In reading Matthew 6:19-21 some conclude that anytime we “lay up for ourselves” it reveals a selfish life. But look more closely at the passage.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
In his book The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn states: “Store up for yourselves. Doesn’t that sound strange that Jesus commands us to do what’s in our own best interests? Wouldn’t that be selfish? No. god expects and commands us to act out of enlightened self-interest.
“Selfishness is when we pursue gain at the expense of others. But God doesn’t have a limited number of treasures to distribute. When you store up treasurers for yourself in heaven, it doesn’t reduce the treasurers available to others.”
While it is wrong to hoard up treasures here on earth for yourself to the neglect of all others, we have the freedom to lay up as much as we wish to lay up in heaven. What a mighty thought.
(Recommend you to read the above mentioned book.)