ZPCBlog

About the author: Matt Doublestein and his wife Libby have been attending ZPC with their family since 2021. They both work in local school districts (Matt in Zionsville and Libby in Sheridan) and are thankful for the Lord's grace and patience in the adventure that is raising their children: Caleb (11), Elsa (9), and Talia (4).

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-21

Whenever I read about "treasures" or "riches" in scripture, my mind is always drawn to this chapter of Matthew. In the bustle of life and of this season, I'm typically thinking of the worry and anxiety of trying to get things done, trying to finish shopping and wrapping in time, trying to get to all the family events...Typically it is just a few verses after this passage that draws my attention and where the Lord reframes my thinking: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ...And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ...your heavenly father knows you need them all (these things). But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (vs.25-33)."

Christmas and the New Year can be all too full of anxieties over these things, and our Lord tells us he knows. He knows what we need - temporal and eternal - he knows. I do not for one moment believe that the Bible is minimizing the reality of the anxieties we experience. God does not discount or delegitimize anxiety in any way. He comes to us in those experiences and says, "I know what you need in this life and the life to come. Store up treasures in heaven."

Later in the chapter, in verse 29, Jesus compares the lilies of the field to the riches of Solomon.  "...even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Solomon's riches were incredible. Each year, he amassed about 25 tons of gold from his subjects. Some estimate his net worth to have been in the $2-3 trillion range in current valuation. And yet Jesus tells us the grass and flowers of the field are arrayed more beautifully than he was. Treasures, indeed.

The treasures Jesus talks about here are contrasted with thieves and destruction. Our world is full of examples of decay and terror. Whether from moths and vermin, droughts and seismic events, or wars and conflict, destruction is evident all over our planet. Likewise, the worst in human character comes out in the fog of war and the atrocities that can accompany such conflict. The Lord knows what we need, not only in this life of conflict and destruction, but in the life to come. That is where the advent connection is made: in Jesus himself. What a gracious way to point us toward treasures stored in Heaven: by bringing Heaven to us on Earth. The Son himself came meager, meek, and mild to give us the greatest treasure of all: salvation for life in him. Christmas is so much about the wonderful blessings of earthly treasures - relationships, memories, visits, and yes - gifts. But our hearts must be attuned to the greatest heavenly gift of all in the coming of the Christ Child and his death as a man at Calvary.  

May we count our greatest treasures to be those we have in Christ, so that this season may be one of renewal in him and of renewal of our hearts toward the things above.

Prayer:

Lord,
At a time when it is far too easy to be consumed with worldly treasures, may the greatest gift of your Son work in us a renewed desire to store up treasures in heaven. May our eyes and hearts look outward toward others and heavenward toward you as we celebrate the earthly birth of Jesus, and may we apply our innumerable blessings toward the furtherance of his Kingdom. 
Amen

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