“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, Matthew 6:19, ESV
Note before sharing the devotional: Although the above verse is the focus of the devotional, it doesn't seem right to not also include the next two verses:
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20, ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33, ESV
The farther along I've gone on this journey, the more difficult I realize I've found to grasp this verse. Intellectually I understand it: don't treasure the things of this world, seek first the kingdom of God and of heaven and lay your treasures there. It's a simple concept.
Then comes putting it into practice. In the end, it really boils down to whether you really trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, Lord, and King. Because if you do, then you'll be able to gain victory over every evil thing, and you will be able to do everything that God says you can. But if you don't... well, no amount of human strength will help you rightly pursue the kingdom of heaven and lay your real treasures -- including your heart -- there.
Here's another key to this whole thing:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV
I think what this verse commands, more than anything, has been a huge stumbling block for me. To me, experience is -- and has been -- everything. The years I was in therapy gave me an opportunity, in ways that I had never known previously, to experience moments that brought me the healing I needed in order to forgive and move on from the things that were holding me back. But in spite of all this, I've not been able to translate this to other things that I've since learned that my years in counseling was not able to help with.
What I have been doing is reading my Bible and praying daily. Sometimes that's all that is required for the time being. Perhaps that's another way to store up treasure in heaven is by spending regular time with (and in) God's Word -- treasure -- and letting it build up in one's heart.
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Treasure that Lasts Forever
Every human grows up in a world filled with desires and needs. We learn from an early age that we prefer comfort over discomfort. We discover that it is easier to have plenty than it is to have little.
Material possessions can certainly create comfort in our lives—the new cars, the bigger houses, or the latest phones. It's easy to think that having more will make you happier, too.
But nothing you can buy will last forever.
Everything that we collect here on earth has an expiration date. Cars break down. Houses crumble. New phones become obsolete—really quickly. In the long run, we really have no control over the things of this world.
Jesus invites us to a different way of life when He tells us to focus on storing up treasures in heaven, where things do not deteriorate or disappear. Rather than focusing on piling up earthly things, He calls us to focus on heavenly things that will last eternally.
Everything we own was actually given to us by God’s grace.
We can break the habit of amassing treasure on earth by seeing all of our material possessions as something given by God for us to share with others. We can also shift our priorities toward making an eternal impact in people’s lives by sharing the hope of Jesus with them.
What small steps can you take today to begin to shift your focus from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure? What has God given you that you can share with others to make a difference in their life as well? Take some time to pray to God about these things.
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https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.19.ESV
Every human grows up in a world filled with desires and needs. We learn from an early age that we prefer comfort over discomfort. We discover that it is easier to have plenty than it is to have little.
Material possessions can certainly create comfort in our lives—the new cars, the bigger houses, or the latest phones. It's easy to think that having more will make you happier, too.
But nothing you can buy will last forever.
Everything that we collect here on earth has an expiration date. Cars break down. Houses crumble. New phones become obsolete—really quickly. In the long run, we really have no control over the things of this world.
Jesus invites us to a different way of life when He tells us to focus on storing up treasures in heaven, where things do not deteriorate or disappear. Rather than focusing on piling up earthly things, He calls us to focus on heavenly things that will last eternally.
Everything we own was actually given to us by God’s grace.
We can break the habit of amassing treasure on earth by seeing all of our material possessions as something given by God for us to share with others. We can also shift our priorities toward making an eternal impact in people’s lives by sharing the hope of Jesus with them.
What small steps can you take today to begin to shift your focus from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure? What has God given you that you can share with others to make a difference in their life as well? Take some time to pray to God about these things.
https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.6.19.ESV
Prayer: Father God, You have shown me what matters most -- and that is to love You, and love others. Help me to align my life with Your will. Show me how to invest my time, resources, and money into the one thing that has eternal value --Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, Amen.