TREASURES IN HEAVEN
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Skatte in die Hemel”
Translator: Robin Barker
Someone wrote to me following someone’s performances in churches and then according to him was not properly compensated.
The person wrote as follows:
“This morning I have a question. Why is it that if I put together a band and perform in a pub we will earn R4500 for the evening but if you are invited by a church they expecting you to perform for nothing. But I have the same expenses as the person who plays in the pub. Have people (church) then really become beggars?”
I want to begin my answer with a little of my great hero Paul’s style of writing.
People on occasion went about telling everyone how wonderful they are and how they work for our Lord, then Paul started hearing about it and then he wrote the following:
2 COR 11:16-18
16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.
17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool.
18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
Then he goes on by mentioning a few things:
2 COR 11:21-28
21 … I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
What I am going to say now, I say it with the same attitude as my great hero Paul. Even if it is just that you will know that my words are not just empty words.
I came to repentance in 1973.
Three months later I was baptized and I almost immediately began working for our Lord.
In 1984, I made my first CD; with the help of a bank loan.
Then I began touring the country and performed in churches.
From about 1987 all my weekends, from about February or March, were generally fully booked and I regularly had to arrange care for my children during the weekends and on top of that, and to the best of my memory; the costs were never completely covered.
On one occasion someone drove into the rear of my vehicle at a red traffic signal and my vehicle had to be ‘written off’.
In 1997 I was diagnosed with melanoma cancer and I was then on and off treatment for the next 15 months and I still continued performing, without my costs being totally covered.
This was just a few of many things that happened to me up to 2002.
I have never played or sung in a pub since I repented and gave myself to our Lord, so I do not have any experience regarding that.
I have run this ministry for almost 17 years, and I am a pensioner.
I have never gone to sleep hungry.
I have God’s love, mercy, peace and joy in my life.
So you can now see, that what I am about to say is not just ‘talk’. I was there.
This is in my opinion an attitude problem.
The person writes:
“… And do not misunderstand me. I am the happiest person under the sun as long as I can just play music, I really do not mind about the money. …”
How wonderful it would have been if this person could have written honestly and sincerely:
“… And do not misunderstand me. I am the happiest person under the sun as long as I can do something to the honour and glorification of our Lord; I really do not care for the money. …”
I read in the Word:
MAT 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
As well as:
MAT 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
How then can we store for ourselves treasures in Heaven, if the Word clearly says that we cannot take anything from this life?
Because it is written:
1 TIM 6:7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if Jesus said that I can gather treasures in Heaven, even though I cannot take anything with me from this life, well then I am able to gather treasures in Heaven for me.
So, what is Jesus talking about that I can gather in Heaven, that God Almighty, who created Heaven and earth, will see as a valuable treasure?
In my opinion it is every person that I have brought to our Lord and everyone that I have encouraged to stand firm, when satan wanted to drag him/her to hell.
Those people for whom Jesus hung on the cross at Golgotha.
Listen to what Jesus says, the one Person who has ever walked on this earth, that knows what take place in Heaven.
LUKE 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Do you understand what you have just read?
The universe cannot house Heaven and in that Heaven there is rejoicing when one person repents and I believe that the rejoicing is just as great when you or I help someone to remain steadfast through our words, sang etc., when satan wanted him/her to fall.
LUKE 15:4-7
4 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
So let us work on our attitude, so that we can say:
“… And do not misunderstand me. I am the happiest person under the sun as long as I can do something to the honour and glorification of our Lord; I really do not care for the money. …”
Because you see:
“I am gathering treasures in Heaven for myself, where no moth or rust can destroy it and where thieves cannot break in and rob me.”
While I remember, with a glorious peace and joyfulness:
MAT 10:29-31
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Am I saying that it is correct for a congregation that has invited me to perform and not reimburse me as our Lord would reward me?
By no means, but it is their problem, not mine.
Greetings,
Sakkie