Treasure

Some people, at the end of each day, put all of the change from their pockets into a piggy bank or change jar.

It may not be a lot of money, but when you add to it every day, it is amazing how quickly it builds up. It always amazes me how much money is in our change jar when we take it to the bank to cash it in.

Whether we use a piggy bank or change jar or a savings account at the bank, it is a good idea to have a plan to save money for unexpected emergencies or when we want to do something special or save to purchase something we want.

But we have to be careful that saving money doesn't become the most important thing in our life. Sadly, our world pushes on us the need for wealth…

In the Bible, Jesus warned His followers about making money the most important thing to them.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, “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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

He says, “lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven”.   What does that mean? What might be treasures in heaven? How can we do that?

·       Give money to the poor

·       Visiting the sick

·       Helping to feed the hungry

·       Being cheerful and thoughtful to someone who is sad

·       Praying for one another

·       Working in a shelter for the homeless

·       Being a friend to someone who is lonely

·       Forgiving someone who has hurt you

·       Saying you're sorry when you hurt someone

·       Sharing with someone about how awesome God is

·       Helping someone understand what it means to accept Jesus as their Savior

Just like adding coins to a jar, these (and other things we do for others) may not seem like much, but if we do something for someone each and every day, it is amazing how quickly they add up!

There is a story about and old man who had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer, he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing, but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.

“Young lady,'‘ he asked, “why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

“The sun is up, and the tide is out, and if I do not throw them in they will die.”

“But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference.”

The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it in the sea, past the breaking waves, saying, “It made a difference for that one.”

Let’s go make a difference in the lives of others!