"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal."
- Matthew 6:20

To look at him, you wouldn't know he is rich.

Here is a guy who looks just like an average, ordinary man.  He isn't flashy.  He doesn't drive a sports car.  His home is a modest one.  His bank account isn't overflowing.  I mean, to look at him, you wouldn't know he is rich.

This guy just doesn't fit the mold.  He doesn't resemble the stereotype.  No whirlwind shopping sprees.  No luxurious vacations.  No guest appearances on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." 

To look at him, you wouldn't know he is rich.

He doesn't say anything to draw attention to his wealth.  He isn't a braggart.  In fact, he draws so little attention to himself that many people barely notice him at all.  Certainly nothing to indicate the enormous wealth that is his.

Through the years this guy has made a wise investment.  And he didn't even realize that he was investing.  He didn't set out for wealth, it just kind of happened to him along the way.    A little here, a little there.  It all adds up to a lot.  This guy is loaded.

Now, like I said, to look at him, you wouldn't know he is rich.  Unless, that is, you look at him from the eyes of the Lord.

You see, this man isn't wealthy because of money.  He isn't rich because of possessions.  He isn't loaded because his investments in stocks and bonds and mutuals paid off.  He is rich because he invested his life into living for Jesus Christ.

Teaching a Sunday school class.  Helping an elderly lady change a flat tire.  Providing food for the needy at Thanksgiving.  Offering an encouraging word to a distraught coworker.  Since the day He met the Savior, his life has been invested in service to the Kingdom of God.

He's been laying up treasures in heaven.  Crowns to throw at the feet of Jesus.  Eternal rewards that can't be measured with a pricetag.  An investment that will reap everlasting dividends.

Oh, he never set out to gain wealth.  He just chose to do the good works that Jesus put before him.  And someday, yes someday, he will meet his Savior face to face and hear those blessed words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make the ruler over many things:  enter thou into the joy of the Lord."

What about you and I?  Are we investing our lives in Christ?  Here's the reality of it:  we ALL invest our lives in something.  We either invest it in things that don't last, things that we can't take with us.  Or, we invest them in the work of the Lord, into those things that will endure forever.

Christian, what about your life?  What kind of investment are you making?

Why not make a decision to invest your life from this day forward into the things that really count.

"When my live on earth is through,
And my days are a vapor in the past,
May the things I say and do,
For Jesus Christ, forever last."