Treasure that Lasts Forever
Every human learns from an early age that we prefer comfort over discomfort—pleasure over pain. We discover that it's easier, and often more enjoyable, to have plenty than it is to have little.
Material possessions can certainly create comfort in our lives—the new cars, the bigger houses, the latest phones. It's easy to think that having more will make you happier too.
But nothing you can buy will last forever.
Everything we collect here on earth has an expiration date. Cars break down. Houses crumble. New phones become obsolete—really quickly. In the long run, we really have no control over the things of this world.
So instead, Jesus tells us to focus on storing up treasure in heaven, where things do not deteriorate or disappear. Rather than focusing on piling up earthly things, we should be focused on heavenly things that will last forever.
Everything we own was actually given to us by God—in His grace.
We can break the habit of amassing treasure on earth by seeing all of our material possessions as something given to us by God—for us to share with others. We can also shift our priorities toward making an eternal impact in people’s lives by sharing the hope of Jesus with them.
What small steps can you take today to begin to shift your priorities from earthly treasure to heavenly treasure? To reminding yourself and others that He is the real treasure? What has God given you that you can share with others to make a difference in their life? Take some time to pray about these things.
How to Live Generously
What’s your most prized possession? It might be the most valuable thing you own, like the house you’ve worked your whole life to afford. But it could also be a photo from a special time you spent with someone you loved. Or it could be a meaningful gift from a friend.
The value we assign to our “things” is tangled up with our emotions. How we choose to use the things we cherish most reveals our true priorities.
Jesus’ death on the cross is one of the greatest examples of God’s generosity. Despite knowing we could never repay Him, God didn’t hesitate to give up his greatest treasure—His only Son—for us. And through that sacrificial act, He demonstrated what generosity looks like: willingly offering up what we have so that someone else can thrive, even if it causes us pain in the process.
You don’t have to just give financially to practice generosity. Living generously simply acknowledges that God is able to do anything He wants through the gifts He ...