But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through or steal.
- Matthew 6:20
I love the hope and comfort in this passage. In layman's terms it is saying that your works through God, while in the flesh, will be rewarded in heaven. Simple enough, but there is a lot more to it. I take the term "for yourselves" and believe it is hinting that YOU as a man of God must put forth the work and effort if you hope to reap the rewards that lay ahead in heaven. God will not simply set aside "treasures" without reciprocated love and effort.
Through work and worship, while God has a hand in it all, we are responsible for what awaits us on judgement day.
The second part speaks to God's purity and total reign of his kingdom, which I interpret as comfort. The works done on earth, when sent on high, will forever be kept safe and untarnished. The moth is a simple metaphor and while a small creature, can cause a lot of damage (to clothes) if let in (your home). God is the great protector and no one and nothing that He doesn't allow shall pass through his gates to his kingdom and threaten your treasures.
The passage paints the picture a little better with terms "rust doth corrupt" and "thieves." Most people can relate to the destructive nature of rust and thieves much more than a moth and I think this is why these terms were added, for a sense of God's true power. Yes our Lord can save us from moths, but even rust and thieves stand no chance against His Holiness.
The protection from our God and the assurance that he will hold sacred any works we perform while on earth and in the flesh is an assurance that will not be found anywhere else. The comfort gained from knowing this is like making a very lucrative investment that will only gain value over time.
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