Treasure

Treasure

Lord, this morning I am thoughtful about my possessions. Our house isn't very big, but I still see clutter everywhere I look. Why do we accumulate so many things?  What really matters?  What can we shed, give away, throw away?  What should we keep?  How should we be preparing for the next chapter in our lives?

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."  (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

Those are Jesus' words. You don't want us to store up treasures on Earth. You don't want us to be absorbed with all our stuff, cleaning it, organizing it, and protecting it. You have a different priority for our time and energy: storing treasure in heaven. But what does that mean?

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."  (Matthew 6:33 NLT)

Okay. Seek the kingdom of God. Store up treasure in heaven. Live righteously. How do I do that?  How do I seek you first?  How do I let go of materialism?  What should I do with my time and energy?  What is treasure in heaven?  How do I store it?

I know we can't take anything with us when we die.  All of our possessions will stay here and belong to someone else. What, then, can we accumulate in heaven?  My first thought is people. Anyone who comes to know God as a result of my testimony and goes to heaven when he or she dies could perhaps be considered a treasure I have laid up in heaven. I would have invested my time and energy in an immortal soul for the glory of God.  Still, I don't see myself as an evangelist or preacher in the face-to-face way normally associated with those roles. I am a writer, and any influence I have on another person's soul would probably come via words I have written or art I created. Is this how I lay up treasure in heaven: by writing and creating artwork?  Is this my life's work?  

Lord, as I clean my house, give me eyes to see what really matters. Give me courage to get rid of everything else. Bring us freedom from clutter and our possessions. Help us to spend our time and energy on things that matter to you, things that will last. Teach us what it means to live well on the earth while storing up treasure in heaven. 

Amen