Treasure Chest or Treasure Test: Parenting with Eternity in Mind

Imagine a treasure chest that holds your most prized possessions and priorities. Now, imagine your kids opening it. What will they find? What are we putting into that chest when it comes to the way we raise our children, and what are we teaching them to put into theirs?

We often get caught up in preparing our kids for earthly success, but are we parenting with eternity in mind?

I’m hugely comforted by the fact that Jesus loves my children infinitely more than I ever will. Although they are my children, they ultimately belong to God—made in His image, for His glory. And yet, my parenting often looks like I don’t believe this. How much of the world has captured my thinking?

Although my wife and I have our disagreements—for example, Diet Coke or Coke Zero; small, hard, crunchy pears or big, juicy, dripping pears; and our dishwasher stacking strategy—we both agree on one thing: if we are to parent well, we must parent with eternity in mind. We saw this modelled by regular, imperfect Christian families—including single-parent homes and those carrying deep pain—who carried a steely determination to live for something different.

The Warning, the Command, and the Test

In Matthew 6:19–24, Jesus describes what it looks like to be part of God’s Kingdom. While not a "Parenting 101" sermon, we can draw vital lessons from it for how we raise our kids. He presents us with three important truths:

1. There is a warning (v. 19): “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth...” Treasure is whatever we are most committed to, what we invest our time into, and organise our schedules around. Jesus isn't cheaply condemning material things; He is warning us against a deep heart issue—overprizing temporary "stuff" to the point where it becomes our primary focus. As Tim Keller beautifully put it, if your treasure is anything in this world, you will live in constant fear because you can lose it in a heartbeat.

2. There is a positive command (v. 20): “...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...” By implication, as we pursue this path, we begin to parent well. Our children instinctively take note that Dad and Mum are living for treasures of an entirely different kind. This requires a radical shift in our priorities, practically showing up as:

• Prioritising family worship at home and reading the Bible together.

• Regular teaching and impressing gospel truths upon your children.

• Prioritising church family events over competing social activities.

• Praying intentionally for each other and for others.

3. There is a test (v. 21): “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The human heart is the ultimate test. Jesus diagnoses our hearts by explaining the focus of our eye (undivided loyalty, as John Stott noted) and the master of our lives. If we are like the fool in Luke 12 building bigger barns, it is clear who our master is.

What is at Stake?

Our kids are watching our lives; they instinctively know what we prize above everything else. What does the treasure test reveal about you?

Parenting with eternity in mind isn’t about being perfect parents. It’s about being pointed in the right direction—toward a Person: The Lord Jesus Christ, the true, lasting treasure. Ultimately, we want our children to be saved, to spend their eternity in heaven, not in hell. We want them around God's throne worshipping Him and enjoying Him forever (Rev 7:9-17). The opposite is terrifying: eternal separation away from the presence of God. We must ask the question Jesus posed: “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” In the same way, what will it profit our children if they gain the whole world and lose their souls?

Our deepest desire isn't just to help them succeed in this temporary world, but to see them love and follow Jesus to the end. The book of Revelation gives us a sobering glimpse of the eternal stakes. We see the reality of the great white throne where all must stand (Rev 20:11–15), but we also see the beautifully joyful inheritance awaiting God's people in the new heaven and new earth, where He will wipe away every tear (Rev 21:1–7).

When it comes to your family, what's more important than any of this?

Original Talk

This post is based on a Table Talk prepared and shared for parents at Saint James Church, Gerrards Cross, where Vic and his family are members. Table Talk is an opportunity for parents to gather, enjoy some food together and then discuss topics related to Christian parenting.