February 15
Matthew 6.19-21
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
What a lot of stuff to go through when we try to pack up a home. Things that are important to our daily living. Furniture, dishes, clothes, bedding and linens, and quite a bit more. Then the larger pile of things that may not be so important, or of no value at all. I’d mention that list, but we’ll keep from shaming each other about the useless things we each keep hold of for so long.
Even the things we see as necessary can all be replaced. Those who have lost everything in fires will say that the only things that are irreplaceable are pictures, items with strong memories attached, and family. The rest is just stuff that they make more of every day. And with that in mind, we see that Jesus is not even speaking of those things we call irreplaceable. He takes us much deeper. Those could still be destroyed.
Jesus brings us to the thing that can never be taken away. Our belonging to God. Even those most important relationships, which we would never want to lose, do not have the hold on us that the love of God does. We hold on to the grace that keeps us belonging. We see that it is the things that we do in response to that love of God for us that are going to be most important for us. Lives of gratitude to God.
What are we putting away for that future? What are storing up for the future of resurrection? Not thinking that we will get larger mansions or other great rewards for ourselves for what we do now. But seeing that as we live faith with people now we can see that the real reward awaiting us will be that our lives will have helped others to live in faith as well. Seeing that we played a part in others also belonging to God forever.
Song – Set Your Heart on the Higher Gifts
Prayer
Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of tenderness and strengthen us to face our mortality, that we may reach with confidence for your mercy in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.