Build Your Treasure in Heaven: Kingdom Superannuation

11 May

Nahum 2:1-13

Where Is Your Treasure?

Jesus said it clearly in Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Years ago, my friend David Stonestreet (now principal of Shire Christian School) served as music director at an Anglican church. After he led worship one Sunday, someone said, "Man, that service was awesome."

David looked back with mock disgust: "Thanks very much. You just stole my treasure."

"What?"

"You stole my treasure. The Bible says if you get the encouragement of men on earth, you've had your payment in full."

He was joking. But for years, that joke has been an orienting conversation. David was so good at talking about something familiar but saying it in a way that stuck.

When you can hold loosely to the things of this world. When you don't get your identity, belonging, and purpose from material things and the praise of people. When you're not worried about those things, you tend to be doing better as a follower of Jesus.

The question is: where are you building your treasure?

The Reality Check

There's a lot of talk about wars and how they're affecting financial bottom lines. Young people are increasingly worried about not being able to afford their own homes because of the cost of living. It's good to try and get a house. It's good to build things to look after ourselves—as long as we don't turn them into idols and think they are our treasure. They are useful things.

In an interview with Larry Norman’s he once said: "Any house I have on this earth is only a bus stop. Why would I get too comfortable in a bus stop? I'm only sitting here while I'm waiting for the bus."

Where do you build up your treasure? Do you find yourself getting caught by this world's sparkly things? Marks at school, career, sporting prowess, how fashionable you are?

We're all tempted to hold too tightly to the things of this earth. But the reality is one day someone else is going to be living in your house. Someone else is going to be driving your car. Someone else is going to be spending the money you've saved.

That's the reality. So what is the treasure we have in heaven?

Two Kinds of Heavenly Treasure

There are two kinds of treasure in the Christian life.

First: There’s treasure you can enjoy now. Kingdom wealth you're surrounded by in the present. The kind of wealth where you have enough money to go on a holiday or buy a new car, enjoying your wealth now.

In kingdom terms, it's being surrounded by people who are your treasure. Some of that treasure is old, long-time friends who've walked with you for decades. But look at the young people coming to church. Recent purchases. Recent treasure. Recent acquisitions. People who've only just started coming. Looking forward to seeing the investment bear fruit in eternity.

Second: Kingdom Superannuation. The kind of treasure locked away that you can't access until retirement, but one day you'll be able to enjoy it.

Recently, while finishing my PhD, I put out a request on Facebook: "Does anyone have old photos from Soul Revival in the 90s? I'd like to put them in my thesis."

A dear friend—Fiona—who I haven’t seen for 25 years sent some photos through. She's part of that superannuation. She might not be enjoyed again until retirement. Not when turning 65. But when moving from this life to the next.

And when she does too, she'll come running in heaven with tears in her eyes and say, "We did it! We got here!" And at the same time, both will say: "Thank you for helping me get here."

Because when you invest in another person's life, you are building treasure in heaven.

That changes the way you see church. When you're at church, you're building treasure you can enjoy now—but also building your super. Maybe not all the people there will be with you in five or six years, but they will be with you in five or six hundred years if they are in Christ.

Think about the people in your Bible study. The people you've helped lead in youth group. The people you've served with in the kitchen. The person you prayed with when their life was out of control. The people whose weddings you've attended because they invited you as their former youth leader.

That won't be taxed. That won't burst like a housing bubble. That balance won't go down.

Beautiful Feet That Bring Good News

Before Nahum chapter 2 takes place, God predicts He's going to destroy the biggest fear that the people of Judah have: Assyria.

As hard as this passage is to read for modern ears, this is a joyful announcement of accomplished judgment that ends suffering for the people of Judah.

Nahum 1:15 says: "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace. Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed."

Isaiah 52:7 echoes this: "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace."

When someone comes to give good news, isn't that beautiful? We celebrate when we hear someone got better from sickness, that cancer has left, that they're healed. We celebrate when someone finally passes their exams after struggling. We celebrate when people get their first job.

The difference is that Isaiah emphasizes the beauty of the messenger's feet while Nahum simply says "the feet." This suggests the messenger is coming from the horror of bloodshed and battle. But we have ringing in our ears that judgment is something we can escape.

The Fall of Nineveh

Nahum 2 gives a vivid prophetic description of the siege and fall of Nineveh.

God mocks them in verses 1-2: "An attacker advances against you, Nineveh. Guard the fortress, watch the road, brace yourselves, marshal all your strength."

God is saying: "Have a go, Nineveh. You'd better get all your troops out on your walls that you're so proud of, because I'm coming."

The rapid commands—guard, watch, strengthen, muster—challenge Nineveh to defend what they have. You can't hold on to anything you have. And neither can we.

As verse 2 says, "The Lord will restore the splendour of Jacob like the splendour of Israel." God's judgment on Nineveh is tied to God's restoration of His people. He's going to achieve both at the same time.

Assyria had emptied the glory of Israel by attacking the northern kingdom and dispersing the ten tribes. God's judgment on them for doing that is tied to His restoration of His people in Judah.

The judgment unfolds in vivid detail: shields red, warriors in scarlet, chariots flashing, storming through the streets like flaming torches. It's like watching a cinematic battle sequence. But it's ultimately not the day of the invader, it's the Lord's day. God has endured Nineveh's brutality for a long time, but now He's prepared the instrument of its judgment.

The invaders are invaded. The Assyrians who invaded others are now being invaded themselves.

The defenders panic (verse 5). The king summons his picked troops, but they stumble. They dash to the wall. The protective shield is put in place. But no one can protect themselves when God rises in judgment.

In verse 6, the city is breached. There's that ominous threat from chapter 1 that God will flood Nineveh. Ancient records tell us that Nineveh used the waters from the river as a protective barrier, creating a massive moat so enemy hordes couldn't get across.

They thought they were safe behind their rivers.

But ancient records say the rivers flooded. The actual structure they made to defend themselves was the reason the gates fell. The flood undermined the gates, and when the gates opened, the armies of Babylon and the Medes rushed in.

Verse 7: "It is decreed that Nineveh be exiled and carried away. Her female slaves moan like doves and beat their breasts."

This hasn't happened yet when Nahum writes it down, but it's settled. It will happen. It's signed, sealed, and delivered.

The one who exiled others will be exiled. The people who heard the cries of mercy from others will cry for mercy themselves. But it's too late. One hundred years before, Jonah came and told them to repent. That generation repented. But by this generation, they'd forgotten that repentance and were living with the consequences.

Their silver is plundered (verse 9). Their gold is plundered. Their supply that was endless from all the treasures they'd collected from around the world. Gone.

Doesn't it remind you of the man in Jesus' parable? A man had a barn full of grain and thought, "I need another barn, I've got so much wealth." Jesus said: "You fool, tonight your life will end and God will judge you."

If we spend all our effort on our own joy, what treasure will we have in heaven?

Don't Go to Heaven by Yourself

We are our treasure.

Even those who've been in church with you years ago that you haven't seen for ages, they're your superannuation.

Don't go to heaven by yourself. See if some other people will come with you. Isn't it more fun when you go on holidays and ask someone to come? You go skiing and invite a group. You go on a bush walk and ask if anyone else wants to come.

That's all we do when we evangelise.

And here's the beautiful part: some of our dearest treasure started off as strangers. Different age, different stage of life, different interests. They were just kids in youth group, then became leaders. And one day, when we're all in heaven, we'll talk about how much fun we had—and look forward to enjoying it forever.

The Greatest Announcement of Peace

The gospel is the greatest announcement of peace. Nahum's messenger points to that. And we know exactly how that peace has come.

In Christ, God announces peace through judgment.

Sin is judged at the cross. Death is defeated in the resurrection. The final enemies of God will be destroyed.

Nahum announces that God judged and destroyed the brutal oppressor of Nineveh, which He brought to fruition. He brought joyful news of peace to Judah. And He's pointing us to the gospel announcement that He will finally defeat every enemy of human beings through Christ.

Stay focused. Build up your treasure in heaven, not on earth. And bring as many people with you as you can.