Monday, August 12, 2013

Where's Your Treasure...Really?

This beautiful post was written by my friend, Misty. You can follow her blog at www.encouragingbeautifulmotherhood.com.

Where's Your Treasure--Really?



"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store 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 will your heart be also.” ~ Matthew 6:19-21
I don’t really know anyone who would identify themselves as “Christian” who would also tell you that their treasure was here on earth.
However, according to this verse, I know many who fit into that category–whether they realize it or not.
What is it about “Do not store up … treasures on earth” that we don’t understand?
My almost-four-year-old is enamored with change right now. Carrying his stash around in a sock, he occasionally takes it out to re-count it, and I am often called in to arbitrate when he thinks someone has taken one of his precious coins.
It’s cute in a four year old. Forty? Not so cute. Seventy? Now you’re Scrooge.
Maybe you’ve given up carrying your stash around in a sock. But are you carrying it closer now–in your very heart?
Our entire culture is centered around collecting more and more stuff. We are “consumers,” rather than human beings. Companies pay millions of dollars for a few seconds of our time, to have the honor of convincing us that theirs is the stuff we need.
When our homes are so over-full we have to rent storage units, are we not storing up treasures on earth?
When we spend hours analyzing the stock market, worrying over our retirement accounts, and even extreme penny-pinching, are we not storing up treasures on earth?
When we put off (or just completely ignore) the calling of God on our lives because we fear the loss of an American way of life; when we are willing to leave our children for extensive amounts of time while we go off to earn more; when we use gifts of stuff or cash as the primary way we show our children love, or even try to earn their love–whether they are young or old–have we not exposed the true treasure of our hearts–MONEY?
“Where your treasure is, your heart will be also.”
And like it or not; admit it or not; everyone around you knows it.
We prioritize what we value. We use our time on what we value. We study to learn more about what we truly value.
Want to know what you treasure? Go see what’s on your bookshelves. On your calendar. Written in your checkbook. What topic takes up the most of your time? Your mental effort?
Want a real accurate answer? Go ask your kids.
Then, take it to the Lord. He can help you straighten it all out … and I’m so grateful for His grace and help!

1 comment:

  1. God has been speaking to my heart for a long time about this. Thank you Teresa for the beautiful way you put this. It is always a good reminder to have in the front of my mind...

    ReplyDelete