34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:34 NIV)
What is your treasure? What is my treasure? Jesus' words prompted me to take a spontaneous inventory of my life. I've never given much though to my treasure because by conventional standards I'm not sure I qualify as one who holds treasure. So I thought I would initiate a little treasure hunt to see what I might come up with.
Where to start? In a scene from O Brother Where Art Thou, Delmar O'Donnell sighed, "You ain't no kinda man if you ain't got land." So let's see, I have a modest split-foyer on slightly less than a third of an acre of land. The roof is good, but the house needs painting, and moss constitutes most of the green in my yard. Home, sweet, home? Yes! Treasure? Not so much.
Cars, maybe! Cars can be a good way to spot someone's treasure. I was behind a guy in a Lamborghini a couple of weeks ago and his vanity tag said simply, "Me." Treasure, for sure. Do a 2009 Malibu and a 2000 Corolla qualify as treasure? Terrifically reliable transportation for which I am very grateful, but probably not treasure.
Hmmm, real estate, cars, oh, how about investments? I do have a little IRA from a 401K rollover from my radio days. And the United Methodist Church offers a really good retirement plan if you get in early. But I got in at 43 and it's a good news-bad news proposition. The bad news is, the beachfront bungalow in Key West is out. The good news is, we did graduate from cat food to spam with the recent growth in the stock market. Woo hoo!
Treasure? O wait, I do have a few guitars that I have picked up over 40 years of playing. But, they're really tools-of-the-trade more than collectibles. A couple of them have great sentimental value. And others hold some fascinating memories from my days on the road...if I could just remember them.
Maybe I'd better explore the heart angle. I think a good way to verify the contents of the heart is to see what's coming out of it. If conversations with my wife and friends and Facebook posts are any indication, my heart is full of my family, especially now that I have a grandson. Have I mentioned that I have a grandson? If it weren't for my family I'm not sure I would have much of anything to talk (or post) about. I have a reasonably-sized ego and am prone to bouts of selfishness and self-absorption. But, honestly, there is nothing I would not do or anything would not give up if it meant gain for my family. I've already verbally given the house to my grandson. But hey, he smiled and called me grandpa. What was I supposed to do?
More to the matter at hand, I would love to say that I think about God and heavenly things even more than I think about my family. But, that wouldn't be completely true, though it's truer today than a few years ago and, hopefully, will be even truer in the years to come. (Wesley called that sanctification, I think) I do, however, love God as best I can and I treasure his amazing love for me and would do anything in return (I think, I hope) for his kingdom. And I think that's what Jesus is getting at with his connection of treasure and heart. It's hard to be all-in to the things of the world and all-in to God, as well.
Maybe your own spontaneous treasure hunt would be an instructive detour on our journey to Jerusalem with Jesus. If you're like me you probably don't need an accountant or a lawyer. A little quiet time, some pictures, a history of your Facebook posts, and a good friend to bring perspective should help you find your treasure.
Blessings,
Larry
You have given me points to ponder as I organize and pack for a move to Chattanooga. Because I don't really want to leave, I'm grasping onto everything here which I qualify as 'treasure', but it might be an anchor after all. When having to let go of a home, friends and activities, holding on to 'stuff' seems to make it feel better.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your postings. I know that takes a good amount of time to do, but everyone of them has had something valuable for me.