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Where is Your Treasure?

Today, I'm asking this question - where is your treasure - because as we read Matthew 6:19-24 (NLT), Jesus tells us, "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. Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."


image courtesy of Stephanie LeBlanc via Upwork

Treasures can be money, but also, possessions, self-interest, pleasing other people. This isn't to say that we shouldn't be kind to people or practice healthy self love. It isn't saying we shouldn't save money for retirement or have nice things.

This means we shouldn't spend all of our time making money and blow it on things we don't need. For example, do we really need to buy a new car with a ridiculous price tag because the neighbors just bought that car? Or can we buy a used car that is a few years older with a much more reasonable price tag? Or a new car NOT like the neighbors' that has a reasonable price tag? Can we use the money we blow on unnecessary items to help someone else in need? 

Again, being kind to others is fine. We need to be a light to people in this dark and usually unkind world. But pleasing others should not go against God's standards. An example that I can use from my life is that I knew someone who wanted me to fuss at people before I found out all the details. When I found out the details, I would discover that most or all of what that person told me was not true. I don't know if she was dreaming or making up things. But when I wouldn't fuss at the people she wanted me to fuss at, she would get extremely mad at me. This person's actions eventually put an end to our relationship. But I will not dishonor God to save a relationship with someone who does not honor Him. Popularity and acceptance here on earth is not as important as honoring God. I still pray for the person I had to end the relationship with, and I believe God is still working on her attitude. We still love her, but God gave me permission to walk away. Because not only was that relationship hurting me mentally and physically, but the constant battle trying to please her, which was impossible, was also taking me away from the work God had asked me to do for Him.

These are just a few examples. Jesus was telling us to lay up our treasures in Heaven: kindness, love, understanding, trust in God, accepting Jesus as Savior, spending time learning how to be more like Christ, not talking badly about ourselves or to others (God's dearly loved creations). We have to read the Bible to understand what He expects us to deposit as treasures in Heaven. 

If you're looking for a guide to life, it's all in God's Word. And Jesus explained it all very well in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He simplified it for us! So, start in those 4 books.

Blessings,

Patricia

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