Where Your Treasure Is

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Today's Passage: Matthew 6:19-24
Memory Verse: Matt. 6:19-21

Okay, be honest now, Lifers.  Which ones of you were bold enough to get out there and face Black Friday?  I was told that at Wal-mart alone, people had to show up at 11 pm to receive a ticket for certain electronics -- for which, mind you, there was a limited supply.  Then, these ticket holders were required to stand in line until 5 am.  If you were one of the brave souls to make this journey, hats off to you.  You are truly the reason the economy is making a turnaround.

But on a more serious note, how many of us would be willing to admit that pursuing worldly things sometimes seems more achievable than what God is asking us to do?  Some of us will stand for hours waiting for a new gizmo to go on sale, or for a new movie to come out.  But when worship service runs a little long on Wednesday night or Sunday morning, we find that highly irritating.  Furthermore, is it just me, or isn't that a thunderous sea of voices lifted in jubilant praise when our favorite team is victorious?  Then how come it's so difficult for us to even lift our hands to praise God?

Today's passage requires us to make sure our priorities are in the right place.  When it comes to things that yield instant gratification for us or those we love, do we have our minds already made up that we'll go as far as we need to in order to get what we want?  If that is the case, how much energy is left for the things that really count?  How much time do we take -- not because we HAVE to, but because we GET to participate in the benefits God provided -- to worship, pray, and spend time with the Father?

As we go about our day, let's remember that where our treasure is, God can tell by how we respond.  Without saying a word, our actions will show just how we feel about that thing.  Let's ask God to fill us with the desire for Him that money cannot buy, and that moth or rust couldn't steal from us.  It may take a while, but as we get to know Who is residing on the inside of us, we'll carry Him like the rich treasure He is in our lives.  And that will make all the difference in the world.

Prayer: Father, thank You for revealing to me that You are the most precious treasure that exists in my life.  I hide you on the inside of my heart.  Help me rise daily to grab hold of You like never before.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.