Do these verses mean that Christians should not save for retirement?

Question

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matt. 6:19-21

What does this mean, if it does not indicate that saving money is non-Christian?

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I'll let the community pick the best answer here.

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Answer 1

No, this verse means the treasures on this Earth will be nothing compared to heavenly treasures.

i.e. We need to bring souls into the kingdom, not money.

Answer 2

Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Luke 16:13

"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Do these verses mean that Christians should not save for retirement?

Treasures in Heaven

19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Final Answer:

You cannot serve both God and Money.

Answer 3

It's emphasis is not on the material goods that can be stored up for use in this world, but on those non-material "treasures" like faith, love, hope, knowledge, truth, etc that cannot be stolen from a person, only shared with another. They cannot rust, or canker, or be distroyed like material things can be distroyed. Material things fade away with time, but the "treasures of heaven" spoken of can not.
Material things are not, or at least should not, be the end all be all of human existance. However, if they are, if a person truely believes "the one with the most toys wins" philosophy, then it is those things that will be your reward, not heaven. Hence the, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" statement.
There is another scripture which says, prepare every needful thing. So we must prepare for our old age by saving extra money now so we won't have to work to keep a roof overhead and food in our belly's when we're 90. But we must balance that by not focusing on how much money we can earn, but on the things that will prepare us for and allow us access to Heaven.

Answer 4

If this comes across rudely to Christians I apologize, but that verse is truly an explanation of why many religious folk don't actually go out there and LIVE or find true happiness in helping others. Everything has to be about God and when it isn't it's because "God meant it metaphorically, not literally." The sad and true thing is that it's life itself some aren't properly saving - why care now when you'll get everything handed to you on a silver platter in heaven? Why invest in life when paradise awaits you after death? Why find common ground in humanity when you can hate and justify it (homosexuals, non-believers) with a 2000 year-old textbook? Why? I wish I knew. The human race shakes me up.

Fine question, anyway. I figure the responses you'll get will be metaphorical this time but if you dare to mention how ridiculous it is that people have such animosity toward gays when a. homosexuality is hardly mentioned in the Bible, and b. the selfsame people commit every other "sin" under the sun, everything will suddenly become literal. Perhaps it is because the human mind is so fallible and the human heart so elastic that devolution is proven as well. The evolutionary measures of passing on what is peaceful and kind to our children has continuously been ripped apart by those who live in fear and choose to remain ignorant. Faith is one thing - that, as an atheist/agnostic and a human being, I can understand. When facts, however, disprove my faith I let go and find another means to wonder (the sunshine often gets me right back on track). Man invented religion out of fear of death, fear of the unknown, fear of no leader, etc. What kind of perfect God would create such a terrible mess? I have faith in many things. Religion is not one of them.

Thank goodness for people like you and other obvious humanists on board, who choose not to believe everything on faith, not when so many lives depend on factual reality.

Answer 5

It doesn't mean not to save money but it is saying that when you die you can't take your wealth with you, so to invest in things that are eternal and will last forever. Since our home is not here, our treasure (the people we've poured our lives into for example) should be in heaven so our heart is there too...

Answer 6

That sounds to me more like it's saying material possessions like collecting dolls, or glass figurines. Basically it's saying "You can't take all that crap with you." But I don't think this passage refers to money simply because it's talking about rust and moths. Money doesn't rust, nor is it prone to moths. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

Answer 7

I don't interpret it as such. To put the passage in context you need to read at least until the end of the 6th chapter, and preferably to the end of the 7th chapter.
However, the matter should not be of concern unless you believe the Gospel. The New Testament was written for believers, and God gives a proper understanding to those who believe.

Answer 8

It means that every minute of your life that you spend thinking and worrying about money or possessions is wasted because of the temporary and fleeting nature of our physical life and that investment in your spiritual future is of more lasting value. Spend or save, no difference. Give to charity, difference.

Answer 9

No, even Jesus paid taxes. The quote you presented is part of teaching that actually does not fall under the “nonsense” parts of the bible. It is advising to build yourself a “spiritual foundation” ...but not in the typical “church sense” of the words.

Answer 10

Hey if they believe in the rapture, they can always leave everything to me.. I'll happily take over their finances from there ;)