“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.        Matthew 6:19-21 NLT

I collect elephants. I wouldn’t call them treasures, but I do enjoy looking at them and collecting them. I have always liked elephants, maybe because they look ancient and wise, maybe because they are just one of God’s unusual and unique creations (like each one of us!). I purchased my first elephant when I was just a kid; I used some of my allowance and bought a 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. 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 treasures.

Many 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 anything? 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 with Him.

We all like the sound of that, but how do we do it? A young man asks Jesus how he can inherit eternal life, and Jesus asks him what the law says. The man answered, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” Luke 10:27-28 In our first verse above, Jesus also links our hearts’ desires to our treasures. So, what is really important here on earth is not the possessions that we collect but the love that we share and the relationships that we foster.

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? Do we forgive a friend who 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?

 This week let’s take every opportunity to store 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 as we store up treasures in heaven!