Luke 12:34 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
We all have 'stuff'' and it's considered valuable to us. There is nothing wrong with having gadgets, toys, collectibles, etc. .. until they interfere with actually living life. How important are those things compared to the relationships in your life? How much more valuable would it be to collect memories, rather than things? Things will wither or rot away, but investing in others with our Christ-like love is a treasure that endures. James 2:14-17 "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Do you buy and use your 'stuff' to fill a void? We all like getting new things because it satisfies a longing we've waited for. But when is it too much? "Whether we live in a place of plenty or not, we all can seek unhealthy ways of filling the God-shaped hole in our hearts. But when we look to the Lord for our sense of peace and well-being, He will fill us with His goodness and love." We were all designed with a void that only God can fill, but many people buy and use things without moderation to fill that emptiness. James 5:1-3 "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days." There is no piece of or on earth that can fill us completely like the peace of God.
Who really owns your 'stuff'? 'Everything comes from God.' Are you like the rich man in Mark 10, who relied and trusted in his wealth rather than Jesus? Whatever you have is not your own, but on borrowed time... even time itself is not yours. God can take it back at His will...will you let go willingly? "The writer of Hebrews reminded first-century followers of Jesus to recall how they had bravely endured persecution early in their life of faith. They stood their ground in the face of insults and oppression, standing side by side with other believers (Heb. 10:32-33). “You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions” (v. 34). Their focus was not on what they had lost but on eternal things that could not be taken from them." [odb.org]
As for myself, I want my life to be of a giving spirit. I've been blessed with much so it is my responsibility to share those blessings with others. My God-shaped hole in my heart is like a bubbling volcano of God's goodness to me... my cup runneth over. I want others to see God working in me, through me, and for me. My salvation is my greatest treasure and gift from God. Unlike earthly gifts, I've done nothing to earn it or deserve it and I cannot lose it... only by His grace have I been saved....oh what an eternal treasure salvation is!
