Where Is Your Treasure?

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

Where is your treasure? Is it in the bank, or your jewellery, in antiques or your physical possessions? Perhaps your treasure–those things that you value–is your job, or your children, or your beauty? This scripture is speaking of anything that you care more about than God. Treasure in heaven involves those things that are priceless, such as a good reputation, charity, integrity, things that are not perishable, that stand the test of time. Someone sent me one of those sayings that amuse us, but have that gem of truth:

The Lord won’t ask what kind of car you drove: He’ll ask how many people you drove who didn’t have transportation.
The Lord won’t ask the square footage of your house: He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
The Lord won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet: He’ll ask how many you helped to clothe.
The Lord won’t ask what your highest salary was: He’ll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.
The Lord won’t ask what your job title was: He’ll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
The Lord won’t ask how many friends you had: He’ll ask you how many people to whom you were a friend.
The Lord won’t ask in what neighbourhood you lived: He’ll ask how you treated your neighbours.
The Lord won’t ask about the colour of your skin: He’ll ask about the content of your character.

So in laying up treasure in heaven, remember, God’s work doesn’t pay very well, but the retirement benefits are ‘out of this world’!

Prayer
Dear God, help me to value those things that have true and lasting value. Help me not to get so caught up in the ‘cares of this world’ that I have no time for you, and those things that are priceless treasure.
Amen.

Study by Nancy Silcox