For where your heart is there your treasure will be also. Matthew 12:34
I am one of those people who doesn’t shop very often. But if you get me out to a yard sale, flea market or second hand shop, I have to look at every little knick knacky thing that I can find. I will move pictures that are absolutely abhorant, just to see if there might be a little treasure hiding behind it. I will open boxes to make sure that there isn’t some neat little treasure tucked into a box that is mislabeled. I love to look for treasures!
That being said, I buy very little when I do shop like this though. Typically, I am not even buying for myself. I am looking for keepsakes and unique items that I know that our children or grandchildren would love or that might bring my husband joy. I am typically looking for what my precious Mother-In-Love (my husband’s mom) used to call “happies”, some little trinket that will make the recipient smile and know that I was thinking of them and that I love them. Happies are real treasures to me because they express my love. The way my daily provisions are an expression of God’s love for me.
As my husband and I have been trying to get to the grocery store and stock up on things, I find that I am now looking at bathroom tissue, various cleansers and other supplies as enjoyable to find as my thrift store treasures. Because we have been loading totes with dry goods and various supplies and providing it to people whom we know either cannot get out or afford to pay the prices that are now being required for these items. I do not tell you this for any kind of accolades because it is the leading of the Holy Spirit and for God’s glorification that we do this. And, God warns us not to give to the needy for our own glorification (But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4). God is the only one deserved of praise, glory and honor, not His hands and feet.
So, when we are able to provide one of our totes, it brings us such joy, because we are being obedient to our Holy Spirit leading, exemplifying Jesus and pleasing our Heavenly Father. In Matthew 25 Jesus addressed this very thing when He told the disciples the Parable of the sheep and the goats. He told them that, when someone feeds the hungry or clothes the naked or visits the prisoner, they have done this to Him (“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:40”).
God promises to provide for our needs (I And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19). Sometimes He asks us to be the vessel through which He provides to others.
The struggle right now is that it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find some of the items (like bathroom tissue) that people really need. And, the reason for this is that those people who don’t know the Lord (and maybe even some who do) are concerned about what tomorrow holds. They fear not being able to obtain these things that they feel they need,
so whenever they go on the shelves, within minutes the entire supply is gone.
It is times like this that I am so thankful that God has given us His word and His promises. Because He tells us not to worry about tomorrow (Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV & Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’). Because, He will provide (But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 & For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Psalm 107:9).
But, we must also be careful not to be so self focused and store up for ourselves, because we become our own God. That is what happened in the parable of the Rich Fool (And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:15-21).
By stockpiling supplies and worrying about whether we will have enough, while disregarding those in need (the way the Rich Fool did), we rob God of glory and cease to be His hands and feet. We become Hoarders and not Treasure Seekers and that behavior won’t go unnoticed by God (So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12). But neither will the works that we do for Him. When we submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit and do the work and will of our Heavenly Father, we store up treasures in Heaven (And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mark 10:21). And we all know how much I love treasures ; ). But seriously, I would much rather hear Him say “well done good and faithful servant” than to have all the treasures that Heaven can hold.
God, is faithful. He will provide. He is where every good and perfect gift comes from. (Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17) and He is worthy of our honor and trust.
Storing up treasures and stockpiling supplies in this life are wasteful and not what God would have of us (“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. Matthew 6:19-20).
We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and provide for the needy and the broken. How can we do that if we are self focused, anxious and consumed by the desire to provide for ourselves? We are called to be God’s hands and feet. Can you think of someone to feed, clothe or care for? Heed the Holy Spirit’s leading and DO IT!
I pray that we are basking in (and not rejecting) the peace and comfort that our Heavenly Father has poured out for us. I pray that we would look intently at those around us to determine who God might have us be a comfort to. I pray that through the leading of the Holy Spirit we would actively be God’s hands and feet. And, I pray that we would be Heavenly Treasure Seekers and not Hoarders. Please, help us Father and be glorified!
If you do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you are anxious, fearful and perhaps even driven to hoarding, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (Forgiven-n-loved.com/Life Preserver) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. God, has provided the forgiveness, peace and comfort that you need and desire, you just have to accept it. Jesus is the treasure that we seek! Please pray that prayer and once you have reach out to me at admin@Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you.
Luv Ya!
