19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, 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. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Dear God, what exactly are heavenly treasures? My tendency when I read this passage is to focus on the love of money, but I want, instead, to focus on the flip side of that (according to this passage), which is the love of you. I cannot serve both you and money, so I am supposed to choose you. So what are the heavenly treasures I store up if I choose you over money? Do I really need treasures when I get there? If I get there and someone else has more treasures than me, will I be regretful that I didn’t store up more? I always kind of figured that when I die and end up in heaven, I will be so deliriously happy that I won’t have any cares, regrets, jealousies, etc.
Frankly, I’ve always kind of looked at serving you and not money as reaping the benefits of treasures in heaven here on earth. I don’t know if that is right or not, but that is kind of my motivation as I serve and love you. I am not looking for the heavenly benefit. I am looking for the earthly benefit. I am looking for the peace, patience, love, joy, gentleness, faithfulness, kindness, self control, etc (Galatians 5:17) that comes from a relationship with you. I am looking for quality relationships with others. I am looking to make the lives of others around me better. So I don’t think about the treasures that await me in heaven, but about the treasures you have for me on earth when I submit myself to you and love you.
Father, help me to fully embrace you. I still love material possessions and find myself longing for them sometimes. Please help me to turn loose of this, and fully cleave to you. I guess my biggest fear in death is that I will look back with regret on the things I failed to do. Please help me to recognize the things you have me to do today, and then give me your peace over the things I end up failing to do. Help me to pursue purely your treasures here and ignore any earthly treasures.
Emails to God 