What Treasures Are You Building Up?

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV): “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay 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 your heart will be also.

We can get distracted with so many things in our lives. It could be a car, a job, a house, etc. In fact, there are people who teach that God wants us to “be rich” and if we are not, then we are in disobedience or don’t have enough “Faith”. (Quick Note: if this is true, then what are they going to tell those who are in 3rd world countries that believe but yet do not have these riches. Are they liars about their beliefs? Do the not have enough “Faith” even though they see God Work in more miraculous ways then we in the Western World can? Or even those who in the Western World who are what we consider poor?)

If We pull in the parable of the rich farmer, we may see a different take on this.

Luke 2:13-21 (NKJV): Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

It seems that Jesus is showing us that our focus should not be on the material things of this world but rather on The Things of God. He taught that the most important treasure is “our hearts”. God really desires to have a Relationship with us. That’s what He created us for. Not for the material things.

Another Scripture that comes to mind comes from 1 Peter 5:

1 Peter 5:8-11 (NKJV): Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

One of the ways the Adversary will “devour” us is by putting the want for “bigger”, “better” things. In other words, for us here in America, to pursue “The American Dream”. We all have heard it, “A House with a ‘white picket fence’, a car, a good job, and 2.5 children”. (Quick note: please don’t cut a child in half, this is just s figure of speech) It seems that this particular thinking has poured into the Body of Christ. Many will think that they will gain much “riches” as they continue to walk with Christ. Here’s what happens though, in pursuit of this things, jobs, houses, etc., they spend less time with The One Who matters most, God, Himself. They lose focus on building their Relationship with Him because they have to care for all of these things they accumulated. But, we can’t take these things with us.

Let’s not become like the Laodicean Church found in Revelation 3:

Revelation 3:13-19 (NKJV): “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

It would seem they became more focused on “stuff” than on their Relationship with Christ. They were believers more by words than by actions. They got distracted.

Build up True treasures by giving your heart to God. Then build your Relationship with Him by spending time in prayer and reading and studying His Word. Then go out and share what He has done in your life with others. Pray for them and lead them to Him. You never know who you may lead to Him. Could it be the next Billy Graham or Dwight Moody?

(This is also a good reflection for us to consider as Christmas is closer. Are you going to be focused on gaining more things that will break or you can’t take with you? Or are you going to take this opportunity to introduce more to Our Savior and build Treasures in Heaven?)