Making Eternal Investments
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.“ (Matt 6)
Storage
Storage units are a big business. Many people nowadays have so much extra stuff to store that they need to rent another space to put it all. The children, after their parents die, are left to deal with it. Sometimes I drive by open garages and see them so full of stuff that they can’t fit their car in them. There’s a $20,000 vehicle in the driveway and (maybe) $3000 worth of stuff in the garage. It doesn’t make sense. Why do we have so much stuff? I’m sure some of it is meaningful but most of it could be parted with fairly easily.
Accomplishments
Jesus is not only talking about the physical stuff we store, we store accomplishments on this earth too. The job promotions and raises; the worldly accolades are stacked up just as much as our garages and storage units. We think these will deliver us from the reality of death. We want to gain as much as we can as soon as we can so that we can feel safe against the looming threat of death that stands waiting just beyond that pile in the corner of our lives.
The real treasure
The psalmist, in today’s Psalm, says, “I sought the Lord… and he delivered me from all my fears.” We seek more stuff, the Lord calls to us saying, “seek me.” The more we seek the Lord, the more we store in heaven. We think we have treasures here on earth; the real treasure; the real storage unit, is the one in heaven. There everything is held safe, waiting for our arrival. How do we store treasures there? By focusing on your relationship with Jesus. Spend time with him in prayer. And by listening to his voice and obeying him. The more you spend time with him, in his presence, the more you learn the sound of his voice. Let every act be done as unto him; for his glory.
He gave us his Spirit to lead and guide us from within; to reveal Jesus from the inside. Rather than working for more earthly promotions, more worldly accolades, work to know him; let him know you as you seek to live according to his will. Let him love you rather than seeking more and more worldly love. His love is eternal; his love is heaven; it is your true heavenly home.
Where are you storing your treasure today?
Prayer
Dear Lord, you have been preparing a place for me in the Father’s house. Help me to spend more energy filling that place with treasure than the place here on earth. Thank you that you deliver me from all my fears, including the fear of death.
Amen