“Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21 NIV).
I just read about a Wal-Mart employee getting trampled to death by some 2,000 people who rushed the doors to get to wonderful sales.
I find it very sad that all those people were so driven by material things that a human life did not matter to them. Jesus did not approve of loving material things more than serving others. In the above verse Jesus spoke to a rich man after the man had asked him how he could obtain eternal life. The rich man had obeyed the commandments since his youth, so he thought there would be no problem about getting eternal life. But you see Jesus knew this man’s heart and the one thing he loved more than getting eternal life was his riches. That is so very sad because when we die we will not be taking any of our things with us. When the need for things overcomes our need for the Lord, then our faith suffers and ultimately it could keep us from eternal life. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But store up yourselves treasures in heaven ……for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 NIV). I believe that the treasures that we store up in heaven are the selfless acts Jesus told us to do. Jesus said “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt.25:34-36 NIV). So take time this week to analyze where your treasure lies, and what you are doing to acquire your treasure in heaven. Do a selfless act to help someone this week and you will be blessed so much and you will lay up a treasure in heaven.
Dear Lord,
Help us to keep material things in the proper perspective, and help us to realize that our treasures need to be centered around selfless acts of service that would be pleasing to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
