In the days leading up to his death, Alexander the Great provided detailed burial instructions. He wanted to be buried with his hands empty, uncovered, and protruding through the casket cover. In this way, he would let the world know that he was leaving everything behind. The man who had conquered the world was leaving the world empty-handed. A timely thought for those tempted to give material possessions number one priority in their lives.
“You can’t take it with you!” Paul agrees, saying, “we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Tim. 6:7). Perhaps, you have heard the story of a man who died and was buried in his gold Cadillac. As the story goes, someone at the funeral was overheard saying, “Man, that’s living!” Seems far-fetched, to say the least, until we read the stories of ancient pharaohs buried with vast treasures. However, we know that they couldn’t take their treasures with them. Neither can we, no matter how hard we try. It simply cannot be done.
Christians do not take their treasures with them after they die, they send their treasure on ahead while they are yet living. Jesus says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt. 6:19-21).
If Alexander had hoped in God, his hands may have yet been extended—but not as empty-handed, but as receiving that which is promised—a treasure in heaven.