Treasures

Reading: Matthew 6; Psalm 6 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) Think about the things that were treasures in Palestine (and elsewhere) when Jesus was saying these words. Back then, treasures were precious metals such as gold and silver, jewels and jewelry, expensive fabric and tapestry, objects well made from iron or bronze, and of course, cattle and crops and houses and land. It was all pretty tangible and simple and yet it was subject to loss – it could wear out, rust out, decay, or be lost or stolen.

A few years ago, a lot of treasure simply disappeared for people in my world: Much of the value of stocks and investments suddenly evaporated. Property and houses, for years a prime growth investment in our area, were suddenly worth a fraction of their previous “value” because no one was buying. Now that’s turned around and the values are high once again. The principle is the same and the lesson is still true today—maybe more than ever true today—the treasures of this world are subject to loss. Whether it’s the lump of gold you can hold in your hand or the value of your investment in a mutual fund or the sale price of your house—it can be gone in a moment.

The only thing that isn’t subject to loss is the treasure held in God’s hands. All that I give to those in need, and all that I invest in God’s Kingdom work, is a treasured investment held securely for me by God himself. The time and energy I invest in relationships with others is a treasure that transcends time. My work of service for God and my labor of love for others is a treasure that yields an eternal reward on the other side of time.

Prayer:

Father, Please give me a heart of love and a mind guided by your wisdom. May I use my time and my energy and my resources to invest my treasure wisely and to keep my heart in the right place. Amen.