JESUS SPEAKING
“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” (Mathew 6: 19-21.)
INSPIRED THOUGHTS
There are two kinds of riches and two places where they can be stored. Earthly riches are physical and material; they are subject to theft and decay and do not last; they can be stored anywhere; in banks, in safes, or in hidden locations. The second kinds of riches are those that are spiritual; they are eternal and not subject to decay or destruction; nor can they be stolen; they are things such as, giving, feeding the hungry, loving others, or doing anything else that is pleasing to God (The Lord rewards a person with eternal wealth whenever they do one of these tasks.) There is a place inside of every human being where their’ God dwells. This place is what is known as the heart. Some people have made money their God, some people sex, some people power, some people clothing; whatever they seek after, whatever they attempt to obtain, this is the God that they serve. Many have replaced a heavenly God with an earthly treasure; an eternal God has been exchanged for something that is ‘here today, and gone tomorrow.’ Heavenly wealth and earthly wealth are in opposition, because one displaces the other, and vice versa.
Health is something that can be valuable. When we look at the life of Mother Theresa we see a woman going in to places to care for people stricken with leprosy and other manner of illnesses. Had she been concerned with her own health more than caring for others, she would have never gone to India; she would have never done the things that God was calling her to do. Missionaries also give up ‘the house,’ ‘the career,’ ‘the car,’ and move to third world countries to show the love of Christ to those in need. If ‘the house,’ ‘the career,’ or ‘the car,’ were more important to them than loving others, there would be no missionaries. This world also elevates youth and beauty up as things to be possessed and valued; a person who is concerned about surrounding themselves with others who are beautiful will find no value whatsoever in the following scripture: “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” An eternal payment is coming for those who have made the things of God more valuable than the things of this world.
Today, what is important to you? Are you being led by the things that are valuable in this world, or the things that are valuable to God? God calls all of us to be more concerned with kindness, compassion, love, mercy, faith, hope, and peace, rather than cars, career, 401 K, sex, pleasure, fitness, wealth, vacations, or personal time. Where is your heart? If you desire to do God’s work, focus yourself on the things that are truly important, and don’t be blinded by the things in this world. When you feed a person who is hungry God is watching; when you take time out of the day to care for someone who is sick, God credits that time to your eternal account; when you reach out to others who are in darkness with the Gospel message, God is pleased and you will be rewarded when this world is no more. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and serve others, love others, and give your life up to the service of the eternal God.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we want to store up our treasure in heaven; we want to grow closer to You and to be more pleasing to You. Give us opportunities to love others, to give to others, and to deny ourselves to serve our fellows. Help us to see what is truly important; open our eyes to the truth, and help us to do whatever it is You are asking from each of us. We love You Lord, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you.
Jesus Speaks 