“Store up treasure in heaven.”

That’s what Jesus tells us. Don’t spend your energy on stuff that gets eaten up by financial declines so that you panic about how much less you are worth this week than last week. If the measure of your worth is your portfolio and the value of your portfolio declines precipitously, then your heart will decline precipitously as well.

Isn’t it intriguing that this image Jesus paints of wealth being devoured rings so true in an economic decline? And isn’t it intriguing how much energy the people in the mirror are putting into thinking about how many more years we are going to have to work before retirement? Isn’t it intriguing how cranky and insecure and strategic we are getting?

What does it mean to store up treasure in heaven and how does that help now?

If treasures are like rewards, then the first half of Matthew 6 answers that question. Giving, praying, and fasting, done in secret, bring rewards.

What?

You mean that if I look for people in need and help them, that is storing up treasure? But how could that have reward?

You mean that if I am talking with God, that is storing up treasure? But it’s conversation! It is its own reward.

You mean that if I am fasting with a smile on my face, combating injustice, bringing freedom to trapped people, that stores up treasure? But it is so fulfilling!

All three of these things that Jesus says are rewarding are rooted in deepening our relationship with God.

I’ve thought of storing up treasure as acquisition. But gold in heaven is the least valuable thing. The conversational relationship is the real treasure.

And treasure storage doesn’t wait until heaven, it starts right now. With routine deposits.

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From Learning a new routine. Reading the Sermon on the Mount a little bit at a time