¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Matthew 6:19-24

Dear God, it occurs to me that, outside of Matthew who somehow was able to record the contents of this speech (I’ve heard that the series The Chosen shows that Jesus worked out this sermon as kind of a stump speech with Matthew and that’s how he was able to record it for us–not a bad theory), but those listening to it only heard it and only heard it once. There’s a lot to remember here for one sitting.

For these few verses, we get some stuff on money and stuff. Earthly possessions. I think the key line of this section is that one about where my heart will be with my treasure. If I want to see the state of my heart, I only need to look at the things I treasure most. Do I treasure politics and political power for my tribe? That tells me something about my heart. Do I treasure my adult children and put unreasonable expectations on them to love me? That tells me something about my heart. Do I put expectations on you and what you are supposed to do for me? Am I here worshipping you because I expect you to perform for me? That tells me something about my heart.

On the other hand, do I simply show up to worship you and submit myself to the molding that you are doing in my soul? Do I try to serve my adult children and look out for their interests regardless of what it costs me? Do I ignore power, and instead try to serve others regardless of the political wranglings around me? All of those things say something about my heart as well.

Father, I know I’m somewhere in the middle. I suppose we all are at some point. But I pray that you will take the clay of my life and continue to mold me and work on me today. Love others through me. Give them a sense of your love for them through me. For those I love who are in pain. Please, heal them. For the mistakes I’ve made in their lives, please show me how to repent. For the work you have me to do today, in my family, vocationally, in my community, or even in worshipping and serving you, guide me. Oh, Father. Oh, Jesus. Oh, Holy Spirit. Please, my Triune God, be with me today and use my life however you will and regardless of what it costs me.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen