“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
Decades ago, when I was expecting our second baby, my husband and I did our best to prepare our not-yet-two-year-old for his soon-to-be-born sibling. He was too young to fully understand that our family was growing, but when his baby brother arrived sixteen days before Caleb turned two, he was delighted.
We repeatedly told Caleb that baby Jacob was a gift from God, and that he was our family’s newest treasure. Caleb began introducing Jacob as “our wittle tweasure.”
Treasures are things we greatly value. Possessions to be cared for, held high, and diligently protected.
Earthly treasures, inanimate objects of gold or silver or stitched family heirlooms, fine furniture, or those must-have throw pillows will one day rust or rot or fade. They may even be stolen if our homes are robbed.
Jesus taught us a better way. Rather than spending our days collecting flimsy, fading treasures, may we gaze higher, storing up treasures in heaven, with godly things: prayer, Bible study and memorization, loving and serving others, sharing the Gospel, chasing personal holiness through obedience to Scripture, teaching our children truth, honoring and respecting our husbands, spearing sin, and denying ourselves.
There is no thief on planet earth who can steal these good treasures, born from worshiping God. Our souls will only be strengthened and satisfied as we choose to treasure our Savior, Christ Jesus, while abiding in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our wallets often indicate where our current treasures are found. Are we generous in our tithing, in our gifting, in our missions support? Or do our wallets bulge with receipts that serve to prove that our treasures are bound up in things that will soon rust and fade?
Long ago, our little Caleb referred to his brother as “our treasure” only because we modeled those words for him. Likewise, may we be women of strong faith, encouraging and teaching and modeling godly thinking to our fellow sisters-in-Christ. May we willingly and continuously forsake fading, earthly treasures in favor of heavenly treasures that will fill our hearts for all of eternity.