Treasure is important in the scriptures. During the time of Joseph, treasure quickly became life saving. When he predicted seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, the grain was invaluable treasure. Genesis 41:49 says, “And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.” The grain is what saved his family, all of Egypt, and numerous other nations at the time.
But Joseph never viewed the grain as earthly treasure. Instead, he saw it as a call to be faithful to the vision God gave him. He never held the wrongs his brothers did to him against them. In fact, Joseph said, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones” (Genesis 50:19-21). Joseph was compassionate because he saw the big picture of what God was accomplishing through him.
This is reminiscent of what Jesus said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on 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 and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). While Joseph amassed earthly riches, he was storing up treasure in heaven and that’s where his heart was. His kindness towards his brothers is evidence of the treasure principle–storing up treasures in heaven.