Treasure

Matthew 6:19-21

"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 never moth or rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

One of my devotions this morning was about fitting in. I have struggled with that my entire life. I had so many insecurities growing up I ached to fit in. The funny thing is... I actually did fit in. But as I grew into adulthood I managed to fall into the pit of gaining acceptance from other mothers. You know the ones. Houses filled with the latest earthly treasures.... Children dressed in the latest earthly treasures... The finest earthly treasures on their fingers and wrists and ears and necks. Their vehicles that cost more than we borrowed to buy our house. 

I struggled to keep up. I looked like a homeless person at times so that my children looked like they stepped out of a catalog. Then one day I realized that I was storing up earthly treasures. It hit me... Except if photographed in these outfits no one would even remember what my kids had on at any given time. Were those monograms and Polo men a definition of who my children were? If they were then I was doing a great disservice to my children as well as the people who came in contact with us. 

I was completely and totally saved at the age of 30... Broken, jobless, pregnant and scared I was brought to my knees in complete submission. Prostrate on the floor by my bed I gave it all over to 

The One Who Saves. He picked me up, brushed me off and gave me hope. Then what do I do? Get caught up in the things of this earth. I can see Him just shaking His head at me! 

It took me a while to realize, my treasures are my children and my marriage and how I conduct myself. My salvation and how I use it. 

What are my heavenly treasures? 

My children's salvation... Their witness.... Their kindness... Their humility.... Their work ethic... Their strength.... Their love for others... 

My salvation and my husband's... 

My marriage is my greatest earthly and heavenly treasure. It has been tried and tested and tossed about, but because we never forgot our vows it has withstood the tests of life. We aren't The Cleavers, but we cling to the promises we made and the truth of true love. Read I Corinthians 13. 

I pray that my faith is the legacy I leave trailing behind me. That when people watch me they are watching my unfailing belief in God. That people don't look at me with one ounce of doubt as to where my treasure lies. That I ring true to every person I meet and that they don't define me by what I have or don't have. That my faith is my definition. 

Sweet friends, don't worry about what others think or what you think others think. Concentrate on loving your family and friends, as well as strangers, and serving God. He will serve you way more than you can imagine. Your treasures need to be the eternal things and the legacy you leave. I don't want to be remembered for my stuff.... I want to be remembered for the stuffing. 

Monica