Matthew 6:19-21; Ecclesiastes 1:2, NKJV
By: Alexander Rico
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
How many times have we as believers wasted so much time and energy on things that this world has to offer? We chase after material objects, and feelings rather than the things God desires us to do. We waste so much space that God wishes to use for His glory, and His purpose.
I remember when I was a little boy; I wanted the newest, coolest items available. I wanted the toy that could shoot plastic fireballs at the cat, and light up like a Christmas tree. I would fight long and hard to make sure that I was able to get that toy, and you know what I used to do with it once I got it? That’s right, I would play with it for a mere five seconds; then want another one, the newer model.
And, when I got that, I would of course play with it for a few seconds, and place it aside to get thrown into the garage sale that week.
Sure, this was a story about me, the little kid; but today I think this illustration fits perfectly with our average human being.
We see them on the news, waiting in department store lines; chasing after items that they feel will bring them pleasure, and closure. Items that many times send them into a financial debt, and those things, which they felt brought them happiness, in the end, leave them deprived, and detached from the God who loved them.
Solomon put this entire topic into perspective when he said, “‘Vanity of vanities’, says the Preacher; ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NKJV)
My Pastor at Calvary Chapel of the High Desert, Dennis Davenport, once said it like this, “Soap Bubbles, Soap Bubbles, all are Soap Bubbles!”
Why?
Well, when I was a little kid, I used to love to play with Soap bubbles. I used to blow them, and then attempt to catch them in my hand. However, as I would reach out for them, I would come to realize that once I thought I had one in my hand, I did not. It would vanish the moment I’d grab for it.
It’s like our pleasure in these worldly items. We go to grab for them, and when we think we finally have that pleasure, that God-shaped hole finally filled, we soon notice that it was all vanity, all soap bubbles.
We need to turn to God to fill those empty spaces in our hearts. We need to stop chasing what the world has to offer, after all, they will decay and rust, but the things God has in store for us, will not.
We need to love the things of the Lord, rather then the world.
Martin Luther King once said, “What a man loves, that is his God. For he carries it in his heart, he goes about with it night and day, he sleeps and wakes with it; be it what it maywealth or pelf, pleasure or renown ( which are: reputation, or fame ).”
Stop chasing these worldly items; start chasing what God wants for you. Being a tool for him, and not yourself.
Luke Chapter 12 verse 33 to 34, NKJV, states this, “Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in them. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.”
I like the way that Adam Clarke’s commentary puts the opening verse. He says, “Dispose of your goods. Be not like the foolish man already mentioned, who laid up the produce of his fields, without permitting the poor to partake of Gods bounty: turn the fruits of your fields (which are beyond what you need for your own support) into money, and give it in alms ( or charity ); and the treasure thus laid out, shall be as laid up for yourselves and families in heaven.”
In other words, give up holding, and hording all of your possessions. What good would it do for you? Can you take those items along with you to heaven? NO! So, why do we continue to chase these worldly goods? Jesus is saying this so that we will get our focus off of the world and more onto his kingdom. If we have a possession that we love more than him, we are more likely to focus on it then on the duty of our calling.
Much like Bishop Pearce stated about this particular topic. He said clearly, “I am here; but my heart is at home, i.e. with my money.”
Sure you may be an active believer, but where is your heart? Are you focusing more on how you look, what you drive, or whom you talk to? Or, are you looking more to the furthering of God’s kingdom?
Look at your heart today, and ask God where you are at in your relationship with him; stop wasting your efforts with these soap bubbles!
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