December 12, 2012 What do you treasure?

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Luke 12: 32-34 

     At the very beginning of this journey through the book of Luke, I talked about the verses where Mary treasured up the things of her son, Jesus, in her heart.  Now comes this verse connecting the two again, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I see these verses as a bit of a caution sign.  We need to consider what we are treasuring up in our hearts and ensure it is a treasure that will last forever.  Are we holding onto and treasuring up bitterness from difficult past experiences in our hearts?  Are we treasuring all the things we possess and hanging onto those tighter than we should?  None of these things will matter in the end, our anger, bitterness, money, possessions…they will all disappear from us when we pass away, so why hold onto them?  We need to work to build up new treasures in our hearts, such as the smile on your friend’s face when you help them out with something they’ve been struggling with or the accomplishments of the children God has blessed you with. Treasure up positive experiences and add to them by reaching out to others, making your “purse” one that will not wear out and can feed 5,000 instead of just one.  To me, building up a treasure that can go to heaven with you means treasuring others above yourself, treasuring love above all else, treasuring God and all he has to teach us.  What do you treasure? Is it something you can take with you?  I hope so….