"Treasure"

What are your life's treasures? That is a question I have been pondering this week as I prepare my Sunday School lesson for a class of 32 eight year olds. The theme is Give your treasure to God. Our Bible verse to memorize is taken from Matthew 10:8, which states: "Give as freely as you have received!" The Bible story from Mark 12 centers around Jesus teaching his disciples the principle of giving your all, including your "treasures", to God. While Jesus and some of his disciples sit watching, numerous rich people give large amounts of money. The disciples, most of whom were from the lower economic classes, were probably amazed at some of the fortunes offered by these wealthy people. They may not have even noticed the poor widow who dropped her two coins, worth about $1-$2, into the treasury box. Yet Jesus specifically points her out to the disciples and explains that she gave more than all the others they had been watching. His point was that she gave her all whereas the rest gave out of their abundance. Some Christians today might consider the widow's giving foolish-she didn't have to give both coins; she didn't have to give even one coin. After all, she needed that money just to stay alive. But that kind of thinking is precisely what Jesus was teaching against. If we give only part of what we have-of what we are-to Jesus, we're holding back. Jesus wants all of us. He wants us to give him all we have and all we are and to trust him for the results. This is the lesson I teach tomorrow. Can I live it?

I think of my sister and her husband who are heading off to the mission field in Africa next week. I know they have given up many physical treasures as well as giving their family and friends up to Jesus while they are away for two years. Complete trust in the provisions of Jesus never comes without sacrifice, but sacrifice for the cause of Christ always results in untold blessings.

As Hunter and I approach the gate marked Retirement I wonder what treasures I need to lay down before we enter. I am thankful God has not asked me to be separated from family and friends for a time. Those treasures I will hold close. But there are material treasures that I must give up in order to pursue what God has called us to do-become volunteer missionaries at various projects across the United States. My thoughts can be more focused as I unclutter-"Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be." Matthew 6:21

It is good for each of us to periodically take stock of our life's treasures and see if Jesus is asking us to give any or all of them to Him, trusting He knows what is best for our happiness!!