Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, ‘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.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I have used this idea with teachers, clergy and congregations many times. On one particular day I had given out my pencils and little squares of paper, having learnt my lesson over the years. If I asked a question of a group of people and told them not to discuss it with their neighbours, they would still chat to one another. But if I gave them some paper and a pencil they would do it in silence! I asked them to imagine that a fire had broken out in the house, and they now had seconds to decide what one or two things of over-riding importance would they rescue.

After a moment I invited them to tell me the results. The first person to speak thought they would save, not their computer, for that was backed up elsewhere (it was before the cloud!) but their notebook which held all their passwords. A few others made suggestions. One said their bank cards, another passports, until a rather puzzled person said "The baby?", and their neighbour said "Well, I broke the rules. and put down 'The family'."

Jesus points out that treasure on earth will draw us away from seeking what God' defines as treasure. We are to remember that we can take no earthly treasure with us when we leave this life, except our deeds of kindness and the record of our love for God and for others. Our earthly treasure may not be God's treasure!

Heavenly Father,
help us to remember
that the glitter of treasure on earth
is but dross and imitation.
May we learn to see
that what You offer to us
is eternal treasure,
that will neither rot nor be stolen
but is stored up in the bank of heaven for us.
Amen.