(All scripture references are NASB and all references to “Law” are Torah (Mosaic law) unless otherwise noted. I usually capitalize “law”, only because I am using it as a proper noun, not as a special status.)
I keep starting topics, and hope to finish them, yet as scripture often does, it creates more questions than answers. Combined with an extremely busy summer of being out of town many weekends, and many guests, I have not been able to finish anything.
So, I will try again! I am hoping this is simply a relatively short encouragement based on something I heard recently and my meditation upon that.
Christ is our Treasure
I will start off with the most important point -clearly made by Paul in Colossians 2:1-3:
“1 - For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face, 2 - that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, 3 - in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (BSB)
This is an important foundation that cannot be overlooked. And part of that treasure that comes with Christ is the “riches of a full understanding” and wisdom and knowledge. Christ is the mystery of God - now revealed!
Treasure is Found, not Worked For
Then we have 1 Timothy 6:17-19. If you do not have a proper understanding of Christ as treasure, then verses like this can mess you up and give you an entirely wrong mindset.
“17 - Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 - Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 - storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”
This sounds like in order to obtain this treasure you must perform all of these good deeds. But that would be a wage, not a treasure. That is not Paul's point by using the word treasure.
His point is to discover the life that they have in Christ and not allow their physical wealth to replace it. Obviously, Christ is generous and full of good works, and as we rely on Him, we will be too.
The benefit or “treasure” that we discover through allowing Christ to rule is a “good foundation for the future” or an ongoing good life.
But as with all other “instructive” passages in the epistles, this is not a call for a self-reliant works based attitude. It is a call to discover the treasure that comes from “Christ in us”.
Paul's use of treasure here is something to ponder. Only what is done “through Christ” will last. How many unbelieving rich folks are “rich in good works, generous, and ready to share”. Yet, because they do not possess the treasure of Christ, it is worthless and filthy rags.
Again, this is not a call by Paul to put ourselves under a “good works, sharing, and generosity” law. That would defeat the point.
But it is a call by Paul to discover Christ who is generous and shared to the point of giving Himself. That is the treasure to discover, not some idea that we are working for wages to store up in Heaven.
The Reward of the Inheritance
We already possess the treasure and inheritance. We were qualified by Christ and now we get to discover it, open the box, and relish the gifts. I will leave you with a couple more passages.
Colossians 1:12 - “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
Colossians 3:23-24 - “23 - Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 - knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
We have the inheritance through Christ. That is the reward. This blows any modern materialistic idea of rewards in Heaven out of the water. We are not working for rewards.
Also note Paul is not saying that we work hard on earth to obtain the reward of the inheritance. We are already qualified by Christ for the inheritance and the reward.
Paul is saying that “knowing” or knowledge of this “reward of the inheritance”, which is already guaranteed through Christ, will motivate working hard on earth.
And it is the only motivation that actually works.
So get motivated! Not to do good works, but to discover the treasure of “Christ in you”. The results of that search will result in good works. It is why we were re-created in Christ.
But don't let those who have a works based mentality confuse things. We don't work for rewards or an inheritance…we work because we already have the inheritance in Christ and have already been promised the reward.
And in reality, we have Christ already. What more reward do we need?