Sunday Writing by Jan Andersen... 3/19/17

Today's devotional was written by Jan Andersen, entitled "TREASURES."  She writes about the different types of treasures we might keep at different stages of our lives.  She then focuses on the most important treasure of all that "neither moth nor rust destroys."

May you lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven!
Blessings,
Corinne and Jan
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Today's Devotional:

"TREASURES"

by

Jan Andersen

Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes a treasure.  As a child we may have seen the simplest of things as special valuables, like a sparkly rock or a favorite stuffed animal.  We may have saved our change in a piggy bank and were excited when it grew heavier as it was filled, imagining buying even more treasures.  As a teen perhaps our cherished riches changed to special clothing or accessories.  We continued to seek out money in order to afford to purchase those things we held dear.  We were encouraged to find a job in order to make more money in order to buy more precious things, and so on.  As an adult we begin to seek out ways to make our money earn more money for us - interest bearing accounts, investments, etc. - or to spend less so we can have more money left in our pockets - special sales, deals, etc.  With that extra money we purchase more things to treasure, such as vehicles, living quarters, clothing and the like.  Sometimes we amass more treasures than we have room for at our homes!  

We soon discover that these things are all temporary.  Rocks get lost and aren't as valuable as we once thought as a child.  Stuffed animals get tattered and worn.  Clothing stains or tears, or we outgrow them, or they fall out of favor.  Moths eat through wool.  Rust destroys metals.  Vehicles break down. Thieves steal money and possessions.  It seems we never have enough money, and we soon discover that money can't buy happiness.  Even if we have matured and begin to treasure instead things like relationships and people, we find they too are not without flaws and are not permanent.  

There is only one thing that is an eternal and perfect treasure, and that is God's love for us.  We may reject it or corrupt it with doubt, manipulativeness, or other shortcomings, but God will never abandon us.  If we treasure temporary things, we will be disappointed at some point.  But if we treasure and have faith in our eternal God and his love for us, then our heart will be rich!

Matthew 6:19-21  (ESV)  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on 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 and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Dear Father in heaven, your love for us is perfect and eternal.  Help us to treasure your free gift of forgiveness through your Son, Jesus Christ, and to share that Good News with others.  Help us to see that riches on earth are always temporary, but treasures in heaven are forever.  Make our hearts rich in you.  In Jesus' name,  Amen.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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