What if I told you that picking up a random screw in a parking lot could be storing treasure in heaven?
Sounds ridiculous, right? But stick with me—because this idea might completely reframe how you think about Christian stewardship, generosity, and what it actually means to follow Jesus with your wallet.
Most of us have a mental checkbox when it comes to giving. Tithe? Check. Offering? Sure, when I can. But Jesus’ teaching on money goes way beyond percentages. And if we’re honest, our comfortable American assumptions about wealth and discipleship might be dangerously off-base.
The $1.1 Million Wake-Up Call
Here’s a sobering thought: $1.1 million can vanish overnight.
Whether it’s a market crash, a lawsuit, a medical emergency, or just plain old inflation eating away at your retirement—earthly wealth is shockingly fragile. Jesus wasn’t exaggerating when He talked about moth, rust, and thieves in Matthew 6:19-24. He was describing reality.
We convince ourselves that financial security equals safety. Build up enough savings, diversify your portfolio, lock down that pension—and you’ll be fine. But how should Christians view money and wealth when Scripture keeps warning us that earthly treasures don’t last?
The biblical view of money and possessions starts with a humbling truth: it’s not actually yours.
Matthew 6:19-24: The Teaching We Soften
Let’s look at what Jesus actually said:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Then comes the kicker:
“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.”
This Matthew 6:19-24 teaching isn’t gentle advice. It’s a binary choice. Serving God vs serving money isn’t about finding balance—it’s about picking a master.
And here’s where it gets uncomfortable: Jesus doesn’t ask for 10%. He asks for lordship over everything.
What About Tithing?
Is tithing wrong? Of course not. The principle of giving a portion back to God has deep biblical roots. But if we think dropping 10% in the plate settles our account with God, we’ve missed the point entirely.
Christian giving and generosity flow from a heart that recognizes everything belongs to Him. Your paycheck. Your house. Your car. Your time. Your talents. Even your prayers.
How to be a good steward as a Christian means managing all of it for His purposes—not just the slice you’ve designated as “God’s portion.”
What Does “Treasure in Heaven” Actually Mean?
So what does treasure in heaven explained look like practically? Is it some vague spiritual currency we cash in after we die?
Not exactly. Examples of eternal rewards in the Bible are surprisingly concrete:
Jesus tells a parable in Luke 16 about using “unrighteous wealth” to make friends who will welcome you into eternal dwellings. The idea? People you’ve helped, supported, or led to Christ through your generosity will be there to greet you in heaven.
Think about that. Supporting missions and ministry isn’t just writing a check—it’s potentially investing in eternal friendships. That missionary you help support? The people they reach could be welcoming you home someday.
Kingdom-Minded Living in Everyday Moments
This is where the parking lot screw comes in.
Using resources for eternal purposes doesn’t require a six-figure donation. It could mean:
- Picking up debris that might damage someone’s tire (serving others without recognition)
- Teaching Sunday school when you’d rather sleep in
- Hosting the youth group even though teenagers are exhausting
- Praying faithfully for someone who will never know you prayed
- Giving your time to visit someone lonely
Stewardship of prayers and service counts just as much as stewardship of dollars. Every act of faithful obedience—seen or unseen—is an investment in eternity.
How to Use Money to Glorify God
Alright, let’s get practical. How do you actually live this out without becoming either reckless or paralyzed by guilt?
1. Shift Your Mental Framework
Stop thinking of your money as yours with a portion going to God. Start thinking of it all as God’s, with you as the manager. This isn’t semantics—it changes everything about how you make decisions.
When you’re deciding whether to buy something, the question shifts from “Can I afford this?” to “Is this how God wants His resources used?”
2. Give Generously and Strategically
Christian stewardship means being thoughtful, not just impulsive. Yes, give—but give in ways that advance God’s kingdom effectively. Supporting missions and ministry, investing in your local church, helping those in genuine need.
And here’s something freeing: there’s no magic percentage that makes you “good enough.” The widow’s two coins were praised more than the large gifts of the wealthy. God looks at the heart behind the giving, not just the amount.
3. Hold Earthly Wealth Loosely
This doesn’t mean you can’t save for retirement or plan for the future. Proverbs commends the ant for storing up in summer. But there’s a difference between wise provision and anxious hoarding.
If losing your savings would devastate your faith, your treasure might be in the wrong place.
4. Invest in People
Eternal rewards in Scripture consistently connect to how we’ve treated others. Fed the hungry. Clothed the naked. Visited the prisoner. Welcomed the stranger.
Money is a tool. The question is whether you’re using it to build your own kingdom or God’s.
The Heart Test
Jesus said something profound: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Notice He didn’t say your heart determines your treasure. He said your treasure determines your heart. What you invest in shapes what you love.
Want to care more about missions? Give to missions. Want to love your church more? Invest your time there. Want to grow in compassion for the poor? Start serving them.
Kingdom-minded living isn’t just about right theology—it’s about putting your money, time, and energy where your mouth is. Your checkbook reveals your actual priorities more honestly than your prayer journal ever could.
What If You’re Struggling Financially?
Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Easy for you to say—I can barely pay my bills.”
Here’s the beautiful thing: Christian stewardship isn’t just for the wealthy. The widow with two coins gave more than all the rich people combined because she gave from her poverty.
You can be a faithful steward whether you’re making six figures or barely scraping by. It’s not about the amount—it’s about the heart posture that says, “God, everything I have is Yours. Show me how to use it for Your glory.”
And sometimes, stewardship of prayers and service is what you have to give when money is tight. That’s not second-best—that’s still eternal investment.
So What Now?
Here’s your challenge: This week, look at your calendar and your bank statement. Where is your time going? Where is your money going?
Not with guilt—with honesty. Those two documents reveal what you actually treasure more accurately than anything you’d tell someone at church.
Then ask God: “What would it look like to manage all of this for Your kingdom instead of my comfort?”
You might be surprised what He shows you. It could start with something as small as picking up a screw in a parking lot.
