Sunday, January 24, 2021

3 Nephi 13:19-20 -- On Treasure and Hints about Heaven

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal."
3 Nephi 13:19-20


The main message to be careful where we are investing is a good one. Although of course working and paying the bills are important, sometimes thinking ahead about what kinds of things will be valuable after this life is a good way to reprioritize what we're putting first in our lives.

What struck me today though were the hints about heaven.  No corruption from moths or rust... so that might mean no rust... no decay at all?  And maybe moths will eat something else besides our clothes? :)  

I also like the idea of a world without thieves.  I mean, we romanticize it sometimes and there are fun movies and literature about thieves, but I think part of the point here is not that God doesn't tolerate thieves in his place, but that the fundamental reason for thievery will be gone.  There won't be rich and poor anymore... perhaps as 4 Nephi 1:3 says, "there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift."  A true Zion society where Jean Valjean would never have to steal bread, and Robin Hood wouldn't have to rob the rich to provide for the poor... and besides not needing to, perhaps also a world where we have learned to be better people, not greedy or covetous. :)

We can't do much about the overall environment yet, but we can still be a part of the solution, and prepare for an incorruptible future by thinking about our relationship with theft and covetousness, greed, and honesty in general, and then resolving to do better with God's help.  One thing that I know that helps with that is tithing.  I think just the faith required to pay it helps us think about ownership and financial burdens differently.  Today, let's go to the Lord in prayer and get his help with learning how to be better Zion people. :)


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