Application: Treasures

"'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  

'The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  

'No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money.'"  Matthew 6 : 19 - 24 

When I look at my life and search for treasure, I don't see something I like. My checkbook does not represent where I want my heart to be. And I think it's a similar story for a lot of you as well.  We are living with scare resources and this passage challenges us to use those resources to build up treasure, not where it will run out, but where it will last.  This is a really difficult challenge for us to accept.

Building up treasure in heaven is not the easy path of the two.  Treasure on earth brings instant gratification and an easy life with few obstacles. Treasure in heaven comes with obstacles in the way.  We have to work harder and actually run towards a point.  This intentional living leads to a life filled with light, and through that, we can discover the best possible life waiting for us.  

I feel like I'm starting to write the same thing over and over again just with different examples.  But I think it will always be the same story. Jesus is calling us to a life that's harder, but whats waiting for us at the end is the best possible life we can dream of, filled with joy and peace. But this passage addresses another issue as well.  

Living with earthly treasure is one thing, but whats so much worse is when we live in darkness but lie to ourselves so we see light.  Living with intention and purpose is not just saying what you choose, but actually doing it.  It is so easy to say you don't have enough time for God in your life because of school, but then to be lazy and careless with your time.  

We need to be a people that live for a reason.  I want to see us running towards something significant.  The best possible life is waiting for us when we pursue it, so why not pick a point and run towards it?  This was something that really spoke to me, and I want to hear your thoughts!  Are you willing to life intentionally, and how does that look for your life?  Look back through some of our other applications.  Are you willing to intentionally give, pray, or fast?