Jesus tells us “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, NIV).

We have heard that verse many times, but Adelina Alexe, a Seventh-day Adventist Seminary student at Andrews University helps us understand the meaning of this passage. She writes, “Ellen White fills in the contours of what ‘heavenly treasure’ means: ‘Every opportunity to help a brother in need, or to aid the cause of God in the spread of the truth, is a pearl that you can send beforehand, and deposit in the bank of heaven for safe keeping.’ She also writes, ‘What shall we do with our time, our understanding, our possessions, which are not ours, but are entrusted to us to test our honesty? Let us bring them to Jesus. Let us use our treasures for the advancement of His cause. Thus we shall obey the injunction,’ ’Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven’ ” (Beyond Blessings, page 23).

We are part of God’s heavenly kingdom. Let us return our tithe and offerings as joyful members of God’s kingdom.

The offering today is for the ministries and needs of our local church.