MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 6:19 ESV
CHASING MORE: HOARDING
As little Jimmy’s uncle was about to leave after a visit, he placed a crisp new dollar bill in his nephew’s hand, saying, “Be careful how you spend this, Jimmy. You know the old proverb, `A fool and his money are soon parted.’ ” To this the boy replied, “I’ll remember what you said, Uncle Bill. But thanks anyway for parting with it!”
In Matthew 6:19 Jesus taught that a hoarder and his money are eventually departed. Jesus used the expression “lay up treasure” in a good way and a bad way. Laying up treasures for selfish reasons is bad and laying up treasures through godly investments is good. The picture of laying up treasure, or hoarding, is the idea of stacking valuables on top of each other for the purpose of accumulating more. Many of us have seen the show “Hoarders” or know of someone whose home is so filled with stuff that you can barely move around. This is the picture Jesus provided of people who chase after accumulating more and more material possessions. Eventually, all our earthly possessions will be gone and if that’s all we lived for we will be left empty handed.
Instead, Jesus taught we should focus on storing up treasures in heaven by distributing and using our earthly blessings to bless others. Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t have a retirement plan but He is saying a retirement plan should not be the primary goal of our life. The more we distribute blessings the more wealth we lay up in heaven. That is the only fully insured retirement account.
Would the people who know you best say your priority is hoarding treasures on earth or hoarding treasures in heaven? Ask God to show you ways you can add to your heavenly portfolio.
