Friday Writing...5/17/19..."Heavenly Treasures"

Good Morning,

Today you will be reading the writer's soul searching about the over abundance of possessions she has that she hardly ever uses. They are in closets and stashed here and there in her house. She has decided to relinquish her overabundance of "earthly treasures" so that someone who has a need can benefit. Karen wrote, "Slowly, but surely, I am going through everything I own, and as I do, I can’t wait to place things in the boxes I got for donating items. I know they will help some people."

While you bless others God will bless you with eternal treasures in eternity.

Have a blessed weekend,

Karen Bennett
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Today's Devotional 

 "Heavenly Treasures"
 Written by
 Karen Bennett 

Lately I’ve been riddled with guilt for a reason I am now working on to correct. It will take me awhile, being as I am physically disabled to a degree, but I am determined.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in 

and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves 

do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, 

there your heart will be also.” 

Matthew 6:19-22.

I’ve been a “pack rat”, as my mother used to say, all my life. I’ve kept everything for many years at a time, and in all my years, I have only “purged my treasury” two or three times. I shouldn’t even say “purged”, as I didn’t get unencumbered to any great extent.

The dichotomy is, I have always also been a giver, a one or two things at a time giver, to someone who admired them. “Would you like to have this?”, I’d  ask, and delightedly give it over after hearing the affirmative answer. I so enjoyed seeing the happy smiles on their faces, knowing they were genuine.

One day recently, it struck me how much I have in the way of worldly possessions. Oh, I don’t mean things of great value unless you’re someone who really needs any of them and can’t afford to purchase them. I am embarrassed to admit I have some wonderful small kitchen appliances that could make life so much easier, but have never even been plugged in, much less used! I’ve had some of them for years. I have boxes full of lovely, useful things stored.

The guilt began to set in. I’ve always done my tithes and offerings, but I’d certainly stored up earthly treasures that I continued to hoard. I chastised myself for having so many nice things that weren’t even in use, because they’re boxed up. Why was I clinging to these things? They never took the place of God in my life, but I began to see how something like that could happen, depending on the amount of attention you have to give them. If they take you away from God in any way, is why God had warned us against it. I began thinking of  people who could use these items, and here I am hoarding them. 

My quest began. Slowly, but surely, I am going through everything I own, and as I do, I can’t wait to place things in the boxes I got for donating items. I know they will help some people. 

My things are certainly not the only earthly treasures out there, and even minor by comparison, but the principle is the same. It’s just stuff and I’d much rather have the heavenly treasure of making my Lord happy. We love our Lord and want to do His will. We love our neighbors and want to see them happy. A true desire to help people however we can, is a source of happiness through Christ.

If it isn’t something you’ve done in the past, or even if you have, I urge you to do it. I wish I were able to see the smiles on all your faces as you store up your treasures in heaven!

Heavenly Father, We ask Your blessing to assist us in not storing up earthly treasures and concentrate instead on heavenly treasures to store up. Such is Your will for us. Help us to never let earthly objects or money mean more to us than they should. Let us think of Your will for us before everything we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lauren Daigle

Sings

"First"

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The person who builds up 

treasures in heaven

can look forward 

to spending eternity there.

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