“Treasures on Earth”
On the one hand, there is a sense in which possessions—basic, necessary possessions—can help to define who we are and can thus be very important to us; that is why one of the Ten Commandments says we should not steal.
On the other hand, thanks to our tendency to turn good things bad, we too often let our possessions, and especially the pursuit of more and more possessions, rule our lives and determine our priorities.
Jesus teaches us that grasping and hoarding do not befit the character and lifestyle of a disciple; we should have a sound perspective on the gaining and using of possessions because we are not bound by a temporal perspective.
God, help us not to place ultimate value on temporary things; help us not to assign primary significance to secondary things. Show us the lines between saving and hoarding and between having and grasping—and then help us not to cross those lines.
Amen.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal….” (Matthew 6:19)
No comments:
Post a Comment