PENTECOST XVIII
September 26, 2021
“A Heart in the Right Place”
“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)
Reading this short passage in the Gospel of Matthew, you might notice that just above it, (verses 9-13) is the account of Jesus teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. Go back a couple of pages, in chapter 5, verses 3-11, and you’ll find the Beatitudes. Look ahead in Chapter 6 to verses 25-34 and there is the familiar “lilies of the field” lesson. These early chapters in Matthew are filled with a number of short, thought-provoking nuggets. “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything . . .” (Matthew 5:13) Jesus doesn’t elaborate or explain in detail what he’s talking about —it sounds as though he wants people to think about living new lives in relationship with their heavenly Father, and what they contribute to their communities. We need to continue to be “salty”; that is, strong in faith and actions, as we live as God’s people in this world.
In speaking of one’s treasures and where they are stored, we hear a strong, purposeful delineation between earthly and heavenly values. Human accomplishments and possessions are short-lived, but God’s gifts of faith and salvation are eternal. We don’t use the word “treasure” very often any more, and certainly not in relation to material things. We speak of investments, property, income, or other assets, all of which can be analyzed and quantified, generally with a goal of maximizing profit and creating stability.
But treasures . . . that’s a word that often comes from the heart. We treasure special times spent with loved ones, relationships that have given us joy and fulfillment. We may treasure items that evoke the memory of a beloved person; a letter in familiar handwriting, special pictures, little mementoes unique to them.
It’s purely a coincidence that last week’s devotion referenced the beautiful phrasing of having a treasure in clay jars; which is the Gospel of Christ Jesus, entrusted to breakable, imperfect humans. Yet here we are again, hearing the good news that the greatest treasure of all is a free gift from our heavenly Father — faith through his abundant grace. We may be breakable, but the message is not. We are blessed with opportunities to learn, to be inspired and strengthened, and to find ways to serve God and humanity. As we hear these timeless messages, the faith and knowledge of the ages guide us to know what true treasures are, and our hearts will be assured that we are in the right place to share the eternal treasure of Jesus’ message of love for all people.
Grateful for the timeless message,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers