Heart Investment

 “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

What is your most prized possession? I can remember that new car smell and the delight I took driving a spanking new car home from the dealership. It was red. It was fast. It was perfect, having no scratch or dent. What happiness it brought when I took a curve and it responded, hugging the road and rounding the apex powerfully. Wheee!

A lot of such happy driving wore that car out after ten years. The miles had accumulated and tires had to be replaced repeatedly. Parts had to be adjusted, maintained, and exchanged. The joy of that first drive was transitory.

The first home I bought brought a sense of great accomplishment, but it too required maintenance, repair, cleaning, and mowing of lawns. Eventually it no longer met my needs. It provided but a temporary satisfaction.

I loved that wedding ring my husband bought for me. It was all shiny and bright and represented our commitment to one another. I treasured that ring. Then one day I came out of the ocean after swimming and splashing in those salty waters, only to discover my ring was no longer on my left hand. It was forever lost to the seas.

Nothing on this planet remains. We can enjoy it and even delight in it, but it is fleeting, transitory, and cannot be depended on. We ourselves do not remain. We are flawed. We grow old, wrinkled, and weak. Moreover, there is coming a day of death and departure from this earth. We don’t like to think about death and dying. We avoid making wills. We put it off. Death is difficult to confront. Nevertheless, it is a reality.

So then, knowing that nothing on this planet is enduring and knowing that life, though sweet, is short, how do we live our best life? How do make our lives count for something more than just pleasure, money, laughter, achievements? Are we making these earthly things our treasure? Has this wobbly, unsteady world stolen our hearts?

 “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; and 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” (Luke 12:19-21).

Here is wisdom. Be rich toward God!

“Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom; sell what you have and give alms; provide money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:32-43).

One way of being rich toward God is imitating His great generosity. There are myriad ways to do this. Volunteer. Give. Serve. Love. Bless. Help out. Provide for others. Show up! Don’t waste your life on frivolities and trinkets. Seize eternity!

“And let us consider one another to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

Father, let us live fully the lives You have granted us in such a way that You are glorified. Let us be numbered among those wise servants who used what You had given and invested all in Your kingdom. Amen.