“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 NKJV

I have a collection of elephants. I can’t explain why I like elephants, maybe because they are gentle behemoths, maybe because they look ancient and wise, maybe because they are just one of God’s unusual and unique creations (like each of us!). But I do. I purchased my first “piece” when I was just a kid; I used some of my allowance and got a large ceramic elephant. I got some kidding about it because what kid would buy a decorative elephant?? But I liked it and it always sat on my dresser.

Over the years, I acquired more. I got a mechanical elephant bank from my Dad when he passed away. I bought others as we traveled. And because I now had an “official collection”, I was gifted elephants. Each of my children studied abroad in Europe during college and brought me home an elephant! But even though I cherish each memory associated with each elephant, they are not my real treasure.

Most of us collect something that is special to us. I have a friend who collects antiques, one who collects cookbooks, and another who collects clocks. Do you collect something? But our true treasures are not here on earth. We all know that we “can’t take it with us”. Jesus tells us in Matthew that we need to be laying up treasures in heaven. We need to be storing up treasures for our home in heaven, our eternity.

We all like the sound of that, but how do we do it? We know that God is love and the two greatest commandments are “So he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind” and “your neighbor as yourself.”” Luke 10:27 NKJV Jesus also links our hearts to our treasures. So what is really important here on earth is not the possessions that we collect but the love and relationships that we foster.

Do we forgive the friend that wrongs us? Do we love unconditionally without judgement? Do we encourage others to love and be loved? Do we speak kind words to others? Do we give of our time and talents to others? Do we share our faith with others? Do we show our love by caring and providing for the needs of others? Do we spend time with God in His word? Do we spend time in prayer? Do we believe that God will always be with us and care for us? Do we live our lives as God and Jesus would want?

This week let’s concentrate our efforts on storing up our treasures in heaven. Let’s show love to the unloved, let’s help those who can’t help themselves, let’s comfort the broken-hearted and let’s walk with our God and His Son in all of our relationships.

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we “lay up our treasures in heaven”. Blessings and love!