Where is Your Treasure

March 28, 2023
 
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
 
I do not remember hearing about the practice of Lent in my family or in my church when I was growing up.  I was not introduced to the concept of giving something up for Lent until I was an adult.  As a consequence, I have not adopted this practice, although I recognize the value of spiritual preparation leading up to Easter and the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. 
 
While reflecting on what it might mean to prepare so that I might properly celebrate the resurrection, I was drawn to Matthew 6:19-21, which says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  I understand these verses to direct my preparation away from a desire for material things and toward the consequence of Christ conquering sin and death and freeing me up to live my life to treasure the victorious life of a new creation in Christ.
 
Lent, then, provides an opportunity to particularly focus on my ongoing need to remove the store of earthly treasures in my life that interfere with the celebration of the new life in all its fullness I am promised as member of the victorious body of Christ, his church.  I am challenged to search my heart to recognize those “treasures” which are preventing me from fully seeing God’s work of salvation in Christ and to reorient my heart to a life that more fully celebrates God’s offering of heavenly abundance.
  
Prayer: Father, I ask for the guidance of your Spirit as I seek to remove an over reliance on earthly treasure in my life.  I pray that you may prepare my heart to treasure the celebration of new life I have in Jesus Christ and to live my life in accord with that treasure. Amen.