JUNE 27; SEEKING THE TRUE TREASURE...

Matthew 6:19-21  ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:’ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

DAILY READING – 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13; Isaiah 17-19; Psalm 114

The concept of the ‘afterlife’ was a part of Egypt’s long history. The afterlife was imagined as a paradise where one lived eternally, with all the good things of life of earth, the only difference being an absence of unpleasant or sorrowful things. And so in order to enjoy this paradise, Egyptian kings were buried with the items that would enrich their afterlife.

For instance, in 1922, when Archeologists  excavated the tomb of Egyptian King, Tutankhamun, who was buried in 1323 B.C, they found in the tomb more than 2,000 treasures, including a throne decorated with precious stones and silver, gold coffins, gold-plated chariots and alabaster vases. Researchers also found more than 200 pieces of jewelry, tucked into the king’s body wrappings during the excavations. All these items were meant to aid him in the afterlife.

Because of this belief in the afterlife, Pharaohs ordered builders to construct elaborate burial chambers stocked with food, furniture and favorite items, including pets for comfort and servants that will serve them. Treasures buried with the ancient Egyptian kings included valuables owned during their lifetime, and new items made to demonstrate their high social and political position to the people in the afterlife. But though these kings laid up treasures on earth to use in their afterlife, we now know that none of those treasures followed them there. Rather those treasures were laid up for moth and rust to corrupt and for thieves to steal.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’

The worldly treasures that people accumulate in this life can’t be taken with them after they leave the earth. All these things will fade away after men have passed through this mortal existence. The question however is; what will a man be left with when he has been stripped of these worldly treasures?

The Heavenly treasures we laid up while on earth are what has eternal value. This is why we must keep our focus on what really matters. While earthly treasures will someday fade away, eternal treasures abide forever.  Therefore rather than make earthly treasures a priority, we need to focus on laying up eternal treasures. And the most important eternal treasure we can lay up is our relationship with God.

We make  God our greatest treasure by making a definite choice to serve Him with our lives. In our daily lives we must always prioritize our relationship with God above all else.

In Revelation 3:14-22 the church in Laodicea, had worldly riches, but they lacked the true riches of an intimate relationship with God. And in Revelation 3:16, Jesus says ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth”

The truth is that with God, it will always be all or nothing. You are either going to be hot or cold. The Christian life often requires difficult choices, where we must chose the will of God over what is comfortable and easy. However, when we truly love God, then we must be willing to pay the price of putting Him first and following Him at all costs.

Christ proved that He treasured us by giving up His heavenly status and coming to the earth as a man to die on the cross for our sins. And today we must prove our love for Him by choosing Him above all else.

Those who truly treasure God are those who like Apostle Paul, count all things dung that they might gain Christ. When we decide to make God our priority, then we will be willing to pay the spiritual price of intimacy with Him. We will spend quality time in His Word, in prayers and in fellowship with the Spirit.

And when we truly make God our treasure, then He will in turn, give to us the treasure of living in victory on earth and reigning in eternity with Him in the afterlife of Heaven.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always make You my priority in life. No matter the situations I am faced with, may I daily choose never to compromise my faith. Thank You for granting me the grace to live a life that pleases You at all times, in Jesus Name.

 

QUOTE

It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222.