But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… – Matthew 6:20, KJV

A man died and went to heaven. He was met at the Pearly Gates by St. Peter who led him down the golden streets. They passed mansion after beautiful mansion until they came to the end of the street where they stopped in front of a shack. The man asked St. Peter why he got a hut when there were so many mansions he could live in. St. Peter replied, “I did the best with the money you sent us.”

In Matthew 6:20, Christ admonished us to lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven. One such treasure is the crown of glory, which He awards for the humble discipleship of others.

According to 1 Peter 5:1-4 (KJV):

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

God’s call (through Peter ) to feed the flock was directed specifically at church leaders in this passage, but helping others grow in Christ is something we all have an obligation to do. At church, at home, at school, and at work, we draw others to or push others away from our Savior by how we conduct our lives. With humility, with reverence, and with the right motives, we should endeavor to grow others in the Lord in the way we teach, in the way we behave, and in the way we speak. If we do so faithfully and consistently, we will be rewarded with a crown of glory. If we don’t, then we shouldn’t be surprised if we are greeted by a shack on our first day on heaven.