Treasures

It's been a while since I've been on here. I am giving a devotional to my bible study group tomorrow and thought I'd share it here since it was something I put into print. We are studying the book of Luke and chapter 12 spoke to me, so it inspired this devotion. Along with a song that I will post if I can figure out how. I just realized that there is also a reference in the devotion to my last post - the gift Boutique (at which I sold not a single thing). It was quite a disappointment, but I guess there was a good reason. When I get around to it I'll post some of my crafts I gave as Christmas gifts. For now here is my devotion... The Lord has been speaking to me about treasures in heaven so I would like to share with you some of my thoughts and scriptures I found. To me the thought of “treasures in heaven” is uplifting, hopeful, and inspiring. It reminds me that this life is temporary, and shifts my focus upward and to a glorious future with my maker and master. But as I really began to ponder, “What exactly are treasures in heaven?” I turned to the scriptures. Matthew 6:19-21 says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy where thieves do not break in and steal. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” We have been given many treasures on earth and we should thankfully accept what God has provided us with. We should also realize their temporary and perishable nature, and we should not grasp them tightly or spend our time and energy storing them up. The treasures we have on earth should be held onto with an open palm. And we should be willing to let them go when required. So what are treasures in heaven? We learn from Matthew that they are not perishable. And that we have to choose which kind of treasure we want to store. We cannot be storing up treasures in heaven if our time is spent storing up treasures on earth. Then if we turn to Luke 12:33 we see Jesus saying, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide for yourselves purses that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.” So it appears that treasures in heaven can be gained by our generosity. Each day I wrote the memory verse,(Luke 12:33) again and again I wrote “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” I was prompted to action. Jesus isn’t speaking in parables here, he is giving a direct command, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Ok, God, I’m listening what can I do? I remembered a blog post I saw about an organization that was selling handmade goods online with all of the profit going to Haiti. I also thought of the children’s outfits I had sitting in the garage that I sewn before Christmas for a gift boutique, which didn’t sell. I got up and emailed the pictures and info to donate them. That was a no brainer. But what else can I do, Lord? What does it look like to have the kind of generosity that Jesus is talking about, one that stores up heavenly treasures? From verse 33“Sell your possessions” tells me that generosity should be a little painful – it should cost us something and should mean that we have less than we might want because of it. I was also challenged by the Spirit to not just do good when it comes my way and makes sense, but I need to actively seek out ways to be generous. When I began thinking of what else I could practically do to be generous I thought of how much money we spend each month in comparison to the rest of the world. I shudder to think of the woes that Jesus would speak to Americans if He were to show up here today. Our very lifestyles cause oppression worldwide. It is almost paralyzing when I start to think about it. Not only can I give to the poor but I can be a compassionate consumer as well. I can try to make better decisions about the goods and services I buy for myself and my family. Instead of buying cheap goods that are frivolous, I can buy less overall and when spending my money on the basics I can support individuals and organizations with higher principles that put humanity as a priority. In Luke 12:48 Jesus tells the disciples, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” God has given us a tremendous responsibility with our wealth; we need to be mindful of how we use it. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 also reminds us to keep our focus on God regardless of how much we have. It says, “command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” From this Paul tells us, to gain treasures in heaven is to be rich in good deeds. After reading in Timothy I immediately thought of Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” We can use our earthly treasures (as well as our time and our attitudes towards others) to gain heavenly treasure. But it is not only our acts of goodness and generosity that God desires, He looks upon the heart and wants us to give cheerfully. He has also provided us with everything we need to be generous. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 says, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times; having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” This reminds us that even though our cheerful generosity will result in our storing up of treasures in heaven, our motivation should not be for ourselves, but be that God would receive the glory and thanksgiving. For everything comes from Him and it is all to him we owe. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.