Where your treasure is…...

It's interesting to me that there are two identical verses in the Bible.  Matthew 6:21 and Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  I'm not sure of the theology behind this but I'm interested in finding out more.

Coincidentally, it is also the theme of our day 6 Lenten study.

Bonhoeffer states that we are to use the goods given to us by God and not store them away.  He maintains that the heart clings to collected treasures and can come between us and God.  He uses the example of manna given to the Israelites and how when stored, it spoiled and likens that to our stored possessions in that they spoil our relationship with God.  I have to admit, that's a tough one for me.

But exactly where is my heart? Or more importantly, what do I treasure?

When I think about truly living day to day, trusting God each and every day to supply my needs, it is completely beyond my imagination.  What would that look like?  And if I'm not storing up treasure, that would mean not owning a home, a car, household goods - anything!  It would also mean no savings account, no IRA, no 401K, no thought of retirement EVER.  There would be no canned goods, no refrigerator, no freezer!  No closets!  Wha…..?  Can you imagine life with no closets?

Complete dependence on God.  Utter humility.  Genuine appreciation when needs are provided.  Honesty and openness with self and others.  Sharing, community, unfathomable faith.  Childlike trust. Zero sense of entitlement. Those are things that come without possession.

Obviously, there has to be a happy medium here, but when do you know when you have just enough?

It's not only possession that comes between us and God.  Other people do.  Our schedules do.  Our work does.  Even church can!

I'm not sure I'll ever master this heart/treasure thing but I do know this.  When I quit making time to listen or talk with God, something is out of balance.  Generally it's not "stuff" for me - I'm not overly attached to my house, cars, clothes or furniture (ok, well maybe some furniture) but I mostly want to fill my time with people.  Those I can see, hear, touch and smell……  I let my desire to be with people distract me from God - I put my trust in people, get my comfort from people, give my heart to people.

So I treasure relationships, that is where my heart is.  Doesn't sound so bad and isn't a bad thing generally speaking……   as long as I treasure God first.  He created my heart, why not let my treasure reside with Him?  Who better to guard it?  The only one who can and has given me the same in return.  For we are God's treasure and also where His heart remains.