Treasure in Heaven

What would you say if I told you that the Sermon on the Mount (Mat. 5-7) was about prosperity? Or if I told you Jesus was a prosperity preacher?
In fact, these statements are true--they're just not true in the common definition of prosperity. The Sermon on the Mount, and indeed much of the Lord's teaching concerns how we can become wealthy in heaven's economy. Jesus was absolutely a prosperity preacher if you understand what prosperity really is in God's economy. In contrast, what passes for prosperity in the eyes of men holds very little value in the Kingdom of God.
Most Christians tend to read the passages where Jesus spoke about "treasure in heaven", and picture a heavenly reward after this life is over that consists of things that are valued in this world. Come on now, admit it--you have enjoyed singing songs about your heavenly mansion and the streets of gold. I'm not here to pick an argument over what our eternal reward in the next world will be, but I do want to suggest that much of what Christ was speaking about was meant to be apprehended and used here and now. Jesus meant for his followers to be spiritually rich--in the sense that they had the spiritual capital to conduct heaven's business here in this world.
Jesus left great promises to his Church--promises that whatsoever we asked in his name would be done (Jn 14:13). Some have thought of these promises as a blank check that has been signed by Christ himself. In other words, (according to the thought), all we have to do is fill in the check and cash it.
But consider two instances in the early Church. In Acts 19:13-16, the seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were attempting to cast out a demon "in the name of Jesus whom Paul preacheth." The demon's response exposed their spiritual lack of capital.

Acts 19:15-16
(15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
(16)  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Now compare this to Acts 3:1-8, where Peter and John were going to the temple to pray and were confronted with a cripple who was begging for money.

Acts 3:6-7
(6)  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
(7)  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

The contrast is clear: The seven sons of the priest were trying to cash a check they didn't have the spiritual capital to write. Their heritage as sons of a leading priest may have given them credibility in the eyes of men, but in the eyes of the spirit world they were unknown and without resources. The evil spirit asked them, Who are you?
On the other hand, Peter and John were wealthy men in the Spirit. They were walking in the teachings of Jesus Christ and prospering because of it. It is out of their spiritual capital that they can speak and heaven and earth must comply. Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:... Freely they had received, and freely they gave.
In light of what you have just read, consider now the parable of the nobleman who went on a journey, and left behind his servants to do business with his money (Lu 19:12-27).

Luke 19:13 (NLT)
(13)  Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.'

Jesus is of course the nobleman who has temporarily left his servants in charge of his fortunes. We are the servants who have been given varied measures of the Lord's own capital. "...According as God hath dealt to each man the measure of faith" (Ro 12:3). We have been instructed to put the Lord's resources to work and make a profit for him while he is gone. The Lord wants us to prosper with his resources while he is away. When he returns, he will reward and judge according to how we have handled his finances.
Remember that the currency of heaven is not silver and gold. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Ro 14:17).
My next blog will discuss the ways in which Jesus taught us to prosper. I think you will be surprised at how much of a prosperity teacher Jesus really was!