving carelessly or hastily for that end injures people and wastes resources needed for the truth. The verse gives covetous persons no license to expect support from others or to rejoice in others selling, and it gives property holders no reason to hold fast to what they have. To make it the principal message of a party teaching that work is sinful, that the Jubilee has come, and that the poor must be supported without labor, or to gather followers seeking loaves and fishes with falsehood in their mouths, is error that must be purged out.

The verse must therefore be handled cautiously with its reasons stated, not pressed with fiery zeal and without judgment as the chief burden in a way that disgusts, tries, and hardens those who have wealth that could be used for God. A bare appeal without explanation creates prejudice and a sore dividing spirit, and both harsh pressers and the opposing party are wrong. Coveting another's goods while neglecting one's own responsibility, pressuring a brother to surrender his possessions for those able to support themselves, and following for material benefit rather than to glorify God put the command in a wrong light. Self-denial and sacrifice rest on rich and poor alike, and even the poor, like the widow, can contribute what they can toward genuine need and the advance of the cause. Great responsibility rests on stewards here, since money wrongly used can ruin workers while money withheld starves ministers and lets souls sink and die, as shown when the gift from selling the turkeys with a further gift helped Bro. Wheeler return to gospel labor.

The immediate duty under the verse is not the same for everyone. Those entrusted with lands and houses, who cling selfishly to earthly wealth and lack faith to put means into saving people, are to begin selling and give alms without delay. Those who have little should seek God for wisdom whether selling their homes is their duty.

Giving alms does not mean church funds should be largely diverted to poor-relief or absorbed by work for the poor and outcast. The resources given are needed for the treasury of the gospel ministry, including medical missionary work, building hospitals and sanitariums, raising up churches, and advancing the work in new, foreign, and suffering missionary fields. Personal property is to be sold and given generously with a responsibility reaching beyond what is commonly comprehended, yet without turning those fields aside to other projects. Medical missionary workers, whose work is not denominational, may seek support from people outside the church.

Heart, Readiness, and Pilgrimage

Where treasure is placed the heart follows, so putting wealth into God's kingdom fixes the heart there and discloses priorities, while keeping treasure on earth fixes the heart on earth. Giving to those in need and using possessions for lasting heavenly security rather than hoarding them in houses, land, costly goods, or spending them on self-gratification sends treasure ahead where it cannot be stolen or spoiled. Means are to be used now to support God's work when help is needed rather than waiting until the work can provide for itself, and those entrusted with substantial property are to sell what is not needed and answer to God for the use of what He entrusted. Glad, conscientious giving benefits those in need and revives the giver's spiritual life, and this call to lay up treasure in heaven belongs with readiness for Christ's return as faithful work and service rather than idle waiting.

The call to give belongs with readiness for the returning Lord, for servants are to remain watchful and prepared for His coming. Readiness is living as faithful, watchful workers with loins girded and lights burning, not settling into idle ease to eat, drink and be merry. Seeking God's kingdom is joined to freedom from fear and to preparation for the Son of man's unexpected return, since what is valued shapes the heart. Wealth is not one's own but the Lord's, given with power to get it by honest labor to be received with thankfulness and returned to the Giver for perishing souls rather than used for self-gratification in expensive mansions or bank-stock, for honest riches are not condemned but doing less than one can do brings guilt. Putting God’s kingdom first by giving to the needy and investing in lasting treasure in bags that do not grow old gives security beyond the reach of thieves and moths that earthly possessions cannot provide.

Believers are pilgrims moving to a better heavenly country, not settlers and dwellers on earth, with citizenship above and attachment to earthly life to be avoided. Therefore possessions are to be reduced rather than increased, affairs brought into as small and compact a form as possible, earthly treasures allowed to decrease during the waiting time, and holdings kept few and limited. Means are not to be buried in land or worldly enterprises but directed into God's work and the worldwide spread of truth while opportunity remains. A house of worship is to be supported freely while money is treated as the Lord's, neat and tasteful and appropriate to the faith and free from debt, without spending on needless adornment.

The nearness of the end makes faithful use urgent, for there is little time and the work must be done quickly by investing means in Christ's cause and helping sound the gospel warning to the world. Every spare dollar is to go into the Lord's work, including institutions that educate workers, rather than being withheld because the end is near. It is now too late to cling to worldly treasures, for soon houses and lands will be of no benefit to anyone as God's curse rests more and more heavily upon the earth. What belongs to God must be passed on in offerings to advance His work, and this call must be faithfully borne and urged home upon hearts.

The call to sell and give is proclaimed as repentance from selfishness, self-indulgence and covetousness, and God will work with those who become contrite and turn from these sins. Those blessed with great light are to put the whole heart into Christ's service rather than strive in a tame, listless way without religious interest, with daily prayer and watchfulness and a life that practices what it claims to believe. Every son and daughter of God is to be intensely in earnest, taking up appointed work now as part of the church militant and not the church glorified, watching, praying, waiting and working at the post of duty every day as long as time lasts with no release from the warfare.

Earthly Hoarding Forbidden

Possessions are to be used generously to help others and to support God's work rather than hoarded in houses, land, costly goods, expensive mansions, or bank-stock. They are not to be kept to enrich self nor spent on self-gratification, pride of dress, display, costly houses, and needless adornment. Accumulating land and houses for self is covetousness and idolatry, while making and saving money in order to give is obedience. The call is applied to reducing farms, houses, and other property and directing the proceeds and the savings from needless expenses to God's work. Ministers and churches burdened by debt are to practice self-denial, accept less, and advance the work instead of burying means in houses, land, costly habits, and costly dress for personal benefit.

Acquisition must not be made the chief burden, nor are believers to become entangled in worldly possessions, land speculation, mining, real estate, earthly banks, and other worldly enterprises where the cause is not benefited. To become so entangled that there is no means left to put into the treasury is to do the very thing commanded not to do. Satan works to deceive believers at the very time they should sell, leading them to withdraw means even when loaned for good work and to bury it in the earth to try their fortunes. Investing available means in land speculation and similar schemes diverts money that should sustain the cause and advance the work in the earth.

Earthly banks and investments, including mining and real estate, can suffer great failures and losses, unlike heavenly treasure that cannot fail. Pursuit of earthly gain fosters greed and grudging of every dollar called for God's work. Ministers must therefore not urge investments in mining stock or city lots for quick profit, because serving God while pursuing such gain divides the heart. Lasting treasure in heaven cannot be lost to theft or decay, and it is secured by using possessions to help others rather than seeking worldly gain.

The command is plain, and covetous Christians neglect it while sometimes using concern for the poor as a cover for selfishness. Acquiring wealth for abundance and for the satisfaction of knowing there is abundance is contrary to the example of Christ, who though rich became poor to give eternal treasures. Accepting Satan's suggestions about property and giving little weight to this direct injunction puts the soul in peril as long as it is maintained, and causes thousands to miss heaven. The verse plainly states danger and lays open the duty of the children of light in the use of entrusted means. It is not safe to follow the customs and practices of the world with money; each one must feel sacred responsibility as a steward and follow Christ's example in investing the Lord's goods, lest Satan divert the Lord's money into forbidden channels and rob His treasury of means to bless humanity, help the poor, needy, orphan and fatherless, and establish missions in all parts of the world.

Investing in God's Work

Selling and giving turns earthly wealth into lasting heavenly security by funding the spread of truth, sending workers into new places, entering the whitening harvest field, warning the world of Christ's coming, and supplying neglected cities close at hand and in America as well as foreign, suffering and unreached missionary fields. Those who have received light are responsible to share it and will render an account to God for their stewardship, feeling a burden to plant the standard of truth in new places with both means and volunteers. Giving for this purpose means placing spare and available means in the Lord's storehouse rather than tying it up in earthly property, so that it lays up treasure beyond theft or decay. It does not mean supporting in idleness those able to work and provide for themselves; those able to labor should work with their hands to meet their families' needs and to sustain the cause, since careless or hasty giving can injure people and waste resources needed for the truth.

Giving sustains gospel ministry and its treasury, including medical missionary work, hospitals and sanitariums, churches, schools, publishing and sharing truth in new fields and among those in darkness, and educating youth for service. Resources given in this way are put to use and continue to produce returns, and arranging while still able to direct means to support the cause, advance truth, and provide for faithful ministers lays up lasting treasure. Funds needed for foreign and suffering fields should not be diverted to other projects, and money must not be bound up in large expensive buildings as if buildings could proclaim the message. Helping the school and the cause rather than spending carelessly in worldly company is a practical way to lay up treasure that does not fail.

Donations for a simple, appropriate, neat, tasteful and debt-free house of worship are sacrifices freely made without ostentation or needless adornment that are recognized by the Lord and laid up beside His throne as unfailing treasure. Believers who love Jesus show a missionary spirit by curtailing personal expenses, spending nothing needlessly on pride of dress and display, carefully treasuring every penny, denying self, taking up the cross, and supplying the treasury for urgent need such as a safe and comfortable meetinghouse in Melbourne. Earthly possessions are thus turned into heavenly security by generosity rather than kept for self or earthly display, in keeping with pilgrims whose citizenship is above.

Means beyond life's actual necessities are to bless humanity by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, relieving suffering, helping the poor, needy, orphan and fatherless, and caring for the suffering and vulnerable. This right use is giving of means and sympathy for the benefit of the poor and gladly uniting talents of influence and means in works of beneficence, as God's merciful helping hand showing mercy even as the Father in heaven is merciful. It draws givers away from selfish interests toward Christ, so that those converted consecrate time, money, talents and influence to winning others, and it gains durable riches and righteousness for rich givers awakened to responsibility and accountability to God as His representatives. Such willing and cheerful giving flows from gratitude for God's gift of His Son offered on the cross for sinners in spiritual destitution who had nothing to offer and were bought with a price, tests allegiance since all handled is His entrusted goods, and stores unfailing riches above unto an eternal weight of glory.

Faithful ministers and workers who gave their means and service in the necessity of the work have laid up treasure in the heavens that faileth not. One who has so given is therefore not to be ranked merely with the poor even when in earthly necessity, but has a just claim to be served and cared for in return. The members of God's family are obligated to help him and his family in their necessity with no stinted restoration, lifting him to a position where he can have a comfortable home and employment to support himself and his family. Money is God's money handled by stewards who must render an account, and placing it in the cause puts it out to the exchangers where it constantly accumulates as the light brought to others leads them to receive it and use their talents in turn; directing means to the instrumentalities God established, including the wants of those who ministered faithfully in word and doctrine, gives treasure in bags that wax not old, while grudging giving for selfish investment receives no reward.

Selling what is not needed, including unneeded houses and lands, can provide funds to secure secluded country places for those leaving crowded cities, especially to protect children from growing corruption and surround them with what is pure and uplifting. The same loosening of hold on earthly possessions applies urgently to large farms, which should be narrowed down and acted upon without delay rather than merely spoken about, transferring attachment from earthly wealth to heavenly treasure and securing lasting treasure rather than holding earthly property. Selling part of a farm to give alms turns material wealth into treasure that cannot be lost or ruined.

Parents should use their own means themselves to serve God and advance His cause, thereby laying up treasure that does not fail and is secure from loss. Leaving surplus unused for God to children who already have enough withholds resources from God's work and deprives parents of the privilege of laying up heavenly treasure.

Self-denial and sacrifice are duties of both rich and poor in relieving genuine need and advancing the cause, and the poor like the widow can contribute what they can, but the command does not justify pressuring a brother to surrender the fruits of labor for those able to support themselves as though doing so would free him from distress. A gift from selling turkeys, together with a further gift, helped return a worker to gospel labor. Selling a silk dress and sending the money to support a mission lays up lasting treasure, and using means to educate young men for ministry puts money into lasting bags where it cannot be lost or spoiled.

Promise and Reward

Seeking enduring heavenly treasure rather than planning only for the short years of earthly life enriches and ennobles life on earth, for godliness benefits both this life and the life to come. Possessions are to be used generously to help others and support God's work rather than hoarded in houses, land, or costly goods, transferring means to spreading the truth while opportunity remains. Glad, conscientious giving benefits those in need and revives the giver's own spiritual life, revealing priorities because where treasure is placed the heart will be also.

Earthly possessions become lasting heavenly treasure in treasuries that do not fail when given for Christ's work and for others, and though selling may mean giving up earthly comforts the heavenly treasure will be a cause for joy. Money given for high and holy purposes becomes a consecrated offering when given willingly in response to God's call, whatever the amount, bringing more elevated and permanent enjoyment than spending on personal gratification or hoarding selfishly for gain. Such gifts are a safe investment placed in bags that have no holes and do not grow old, where moth cannot corrupt, fire cannot consume, and thieves cannot break in and steal. Owners of land and houses are to sell and use the money to meet missionary needs, which brings satisfaction and keeps resources flowing to convert others who in turn practice self-denial, economy, and simplicity and give to God so gifts produce further conversions and glory to God.

Self-sacrificing obedience that puts entrusted money into preparing people for Christ's return is safer than earthly money or property because it cannot be stolen or destroyed, making faith visible and challenging worldly ambition. Using earthly wealth to relieve suffering and benefit the poor lays up enduring treasure safe from theft and decay, drawing givers away from selfish interests toward Christ. Those converted then consecrate time, money, talents, influence, sympathy, and means to winning others and gladly unite in works of beneficence, devoting means and abilities to God in Christlike self-sacrifice and self-denial that makes discipleship visible to the world.

Even those who have squandered entrusted goods still have opportunity open to secure lasting riches by sending property beforehand to heaven through generous good works with a view to eternal life. This means laying up treasure beside the throne of God and making sure of title to the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Those with worldly riches become rich toward God and rich in good works by using means to help the needy and support saving souls, transferring affections from earthly wealth to the eternal inheritance. Such giving lays up secure heavenly treasure and a foundation for the future leading toward eternal life, flowing from gratitude for God's gift of His Son offered on the cross for sinners in spiritual destitution who were bought with a price. God asks only for His own since all handled is His entrusted goods, testing allegiance and calling each person to make all possible of himself to have greater capability to return to Him by imparting and receiving to impart. The covetous rich man could have stored treasure in heaven but covetousness cost him both worlds, while those who use means humbly for God's glory in loving compassionate service as God's merciful helping hand will receive their treasure from the Master, enter into His joy, and at last come into possession of an eternal weight of glory.

Earthly wealth is perishable, while giving to help others and advance God's work lays up unfailing treasure, so opportunity must be used while it can benefit the needy. Money withheld from God's work brings no heavenly increase and will perish, whether from those with little or much. Wealth withheld when it could have done good cannot make up for neglected good when offered too late as the work closes, and wealthy believers must not cling to possessions or delay until resources are no longer useful and the chance to bless others is lost. Means are to bless the poor rather than be spent selfishly or withheld, for faithful giving preserves secure lasting heavenly treasure while hoarding or misusing entrusted means brings eternal loss and fearful rejection of the instruction.

Generous giving and security in unfailing treasure strengthened disciples facing reproach, poverty, and persecution in their work for Christ. Investing time, interest, and money in God's cause lays up treasure that cannot be destroyed by fire or swept away by adversity, teaching a life of service rather than living for ease or self, with trust and humble submission if earthly possessions are taken away. The call means denying corrupting appetites and passions, putting away covetousness by selling and giving, partaking with Christ in self-denial and suffering to partake with Him in glory, and using every blessing and talent for saving perishing souls instead of burying them in the earth. Even the smallest portion used for pride or self-indulgence hinders the soul and prevents growth to full stature, while uplifting to a new noble life forms a character like Christ's essential to eternal life.

Gifts given to human friends rather than used to advance God's cause do not lay up lasting treasure, while offerings directed into consecrated channels honor God and build up His cause. Money spent carelessly in worldly company does not lay up treasure, but helping the school and the cause of God does. Treasure is laid beside the throne by placing money where in great necessity it can enter new fields, raise up companies of Sabbathkeepers, and build meetinghouses for them, through self-denial and entrusting gifts to a faithful steward to appropriate them.

Truly believing leads to separating from the world, living out faith, sacrificing worldly interests, and prizing one's own salvation and a child's salvation above them in order to give and store heavenly treasure. Laying up unfailing treasure means investing powers in God's work like putting talents to use for right return, a profitable work in which every level of wealth and education can take part. Securing sure title to imperishable treasure and a mansion above deserves greater zeal than securing title to perishable earthly property, carrying no danger of failing time or interest but large returns, obtained by pursuing only a course God can approve so His blessing makes a person truly rich even owning no earthly land. Sending treasure beforehand by putting God's money into His cause instead of binding it in worldly enterprises, buildings, and speculation puts it out to the exchangers where it constantly accumulates, because truth brought to others leads them to receive it and use their talents in turn so the work progresses and talents increase. The aged especially are to make right disposition of the Lord's goods while living and in possession of reason, directing means to established instrumentalities to advance truth and meet wants of faithful ministers, rendering entrusted capital with interest in heaven's bank where it is secure and brings heavenly gain instead of enduring earthly treasure.

Ministers and churches facing debt are to practice self-denial, accept less, and use means to advance the work instead of burying them in houses, land, costly habits, and costly dress for personal benefit or self-enrichment. Such self-denying giving stores lasting treasure in heaven.