Treasure

Read Matthew 6:19-24.

I have a lot of stuff, and the other day listening to a sermon (by someone else), I got to thinking about what I would rescue if my house were on fire. People used to say "pictures" when asked that question, but most of ours, certainly for the last number of years, are all on a hard drive, so perhaps I'd snag that. But what are the things that mean the most to me? What are the things I have that count as treasures?

Well, sure, it's all stuff and doesn't in the end really matter as long as my family is safe. And it occurred to me that while I have many things, I have few treasures. Few things I would risk my life for in order to save.

A "treasure" is not just indicated by what you would save. In fact Jesus says, in this part of the sermon on the mount, that a treasure is perhaps indicated by what we give ourselves to—particularly our time and our money. What are the things or the events in our lives that we spend our time on, invest our money in?

Probably lots of things come to mind, but as a follower of Jesus, one of the things we're called to invest our time, energy and resources in (and thus treasure) is his body, his family, the church.

When we claim to believe in the church and yet find excuses not to be part of the church, do we treasure this gift God has given us? When we spend lots of money on ourselves and are reluctant to give anything to God through the church, do we treasure the body of Christ? When we support the latest political candidate but find (sometimes look for) reasons to be angry with the person who sits next to us in the pew, are we treasuring the family of God?

How do we show our "treasuring" of the church?

I'm just asking questions. It's Jesus with whom we have to deal, because he is the one who tells us that where our treasure is, our heart will be also.