Treasures in Heaven

Devotional by: Cadet Josh Ivany

Matthew 6:19-21 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, your heart will be there

also.

Our earthly treasures or possessions do not define who we are!

Many people feel that their identity is found in the clothes that they wear, the car that they drive, or their earthly treasures.

1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.”

We live in a society where we are told that we need to accumulate MORE and BIGGER and BETTER things and that if we do so, we will find true happiness.

These possessions or toys might make us happy for a while but it’s only temporary.

The media wants us to be constantly unsatisfied and by sticking to this strategy, it leaves the consumer wanting more and wanting better versions of what they already have.

It’s getting out of control and it’s almost comical to see how much junk is being sold to the public. Click the 2 video links below for examples of people trying to convince us that we need to own their ridiculous products.

ALL OF OUR EARTHLY TREASURES ONLY GIVE US TEMPORARY HAPPINESS.

Jesus tells us to store up treasures in Heaven.

What does that look like?

In my opinion, it’s building the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, to be like Jesus.

I believe that a huge part of being like Jesus is loving and caring for the poor, the sick, the distressed, the helpless, and the lonely.

It can be so easy to love and care for our family and friends but I really believe that God is challenging us to love the unlovable. He wants us to show kindness, grace and mercy to those who need it the most.

“Of all of the diseases I have known, loneliness is the worst. I have come to realize more and more that the greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, to be shunned by everybody and essentially be nobody to no one.”

Mother Theresa saw people die from virtually every kind of affliction known. In the hospitals, she treated people suffering from a host of terrible maladies. Mother Theresa was asked, “What is the worst disease that you have ever seen?” Her reply?

Do you know anybody like that?

There are practical things that we can do in our everyday lives to love and care for lonely and broken people.

Eat lunch with the outcasts at school

Visit elderly people in a retirement residence

My challenge for everyone… Don’t get so caught up in the material things of this world. Instead in everything we say and do, we should strive to be more and more like Jesus.