"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."(NIV)Matthew 6:19,20
These words were going through my mind as I hurried through the afternoon. It was almost like my heart did a screeching halt as I rushed along...
I get 'caught up' in life some days... and my desire to walk all of life with Jesus gets placed on the back burner, and the immediate circumstances become my priority...
When that happens, it is never very long before that 'homesick' sense of running by myself gets my full attention. I sense it in my heart, things are topsy turvy, out of whack... do you know that feeling?
Once you know what it is to walk with Him alongside of you through the day... running ahead by yourself will never be the same again! It's that very 'prompting' that He uses to guide me back onto His path...
The reality is that in this life moth and rust WILL corrupt, and thieves WILL steal the treasures of the 'now'...so it is essential that when... not if... that happens, we understand that our true purpose here is eternal.
I have seen the rust corrupt and have felt the thieves steal... haven't you?
It's a good thing to be reminded of these verses... another reality check on what kind of treasure my heart is 'storing up'....
Is it for now? for me? for this life?... where it will rust, or break, disappear or be stolen... or is it for what really matters ... treasure in heaven?... God keeps the records!
"There will be less someday-
much less,
and there will be More:
less to distract
and amuse;
More to adore"...
(Ruth Bell Graham's words from her book, "Sitting by my Laughing Fire"...)
21 comments:
I love these Matthew verses. I feel like I'm living in the midst of losing so many earthly goods. However, everything we have really belongs to the Lord. We are stewards of all He chooses to give to us.
I can say from experience that having less stuff has helped me get my priorities right.
I want to abide in Him. When I start off my day with Him, He gently reminds me through the Holy Spirit when I begin to wander into Debbie territory. That's when I can get into trouble. :)
As He nudges me, I have a 'heart choice' to make. Keep doing what Debbie is doing OR yield the control to the Lord and allow Him to lead me. As long as we're on this side of eternity, we will struggle with this just like Paul wrote about in Romans.
I love your 'bits and pieces' Sonja. And I love you too.
3rd sis,
Debbie
Powerful, Sonja! As always - you bless my heart with your words - here or at my place...
Your words of LIFE are like honeycomb to my soul. I love the 'signature' of God on your walk with Him.
Be blessed today
Patrina <")>><
So that must mean that you read Ruth's books? She has long been my hero along with Elisabeth Elliot. I don't run across many people who read Ruth and she is and will be someone I look forward to visiting with in heaven. I have learned so much from her. Yes, I do the same thing I go off in my own direction and then like when my kids were babies they just needed a day of sitting and being rocked in the rocking chair.
I run back to my Father, I open His love letters to me and dive in and I always wondered what was more important than being with Him.
Very nice reminders thanks.
I will repeat to myself...it is wood, hay and stubble...it will all burn...to keep my thoughts on treasures in heaven. Recently I have felt I needed to just stop and listen, He is trying to tell me the turns He wants in my house...I keep finding myself wanting to speak out loud in my answers..."Yes, Lord, is this what you are meaning? Wow, looks so different from what I expected, but Okay."
Thanks for always being obedient and confirming so much the Lord is speaking to me!
Ruth's words mean so much to me. All this stuff seems so important but what will last is Jesus and the kingdom. We all need this message from time to time for a reality check as you say!
i love this, because i am so like that. i especially
'amen' that homesick feeling, when i realize
that i am running without Him.
and then i run back to HIm.
bless you for your faithfulness, goodness, and
love for laughter!
Great post, Sonya. Happy Sunday.
Wise words you quoted from Ruth Bell Graham's.
I see why you like the Graham connection. :)
Thank you dear one for sharing. The grandson was wonderful yesterday at church ! Preaching on Job. Blessings!
I so identified with this post. How many times do I find myself doing just what you say here and realize..."running ahead by yourself will never be the same again!" It is just soo true. I find myself wondering, "What's wrong?" It is soo hard in today's economy not to be caught up in the urgent quest for money to pay bills or just get by. I see it all over the place. This was such a good reminder that again so much of what we "think" we need, is nothing more than a want. Thanks for this. Have a good day.
This really blessed me, Sonya. Since my world has shrunk (or is it "shrank"), I'm again finding that contentment is rarely a by-product of stuff. This smaller world; this quieter existence suits my soul so well.
Oh that we would ever remember to hold lightly the stuff that's fluff.
Bless you,
Kathleen
Yes I know the feeling...too well!
I can only say Amen to your post.
This summer moth has literally struck our home, and attacked our treasure # 1, our book collection.
I have a small guestroom/prayer chamber, which I have cared too little about. In June I went in to have a quiet moment, and found that the French Bible from my Dad was under heavy attack. It lay opened on Psalm 121( I try to memorize my favourite psalm by heart in French.)
Imagine my shock when I found the pages were half gone, eaten by moth.
That was indeed a heavy blow.It hurt and I felt ashamed, having protected my treasure so badly. I had to throw away some books and pictures.
The Bible is replaced, and I visit my chamber more often, to pray and to maintain.
I even have had the courage to pray the Lord to protect our books. Maybe that's "borderline prayers", but it has felt right to me.
This summer I have also seen how many belongings can be a burden to elderly people.
A dear widow aunt of mine had to down size because of poor health and move from a 5 bedroom house into a small flat.How harsh to see treasures gathered through a long life, and frame around a happy family, torn up to be given away.
An old Norwegian saying: "The corpse's shirt has no pockets" summons it all up.
"Oh,Lord, teach me how to count my days and gather wisdom in my heart."
I do have days like that sometimes...find myself running out the door before I've even checked in with God. But by His grace, most days He and I are having our morning coffee and conversation. That's my favorite part of the day.
Great words of wisdom, Sonja. As usual...
Let's invest in our hearts now, while the light is still shining and the day is brimming with possibility. When night and darkness surround us, the seeds of our daylight hours will carry us through to morning.
I know this one.
Keep to it.
peace~elaine
Oh my friend this is RICH! Full of truth, wisdom and grace. I love you!
The older I get the more I willingly let go of "stuff" and try to concentrate on what really matters. Thanks for sharing these truths!
Thanks for visiting my blog Sonja! I DO know that feeling...and this passage of scripture is popping up all over lately. I love when God is giving us clear messages/ reminders.
Fixing my eyes on Heaven...
Blessings,
Kathy
Wonderful words my friend! And, Ruth G. Bell...loved her!!
I would love for you to go on the next getaway! YOu would love it!!Start praying now!
Hugs!
Susan
Mercy! What did I just type???? My dyslexia is kicking in!I meant Ruth Bell Graham!! (Sigh!)
Hugs!
me again
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