My wife, Anna, and I had a perfect example of this week. We had a power outage for 3 and a half days in Tulsa which put us without refrigeration or air-conditioning for that period of time. We lost food and prepared meals that we had saved for a later time. We lost a roast that we were going to use for last Sunday’s dinner. We as humans can be so smart but in the end, the money, the food, the people we treasure can all be taken away in an instant.
Jesus says today in His excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
My daughter, Emily and my wife recently went to the funeral of a wealthy person who died. They were old friends of my daughter’s natural father who died in 1995. There was an open casket, and the lady had a ring and a neckless. The guests visited and told stories and memories of the past were healing.
Jesus doesn’t care if we purchase a ring or a neckless. He is reminding us that the true treasures we have are not in the food we save or jewelry we wear but those heavenly treasures that we do to build the Kingdom of God on earth. Saint Paul writes, And, to leave out much more, there is my daily preoccupation: my anxiety for all the churches. When any man has had scruples, I have had scruples with him; when any man is made to fall, I am tortured. If I am to boast, then let me boast of my own feebleness.
We can be great and mighty or poor and lowly. Nonetheless, our true treasure is in Heaven. Our job on earth is to build the Kingdom of God on this earth before we go to Heaven.
On a personal note I will continue to write the Friday reflection on a more timely basis. Unless someone tells me to stop. I have many irons in the fire but am doing well. I really have missed the weekly preparation and sharing.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for Peace in the Ukraine and the salvation of the Ukrainian people. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Russian people.
