Bro. Brandon G. Bramlett Pastor - Bandana Baptist Church

The young man complied although he did not completely comprehend his father's request. If he wished to continue living at home, he had to stick with his dad's straightforward stipulations: hold down a job and pay rent. So, he paid his parents a substantial sum every month, hard-earned money that might otherwise have gone toward video games, upgrading his smartphone, and acquiring frivolous things from Amazon. Eventually, he decided to move out and buy his first home. It was then that his father revealed a long-time-coming surprise: "Son, I've been putting all of the money you've paid your mother and I into a savings account for the down payment on your house."

His sacrifices literally paid off. Though he likely doubted at times whether it was a waste of time and money, he ended up paying himself. And similarly, the sacrifices we make for the Lord and His kingdom are everlasting investments. What we give up for Christ--as costly as it may be on earth--is sent ahead of us and reserved in an eternal "savings account," to be inherited when we leave this world to live in a "house not made with hands" (2 Cor. 5:1). And this account is insured by the greatest "FDIC" of all: the Father's Deposits in Christ.

According to Jesus, we rob ourselves of heavenly rewards when we settle for a comfortable and complacent life where our time, talents, and treasures are spent on ourselves (cf. Mark 8:34-36). But when we give until it hurts, serve when it interrupts our schedule, and choose costly obedience over convenient sins, we grow "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21) and stockpile treasure in heaven: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt. 6:19-20, KJV). Christ also assured that we accrue "interest" on what we sacrifice: "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" (Luke 18:29-30). In other words, the Lord will not only reimburse what we give up on earth--He will infinitely multiply it in eternity.

Still, just as the son paid rent to please his father rather than secure a reward, we must bless others, give our all for God's kingdom, and treat every day as a sacrificial altar--not to manipulate God for blessings, but simply to please Him. The Lord owes us nothing, yet He promises to reward our faithfulness with "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Are you storing up treasures in heaven?