"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:20

Ken asked the question, "What does it mean to lay up treasures in Heaven?" Good question. I do understand what it means to lay up treasures on earth. But treasures in heaven are more nebulous to me. Jim Searcy from Cyprus says on his web-site that it means sending our money to him so that he can fight the infidel Muslims... Besides the government is controlling our wealth and that money will soon be declared illegal... So sent it to him. Another site says that Laying up Treasures in Heaven is sending money to help sick children. I wonder if there are "Spiritual Equity Loans" available? Somehow I don't think this is what Jesus had in mind.

So let me look at it from an opposite. If laying up treasure on earth is to focus on things of earth, then treasures in heaven would involve focusing on things spiritual. It is true, physical wealth and material goods can be taken from me... But what is in my heart cannot. My thoughts go back to the words of Christ in John 14. He says he goes "to prepare a place for us...." That makes me a property holder in Heaven. I'm also going to get a crown when I arrive. Hmmmm... Maybe I do have treasures in heaven.

I think Peter has a clue. He writes, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." I Peter 1:5-8 Maybe I need to listen to him...

Father, you ask us to lay up treasures in Heaven. I'm anchored here on earth. Allow your Spirit to guide me and focus on the things you would have me to do. Allow me to understand the true meaning of laying up treasures in heaven. Thanks... I know this will stay in the back of my mind all day today... And tomorrow... And the next day. Maybe that what you had in mind in the first place!
- posted by Steve R. @ 5:44 AM

 
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." Matthew 6:19

When I was in 9th grade, I had my bike stolen while I was at a track meet. I loved that bike. It was a red Schwinn that my parents had given me for Christmas. I went back to the place where it was stolen every day looking for it. A week later at another track meet, I found it... Stripped down, but with the right serial number. I called the police, and nearly got beat up trying to get it back, but get it back,I did.

Another time, I had my golf clubs [gasp] stolen from the garage by a guy who was trying to raise money to buy crack. He had sold them to a guy I knew for 25 dollars. Fortunately, I had a business card in one of the pockets and I was called by the police to tell me they had recovered the good. A citizen had reported the thief had been wanting to sell them a lot of goods... My clubs were used as a part of the sting. I had nearly 2 dozen new Titleist golf balls in the bag... Worth a lot more than $25.

Marcia came home one time and found her house totally destroyed by a boy-friend who she had broken up with earlier that day. All of her clothes were destroyed, her furniture, and tens of thousands of dollars damage was done to the house. It took months to get all the repairs done, and the contractors hired stole what wasn't damaged.

When I get wrapped up in material things, it's easy to be hurt and disappointed. I'll never forget the feeling of realizing that things that belonged to me were taken from me. In DC, kids are getting hurt daily because they are being mugged for their designer gear. It's become a crazy world where the attitude is becoming more and more... What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine.

I have to balance the admonitions in Proverbs to prepare for the future with this statement by Christ... But the point to me is that I should not be sooo vested in the material world. After all, material goods depreciate (anyone who knows what happens when you buy a new car!) and they do disintegrate... So what is important. Guess I find that out tomorrow.

Father, it's easy to get off focus. Making a living... You did tell us through Paul that not to provide for our families is to behave worse than an infidel... Becomes far more important at times than it should be. How many times a day do I hear someone say, "The one who dies with the most toys wins"? It's a crazy world where material goods seem to be the measure of success. Help me today to realize the true value of things.
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:23 AM

 
"But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:17,18

This is the last half of the verse I looked at yesterday. It follows the same pattern that I have seen for most of this chapter: Here's what the common practice of the day is, and here is how you should do it. Today He's telling me how I should fast.

I woke up thinking about Larry today. Larry is a co-worker at the Pentagon. I've had enough conversations with him to know that he is a believer. The first week that I was at the Pentagon, back in September, we had a meeting with his boss and him. When the meeting broke, it was time for lunch. Only Larry's boss came. When asked where Larry was, his boss responded, "Oh, this is Tuesday, Larry never eats on Tuesday or Thursday. Weird, huh?" The conversation went on as to why Larry didn't eat... but no one really knew. Yesterday I had a meeting with Larry and his boss... it was a Tuesday. I decided to ask Larry why he chose not to eat on Tuesday and Thursday. He simply said, "I make it a practice to fast twice a week... it gives me time to spend time on the things that are important for that hour twice a week." Who knew... certainly not his co-workers. Do they know he's a Christian? Sure do. Do they know he's a heck of a nice guy? Sure do. Is he letting his light shine? Sure does. Is he bragging about his fasting? Nope.

Father, I need to be more like Larry. Let others see you through me.
- posted by Steve R. @ 6:32 AM

 
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." Matthew 6:16

I don't fast often... At least not for religious reasons. Sometimes I'll skip a meal because I'm too busy to eat... I suppose that's the ultimate "fast". I'm moving too fast to fast. I'm also a diabetic. When I skip meals I get into physical difficulty. I wonder if there is such a thing as a virtual fast? I'll think about that one today and talk about it more tomorrow.

In the time of Christ, the religious leaders of the time would put ashes on their face so that everyone who saw them would know that they were fasting. Christ says that practice is to be eschewed (pun intended). I haven't counted how many times in this chapter Jesus has said, "... They have received their reward..." But it has been a bunch. Here is the point for me, right activity for the wrong reason is still wrong. Prayers offered so that those in earshot would say, "Man, can that boy pray!" won't get any higher than the ceiling. Acts of devotion and worship done so that others notice don't mean squat. Bummer... It kinda puts me in a dilemma. How does this fit in with the statement that we are to "let our light shine"? I suppose that what is being said is "Right living for the right purpose" is what is required here. I'd better take a look at my motives then.

Father, this morning you are telling me that just doing the right thing isn't enough. Those old sayings, "It's not what you think, it's what you do" or "Fake it 'til you make it" aren't going to cut it. That means I'm going to have to have a heart transplant. I'm an addict to sin. So, as an addict to drugs and behaviors I have to take life a day and moment at a time. I need your Spirit to be my sponsor. When I'm about to fall, tweak my conscience to do what is right for the right reasons. Well, it's time for breakfast. I'll talk with you more later.
- posted by Steve R. @ 5:45 AM

 
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14,15.

I love to play golf, although I haven't played as much or as well as I used to play. Golf is a game where integrity is the essence of the game. It is self ruling... I've seen players call penalties on themselves for the most minor infraction even though it may cost them dearly in the match in which they are competing. Sometimes players make up their own rules. An example is hitting a ball and then not being able to find it when you get to where the ball should be. Most golfers (myself included) will just drop a ball, take a stroke penalty and then play on. The rules state that the player should return to the tee... Take a stroke penalty... And hit again. To be consistent with the intent of the rules, if the player were to drop a ball in the vicinity of the lost ball, the player should take a two stroke penalty... but that is not the rule. The rule is you go back to the tee and hit again.

My point is this. This verse says to me, I don't have the luxury to pick and choose who I choose to forgive and who I don't. The rule is I have to forgive everyone. The penalty is simple, disqualification! For unless our sins are forgiven, we can't win the prize. And some people think the rules of golf are strict!

Father, I know you are a loving and forgiving God. I also know that I'm less forgiving than I would like to be... And far less for giving than you demand. I know that I would not be asking for forgiveness to those that hurt me as Christ did when they were nailing him to the cross for my sins. May your Spirit convict me of the areas where I need to ask forgiveness... And let me truly forgive.
- posted by Steve R. @ 8:37 PM