I had the opportunity to spend some time with an old work friend recently who I hadn’t seen for a long time. At one point, we had worked together every day for two years but after I left that company, I lost touch with him. But as luck would have it, I had the chance to re-connect with him over some dinner so I took advantage.
As you can imagine, we talked about the usual work stuff and family stuff but somehow the topic bent toward him planning to win the lottery.
To be clear, in MY mind, that topic was mentally wasting energy because the chances of winning are not worth spending the time thinking about what you would do with all that money. But as I sat there and listened to my friend talk, I realized he had taken this lottery-planning topic to a whole new level.
Honestly, the amount of detail he had already planned out was utterly amazing. He knew what businesses and stocks he would invest in, who he planned to give money to, and how much. He knew what upgrades he would make to his home, where he would take his first vacation, how he would quit his job, and the list went on and on.
He even worked out a plan to help his kids pay off their student loans, buy his parents, sister, and nephews new homes…and guys, I could keep going. I finally interrupted him and asked him why? Why would you invest so much of your time and brainpower on a topic that will most likely NEVER happen?
He replied simply, “ah, but it could, and I want to be prepared”
“Prepared”, I thought. “That is an Interesting concept.”
From your perspective, what does it really take to be prepared for anything? Investing your time and brain power towards something helps one be prepared. However, from a Christian persepctive, Christ told us to prepare by storing up for ourselves, treasures in Heaven.
In other words, preparation for eternity…not preparation for winning the lottery, or for that matter, anything else here on earth. Besides, like my Dad always used to say, “you can’t take it with you”.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust can consume, and where thieves can neither break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt. 6:20-21
So what is a treasure in heaven? How can I have any connection with heaven while I am still here and living on this earth?
Here is how I look at this; my friend was investing huge amounts of his physical time thinking about a fantasy event rather than thinking about how to make a difference now.
For example, how about spending more time with his kids, or his wife, or both? What about focusing on or engaging with a particular subject that might make him better or even the people around him better?
The way I see it, all of these suggestions are treasures that are being stored in heaven for him. It truly is like making a deposit in a bank or better yet, it’s an investment in your heavenly eternal future.
Jesus said, “How will they know me? By how YOU love one another”
Pretty simple actually. If we take the time to be kind to someone, anyone…when you aren’t required to do so… it helps them, but believe it or not, that is also a treasure YOU have stored in heaven.
What you do here on earth is preparation for your eternal future…and it is SAFE
You see…everything we store up in heaven is safe…forever. There are not any malware or viruses that can wipe out your deposits in Heaven. Christ said in that same verse above, where neither moth nor rust can consume, and where thieves can neither break through nor steal.
NOTHING can destroy what you have stored there…It is safe for all eternity
My simple advice:
Why don’t we try to get out of our own way and focus on each other for a change, and watch what happens…
What I think you will find is a far happier group of family and friends because you aren’t 100% solely focused on you…or like my friend at the beginning of this post, who simply spent too much time planning for something that would never happen
So as you begin to look and plan for this next year, 2026…my recommendation is to start making your own heavenly deposits sooner rather than later…
Honestly, your future depends on it…
Until next time Guys…
