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Book of the Month: Schola Caritatis: Learning the Rhythms of God's Amazing Love

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Monday, June 20, 2016

what's your treasure

“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." (Matthew 6:19-21)



On the surface they look pretty similar I sure, which is undoubtedly how the name was derived.  But upon closer examination, particularly in the hands of an expert, one proves to be immensely valuable, while the other is completely worthless.  How can two things that look so similar be so completely different in both substance and content?  Therein lies the mystery.
    
Treasure can be a tricky thing, just ask any prospector.  What looks like treasure can actually be fool’s gold.  It takes a trained eye to see the difference, to know the qualities of each.  And, as Jesus shows us here, the same is true in the spiritual life.  So often we can get tricked into thinking that the shiny things of this world are far more valuable, or satisfying, or lasting, than they really are.  And so we invest an enormous amount of time and energy in those things (success, achievement, acclaim, affirmation, financial security, etc.) only to find out in the end that they were of no lasting value—fool’s gold.  Jesus knows us all too well.  He knows that whatever (or whoever) it is that we treasure will be the thing that we pursue with our whole hearts.  It is just how we’re wired. 
    
Therefore it becomes pretty important that we take time regularly to examine, and reflect upon, what our treasure really is at any given moment.  To ask ourselves where the majority of our time and energy is being invested.  And then to ask ourselves if that thing is indeed treasure, or just some cheap imitation. 


Lord Jesus, be the treasure of our hearts, even as we are the treasure of yours.  Amen.




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