|
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:19-21
To those who say “I read scripture because it gives me great comfort and relief”, I say, “Have you read this particular passage??” If ever there was a “challenge and be challenged” scripture, this is it. For me, anyway, this is a moment of rubber meeting road that quickly pulls my day to day life into sharp focus.
My wife, Libby, is an amazing example of someone who keeps our house from filling up with useless things. She helps to challenge me to decide whether that old cassette tape player in the garage that is dusty, doesn’t quite work, and frankly smells a little funny is worth keeping. I appreciate that challenge. And, the result is that, for the most part, many of the things we have around our house have some sort of long term value or use to us.
At heart, this is a faith issue. For me, the primary resource that I value is my time. I can’t earn more of it, but I can manage it to a degree. And, the way I do so is indicative of where my heart is. Thieves can “break in and steal” my precious time. Every time I open my phone, I make a decision to click on an app that is productive or one that steals away my time.
So, I find myself trying to make conscious decisions to spend time: with family, to find time to consider my faith – through study, discussion, or worship, or to find meaningful time with others. Ultimately, those are treasures which moth or rust cannot consume.
For the times that I take a moment to consider the inventory of my life, those are the treasures I hope to find.
|
