Treasures

Scripture: Matthew 6:19-24

19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19–21 NLT)

What we value most determines our treasures. Some people value relationships, so they spend time with people they love. They reach out and build new friendships, they invest themselves, their time, and their stuff in cultivating relationships they have. Some people value security, so they save, they avoid risks, they live carefully. Some people value material possessions and wealth, so they….OK, you get the point.

What you do with life is determined by your values. What you value drives how you spend your moments, your money, your energy, your life. You’ll work and live to accumulate treasures on earth: money, property, fame, that kind of stuff…(Jesus said it rusts out, wears out, or gets stolen). Or you’ll live and work to accumulate treasures in heaven: loving, serving, giving…(Jesus said this is an eternally secure investment). You choose your treasure, then you live your life to pursue it!

How you see determines what you see, and what you see is what you get. Your eyes determine what you want and pursue. When what we see as important isn’t, we’re deceived. Questions: What are you giving attention to? What do you read? What do you watch? Who do you look up to as a role model? Who do you follow as an example? Is anybody telling you the truth about what really matters?

Some things are mutually exclusive. You can’t be equally devoted to polar opposites. This goes back to heart, to motives; not just what you do, but why you do it. We either love people and use things, or we love things and use people!

It takes right thinking, Godly wisdom, and careful choices to walk this pathway throughout a lifetime and be the person you want to be at the end!

Prayer:

Father, There are so many things clamoring for our attention, so many voices telling us what matters in life, what we should value, what we should treasure! Sometimes it’s hard to hear your gentle, other-worldly voice telling us the truth when there’s so much noisy lying going on! Help us to hear and see clearly and truly. May we value what you value and treasure what you treasure! In Jesus’ Name!