“Invest in the Eternal”

Luke 12:32-34

Today’s scripture continues to support the current sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount. This week’s focus is on Matthew 6:19-34 and the reading from Luke is very similar to Matthew 6:19 which reads as follows: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

When I read these verses the phrase “invest in the eternal” comes to mind. If we are walking in obedience to Jesus’ commands and recognize that our true citizenship is in heaven then investing in the eternal only makes sense.

So how do we do this? It occurs to me that only three things in this world are going to last forever – God, His Word, and people. Given this short list, a strong focus on growing in our relationship with God, studying His Word, and investing in the people God brings into our lives are logical priorities. In the gospels Jesus gives us examples of how to live this kind of life. He prioritizes prayer (relationship with the Father), He shows a firm grasp of scripture (the OT during His time on earth), and in today’s reading He puts a focus on people (helping the poor). Thanks be to God for Jesus’ examples and the opportunities we have at UALC to grow in our efforts to “invest in the eternal”.

I have lived long enough to see things in my life that I thought were “all important” (treasures) fade away. They didn’t last. But God’s love, the truth of His Word, and the people He loves (all people!) remain – forever!

Chosen Treasure

 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. (Deuteronomy 7:6)

I am in the process of moving. I sold my house, the place I called home for 42 years. Packing and purging has been my battle cry these past few weeks. I only want to take with me what I will use, what is truly important. When in doubt I have been asking myself, "Would you want to pack this up and move it again?" If I hesitate, then it must go. 

During this process I have come across items long forgotten; some in cute little boxes, others tucked away in closets. Upon examination, these things, photos, mementos from family vacations, refrigerator hangings (you know what I mean), and other one-of-a-kind items from years gone by, I pause and take a momentary trip down memory lane.

When I read the scripture verse for today in preparation to write about it, the last two words began to paint a picture for me. Treasured Possession reminded me of the discoveries I made as I prepared to pack up on my stuff. So many treasured possessions - but are they really treasures? 

To think, God considers me and you, His treasured possessions. And what does it mean? Jesus died for us so we will live. Because He Died, we are free from sin, shame, death and despair. 

There is a difference between having treasures and being treasured. If God calls me His Treasured possession, I can let everything else go.

Why Do You Give?

Psalm 62:9-12 The Message

⁹ Man as such is smoke,    woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they’re nothing;    two times nothing is nothing.

¹⁰ And a windfall, if it comes—    don’t make too much of it.

¹¹ God said this once and for all;    how many times
Have I heard it repeated?    “Strength comes
Straight from God.”

¹² Love to you, Lord God!    You pay a fair wage for a good day’s work!

I remember when Steve and I were first married, life immediately changed.  It was so strange to now live life with someone.  We were now supposed to make decisions together. I loved being able to share my life and its responsibilities with Steve.

One of the first decisions we made together was the decision to tithe.  Being a good steward of what God gave was important to us.  We were already on a good path with our time and talents.  We loved serving God in the church and outside the church.  But we had not yet tithed our treasures.

Why was tithing important to us?  It was not to impress man. Psalm 62 says, “Man as such is smoke”  No, we decided to tithe because we loved God.  The Psalm also says, “Strength comes straight from God.”

Steve and I had an understanding right from the beginning that what we have comes from God, and we find it an honor to return those gifts right back to him.

Why do you give?  It is an important question to ask. Giving shouldn't be a burden but a blessing given with a joyful heart.  That does not mean it won't be a sacrifice. Anything good cost us.  But the price is worth it when we think of all God has done for us and what he wants to do with our giving.

Matthew 13:44-58

As a child, I had a great hiding place for my treasures.  On the back of our property was an old run down wooden tool shed.  Bicycles, lawn mowers and junk were stored inside.  My friends and I cleaned out this building and created a clubhouse.  It was inside this special place you would find the hiding place.

Jesus speaks to us in language we, his children, might understand.  I felt my special belongings were safe in this rickety old structure.  The child in me was certain my personal belongings were of enough importance they needed to be secured.  The scripture lesson today reveals to me that only Heaven is to be valued in this fashion.

Heaven is the only treasure we should consider worthy enough to sell everything else to purchase. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Mathew 13:44)  Jesus knew that to get our attention He had to compare Heaven with things we treasure here on earth, evident by His many examples comparing Heaven with earthly ‘things’.

As I grow in my spiritual walk and witness Jesus’ presence in my life I realize He is the only treasure of value.  He is the pearl, the gem I should value enough to go and sell everything I own just to purchase.  Then I realize there is no price tag on Jesus love and forgiveness.  There is only grace and it is free for the asking.

Read the scripture for today at Biblegateway.com

Heavely Hoarders Luke 12:13-21

Do you have a lot of stuff? I do. My husband and I had a garage sale recently, which my husband was not too excited about. He did not think we had enough stuff to get rid of to make it worth our while. He tried to explain to me that seven years earlier, when we had moved to California, we had already purged our stuff. I asked him to trust me, we had plenty to sell. Reluctantly he agreed only to be $1500 richer a few weeks later.

OK so we sold a few of those items on Craig’s List but we still got rid of A LOT! We have a lot of junk don’t we. We must look like hoardes to God. Our scripture today warns us against storing up treasures here on earth. Jesus makes His point pretty clear when he says to the rich man, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.” We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so we need to focus on the real treasure, God.

This may sound cliché but, think about it. We don’t know how long we have here on earth, and we can’t take it with us. Why then do we spend so much time accumulating so much junk which does not glorify God? Is it time to clean our closets and start storing up things that will make us rich toward God?

Ready todays passage on Biblegateway Luke 12:13-21