“Earlier this morning,” Stan commented while we were enjoying the breakfast Ricky had brought to us, “I was reminded of how important it is for me to take time to focus on the seemingly little things Jesus said.”
“Jesus didn’t really say any little things, did He?” I said.
“You’re right,” Stan replied. “Everything Jesus said was ‘big’ in the sense of its importance, but what I mean is that too often I just kind of skip over some of the things He said without giving them the thought they deserve.”
“What were you looking at that brought this to mind?”
“Treasure,” was Stan’s one-word response.
“Treasure? What kind of treasure?”
“That’s the point!” Stan said with a laugh. “What kind of treasure do I focus on? Jesus said that where my treasure is, that’s where my heart is also.”
“But isn’t that a really big subject?” I asked.
“It sure is,” Stan replied. “But that’s all the more reason for me to stop and take time to focus on where my heart is concerning what I truly treasure. I may not be able to answer all of the questions concerning what is and what is not ‘treasure,’ but I can certainly take some time to reflect on what God has for me to see.”
“And how do you do that?”
“Well,” Stan replied, “when I looked at the single statement Jesus made about where my treasure is, I was led to ask God to show me how to answer the question of what I treasure. Then I asked for His help to contrast that to what He wants me to truly treasure.”
“As simple as that?” I said. “Just ask God to show you?”
“As simple as that,” Stan replied. “I just need to set aside time to focus on what God has for me to see and to hear about treasure and about everything else He has for me.”
“But doesn’t that take a lot of time?” I asked.
“Do you have something more important to do?”
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Bible verses to consider:
For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. Luke 12:34.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon 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 or steal; for where your treasure is, there will be your heart also. Matthew 6:19-21.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the treasure of your Son and His finished work on the cross that gives me life eternally in your presence. Thank you, too, for your provision of all I need. I confess that too often I focus on the things of this world as my treasure, rather than on what you want me to consider my treasure. Please forgive that foolishness and help me to follow every step of your lead so that what I consider to be “treasure” is exactly the same as what you consider it to be. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious gift of the great treasure of being in His eternal presence? If no, why? What is standing in the way of accepting that treasure? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with what you consider your “treasure”? Do you ever take time to reflect on what you really consider to be your treasure? Do you focus on what God wants to be treasure in your life? If you sense the need for change in any of this, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 