We participated in the annual FIA "yard sale" where people rent tables and sell their stuff. We had so much stuff we rented two large tables.
As I sold items, bargained with buyers, saw many, many people carrying bags of stuff I was reminded of a sermon I recently heard by John Ortberg and also remembered a poem I'd written 11 years ago when I was selling off stuff to come to the Philippines.
Jonathon Edwards' words ran through my mind, "The enjoyment of [God] is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean."
Treasures are part of human experience.
Jesus doesn't tell us not to treasure anything but that we are not to treasure the wrong things. Our eternal hearts should be wrapped around Him and His Word, not earthly things.
So as the crock pot I've cooked many meals in walked off in someone else's hands I prayed that person would be blessed in it's usage as I was. As the pots and pans used over the years walked off, as the plastic storage boxes, toys, games, clothing, and other household items walked off I just prayed for the users to be blessed. My heart felt sad yet happy. Happy someone else will use these items, sad at the thought of soon leaving friends.
My treasure is not here on earth where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal, but my treasure is in Heaven. The “scattered beams” of friends spread around the world. Our missionary journey has provided friends from Europe, Canada, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, the USA...
Treasuring God above all else is the most important treasure. This is Matthew 6:33 living – seeking Him first in all my ways. Loving Him, Worshipping Him, Serving Him, Delighting in Him, Seeing Him in ALL I do.....this is my ultimate treasure – one that never rusts but grows glowing brighter and brighter – one that will last for all eternity.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be” Matthew 6:21. “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind and with ALL your strength” Matthew 22:37
Of all my earthly possessions, my Bible is my greatest earthly treasure. I am working hard to hide His Word in my heart as He commands (see Ps. 119:9-11, 2 Tim. 3:16, Colossians 3:16, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3, Matthew 4:4).
His Word, above all, is my treasure. I pray it is yours as well.