Matthew 6:19-38.
#65279;Jesus tells us to have our treasures in heaven not on earth, to have good eyes, to serve God not earthly wealth, not to worry about what we will eat or drink or what we will wear because God knows we need these things and he will provide.
Do not worry about tomorrow, Jesus says.
When I lived in North Carolina, I walked five miles of beach every day, hoping to find a doubloon.
The coast off the Carolinas has seen many wrecks of Spanish treasure ships and pirate ships.
Every once in a while someone finds a gold doubloon, the coin of pirates and treasure ships.
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I lived in Carolina for six years but I never found the doubloon I desired.
That doubloon is the worldly treasure I never got.
Treasure is different from ordinary money.
Treasure is magical.
It’s a pearl of great price, it’s sparkling jewels of red and green and blue, it’s a chest full of doubloons, its brilliant Persian carpets of intricate design, it’s crystal goblets inlaid with gold, it’s golden crowns.
Treasure for me is not stocks and bonds and ugly paper money.
Treasure is beautiful.
Jesus says to store up treasure in heaven because it’s not ordinary, it’s special.
There is no special life here on earth.
We are called to live an ordinary life of working, paying bills, eating, drinking and wearing clothes.
For me to try to get earthly treasure would be to try to live a special life, a life of dangerous pride.
CS Lewis has helped me understand “treasure in heaven” as the shimmering, shining, gloriously alive beauty of God’s immaculate creation unsullied by my sin.
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It’s the scarcely imaginable beauty and wonder of a creation so permeated by God’s love and holiness that I can never see and touch and hear and taste and smell enough of that wonder.
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There’s always more to experience.
That’s the barest of hints of the reward God has promised me.
The treasure of more life, more God.
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O, Lord, let me mediate on your wonder, your beauty each day and in that way store up treasures in heaven.
Let me live an ordinary life, seeing my sins more clearly so that I can repent more sincerely and long for the treasure you have ready for me in heaven.
