By: Gwen Hitt

What Are You Storing Up?

Matthew 6:19-20 Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

For a couple of years, I have had the strong desire to rid myself of all of the unnecessary STUFF that I have accumulated in my lifetime. Do we really need all that we have?

Today's verse encourages us to take our attention off of storing treasures on earth in order to focus on storing up heavenly treasures. We are told that the earthly treasures can be ruined or stolen while the heavenly treasures will withstand eternity.

As I reflected on this verse, my thoughts wandered to 1 Timothy 6:7 which states "For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either." If we can't take our things with us, why do we become so consumed with accumulating more and more things....why do we become overly attached to what we have?

My husband and his siblings are currently in the process of going through their mother's possessions. As my husband and I walked through his childhood home to determine what we would like, we realized that we did not know the value or even the sentiment associated with many of these items ---- items that were once extremely important to my mother-in-law.

However, although my mother-in-law did accumulate lots of things, her life's focus was not only on these things. Instead, she understood the necessity of storing up eternal treasures. She took excellent care of her family and friends as well as the numerous individuals that she touched in her volunteer work. She realized that by giving of herself.....she was actually giving unto the Lord.

Luke 6:38 declares "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

My challenge to you today is to always strive to give of yourself to others rather than focusing on the things that you can acquire for yourself. In the end, you will be abundantly blessed with great treasures stored away for you in your eternal home!

Dear Lord, Help me to live a life here on earth that is pleasing to You. My greatest desire is to one day have You tell me "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.