Where Is Our Treasure?

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”  Luke 12:15 (NIV)

We are sitting here with the Teacher and someone brings Him a plea.  They ask Jesus to make their brother share with them.  They were concerned that they were getting short-changed.  They wanted what they felt was theirs.  They stood to lose out on some of the world´s riches because of an uncharitable brother.  Were they right in bringing their concern to Jesus?  Will the Lord help us with our monetary problems?  Doesn´t He want to ease our struggle through this life´s financial battle?  Could we have similar questions?  Would we too like to bring our personal matters to the Lord?  What will He tell us?

Would our first reaction be to heartily say that the Lord will indeed listen to our concerns and take care of those problems too?  Would we be correct in thinking He cares that much about us?  Do we lean forward to listen to Jesus as He goes on with His instruction?  Can we all envelop ourselves in where He leads us through these pertinent matters?  In the following verses where does Jesus guide our inquisitive hearts?  How do we read it?

Jesus gives a parable of a man who had been financially blessed.  In His delight he gets carried away with his success.  He starts to count on it, plan for it and secretly love the very gift of wealth he had been blessed with.  But did the man realize that his worldly delight would not follow him through the grave?  Did it occur to him that he began looking in a direction that was not prudent?  While he looked to how he would care for his belongings and wealth, did he fail to keep his heart on our Father and the Kingdom where an inheritance awaits us?  Sadly in the story the man dies and he is left without his earthly treasures.  Eternally more disheartening, he is left without God and a home with Him there!  Is this the most tragic end possible?  Does it leave the poor rich man with no hope?  Has it made a waste of everything from the blessing to the promise?  Had he been wise to let his heart leave the Lord and embrace the gifts that were bestowed upon Him?

Could the verses that come after this story be among the sweetest and most beautiful there are?  Do they place us within the care of the Lord?  Does Jesus use birds and flowers to show us where our blessings come from?  Do they hint to where we could focus our hearts?  What vital treasure can we gleam from His teaching here?  Could it be that our Savior would lift our eyes above all we have here?  Might Jesus be taking us gently by the hand and carrying us past our greed, lusts and preoccupation with the world we live in?  Is He bringing us into the very Presence of God?  Is He leading us into a relationship which does not rely on wealth?

Is it ugly to see young couple together only because they provide each other with material gifts?  Is it so much sweeter to see a couple who regardless of what they have, they just want to be together?  Which relationship will last?  On a heavenly scale, do we stand to receive so much more to be in love with God like the second couple?  Is our relationship grounded in much more precious treasures?  Could we take a look where our hearts are today?  What is it we are really concentrating our desires upon?  Where is our treasure?  Do we really care to know?

Dear Jesus, thank you for sharing.  Thank you for teaching.  Now enable us to see where you go with Your instruction.  Help us to see What is truly valuable.  Give us the Greatest Treasure to set our hearts upon!  Let us fall uncontrollably in love with our God!  Thrill our hearts with an intense love and relationship with our Lord!  Let it begin now!  Let it end never!

Amen