These words have been rolling around in my head for a few weeks now...some of the more burdensome weeks I've known in recent days. Burdens come in different forms, and for that I'm grateful that I'm not experiencing physical pain or loss of a loved one. And yet, there are burdens that result from either the defensiveness and pride of others around you...or the defensiveness and pride that comes from within yourself...
Because we are all acting out of a need to protect our treasure, at all cost.
They will know us by what we treasure...the treasure forms the fruit in our lives.
And so Jesus says:
"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." (Matthew 6:19-21)
I'm thinking these days that what hurts the most in relationships, in conflicts, and in my own choices, are not tied so much to treasures of earth....but treasures of the heart. When I treasure my reputation, I will guard it and lash out at those who would threaten it. When I treasure comfort, I will complain and rebel against all that requires more than I think I ought to sacrifice. When I treasure peace at all cost, I might forfeit the truth and the hard things that must be said. When I treasure approval, I will use whatever means to gain the applause of others.
In the same way none of us think we are storing up treasures of money and things on earth, we certainly don't believe we could be possibly stashing away our greatest investments in the protection of our treasure: SELF.
And so these words have formed on my lips as I view those around me...and in my own life.
You won't please everyone...
You can't do everything...
You will never have it all...
...but if your treasure is Christ...
You have all you need...
Through the One who did all that was necessary...
For you to be pleasing
To the only One that matters.
Lord, make our hearts satisfied with nothing less than the treasure of You. Let the earthly good that glitters and the self-agrandizing treasure that promises worth, be found for what they truly are: Worthless. And as we root out the sin in our own lives, and forgive the sin that is committed against us, may we be found treasuring Christ and living like those with nothing to lose...because we have all that we could possibly need.
Amen.
Because of grace,
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