Heavenly Treasures

Ella W. Hoag

Jesus makes it very plain in his Sermon on the Mount that "treasures in heaven" are the only ones that can be relied upon. He states clearly that earthly treasures may be stolen or destroyed, and are at best but transitory; while heavenly ones are safe from every form of depredation. And then he goes on to say, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

It is acknowledged that one's deepest interest is always with that which he considers most valuable. Humanity may be willing to assent to this, but it does not so readily admit that it is always working for what it believes is most desirable. Mankind is so imbued with the belief that existence is material and dependent on materiality that it thinks little of any treasure but that which belongs to matter, and spends most of its time endeavoring to lay up more of it. From the one who has least of it to the one who thinks he has much, the thought of getting more is generally foremost. This sordid sense becomes less dense when the individual awakens in some degree to the illusive and disappointing nature of such effort. Then he begins to inquire if there are other treasures to be found which are of more permanent value.

The Bible has always told of heavenly riches, and has urged the need of looking to God for them. It has also shown that these riches can only be obtained as men give up that which did not come from God. Christians have been praying and longing for centuries to understand how to apply these teachings properly. The usual interpretation of them has, however, placed the heavenly treasures largely in a future state, and has left men still floundering in a present belief in matter and its necessities. To humanity, thus submerged in the beliefs of materiality, Christian Science comes with its God-given explanation of the Scriptures, proclaiming the possibility of reversing all this illusive, unsatisfactory effort. It opens the way for men to turn squarely around, and shows them how to start in exactly the opposite direction towards the attaining of all that is everlasting.

Christian Science lays hold of the Bible teaching that real treasure belongs to Spirit, and to Spirit alone; that only in Spirit can enduring substance be found. And then, it sticks to its text. It shows how to work for heavenly treasures, and for them alone. When it teaches that God is infinite good, it indicates plainly that He must include all riches, and "treasures in heaven" must be comprised in a demonstrable understanding of Him.

Human belief cries out against this radical demand, for it always endeavors to carry matter along with it. Even the student of Christian Science is not always alert to the necessity of seeking heavenly treasure only where it can be found. He is sometimes tempted to look upon Christian Science as a method whereby he may secure more of earthly possessions. This danger must be recognized and avoided, if he would not shipwreck his faith. If one looks for what he may call good matter to result from the demonstration of Christian Science, he must see that inasmuch as he has such an object in view he is not working either Christianly or scientifically. On the contrary, Christian Science teaches that we must lay hold of the truth that good is only to be found in God. From this basis all endeavor must be to win that good,—to prove the presence and power, the utility and desirability, of such heavenly treasure. Then will every least present sense of good be uplifted, strengthened, enhanced. In this way we gain all that is real, and yield only that which is mistaken and false.

Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 5), "God pours the riches of His love into the understanding and affections, giving us strength according to our day." And what are the riches of His love? Listen to Mrs. Eddy's enumeration of some of them (Science and Health, p. 248),—"unselfishness, goodness, mercy, justice, health, holiness, love;" and she goes on to say that if these reign within us, "sin, disease, and death will diminish until they finally disappear." Here, then, is the way to seek heavenly treasures, and the way to find them manifested here and now. From this it follows that we are not to look to matter for anything; not to seek matter; not to think about matter at all. Instead, we must desire only Godlike qualities. We must cling to them, dwell with them, let them reign in us, and thus prove that they alone are real and desirable. In the degree that we do this we are forsaking worldliness and laying up "treasures in heaven."

Ella W. Hoag.

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Lecture in The Mother Church

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