“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:32-34 NIV
What is it that I treasure? What is it in my life that I value the most? On what do I invest my disposable time and income? All too often, I treasure things that will not last. Things that have only temporary value and that will wear out or otherwise come to an end.
What are these perishable things that I so often hold tightly to? Home, family, a secure retirement, recreational activities, things. There are any number of earthly treasures that will, at times, capture my heart and attention. But none of them are eternal. They will all come to an end.
Jesus tells me that there is a better way. To treasure things that will not perish or wear out. And that sounds like a good idea. But the problem is that I have to let go of the perishable things I currently value. I cannot hold tightly to both.
I don’t believe that Jesus necessarily calls on us to walk away from everything in this world. But He does tell us to hold them lightly. And to be willing to share them freely with others in need. And, in the end, that is how I lay up treasure in heaven. By using my earthly treasure in the kingdom’s work now. When I give to those in need, I am making a deposit in my heavenly treasure chest.
