Treasures

I have a special pale green vase in my studio.

Its pretty flower design has chipped over the years, but this vase was hand-painted by my grandmother and it is a treasure to me.

I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it, but the word treasure is both a noun and a verb.

This special vase of mine is a treasure (noun); I treasure (verb) it.

What treasures are you treasuring at the moment?

Jesus has quite a few things to say about this, doesn’t He?

He specifically spoke of this to a rich young man:

“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Matthew 19:21-22 CSB

Jesus is asking this young man to reorder his priorities. To treasure the right things.

How often am I like this man, thinking that the most important way to find treasure is to sift through my life’s possessions and choose an item?

My vase is special - but really it is the memories of my grandparents, and in particular the day my grandfather gave me the vase that are the treasures. My grandfather was a wise and godly man who compassionately took care of those in need. His beautiful care and love for my grandmother when her health failed continues to be an example for me and for others who knew him.

That’s true treasure.

Jesus reminds us that heavenly treasures are the deep and lasting things we commit our lives to, the examples He gave to anchor our souls: faith, prayer, Scripture reading and reflection, worship. The fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The kindness and care we offer others. The compassion expressed in our thinking and in our actions.

These are treasures we gather in this life and the ones we will see complete in the life to come.

Let us faithfully seek eternal treasures. Our lives here will then be richer, more generous, more fulfilling, more spacious.

My vase reminds me of the grandparents I treasure and the truth my grandfather knew and lived out:

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

Matthew 6:21 NIV

Today is a GOOD day!

Natalie