Stuff as Treasures?

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
February 7, 2024
Matthew 6:6:19-21

This afternoon I am blessed to be sitting in my office at home with the window open. I can’t believe it is this warm on the 7th of February. I hear birds chirping as if Spring has come already. Hold on everybody, I’m not sure the early Spring that the groundhog predicted is here just yet, but I will rejoice and be glad anyway. It feels like I should be doing some Spring Cleaning, I have “stuff” stuffed in places I need to clean out, but, since it isn’t really Spring just yet, I think I will wait .

Our scripture passage for today speaks about “stuff” as “treasures”. I’ve heard it said that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, either way, junk or treasure, I fear I have too much. Here’s what Jesus taught; “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, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I believe the main thrust of this teaching is to be careful what motivates us. First, to be motivated to spend our time and resources on what brings God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. For my day to day life here, I believe Jesus wants me to be cautious in my consumer driven, materialistic culture, to ask if what I am collecting is a treasure that will bless, or junk we don’t need. I am reminded of a conversation I had with a dear friend when I was packing up to move. I asked in frustration’ “How did I get all this stuff?”

She responded quickly; “One Walmart bag at a time”.

My desk calendar puts it well; “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?”

Amen!