Matthew 6:19-24

Money ~

Ah money, it makes the world go round - right?  Well actually, God makes the world go round & I think that's what Jesus is trying to point out here.  It's very easy to be fixated on money; after all, there's so much to buy, so much we need, so many wonderful things we can do with money.  It offers comfort, pleasure, and power.  We spend a good deal of time working for it so we can afford the house we live in, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the entertainment & electronics we desire.  But oh, how frivolous & exhausting the pursuit of money becomes.  You see the more you have, the more you work.  You work harder, you buy a bigger house, more cars, more stuff.  Then when you're not working you're taking care of all that stuff & the work just piles up & piles up & piles up.  Plus, all this stuff never really satisfies us.  We think if we just had that car, that phone, that house, those clothes, if we went on that vacation - well then life will be wonderful & I will be happy, happy, happy.  But that doesn't happen, now does it?  Dreams are achieved, become memories, & a new dream just takes it's place.  Plus in our world of advanced technology - that new smart phone doesn't stay smart for very long.  There's always something bigger & better coming up around the corner.

So, what does Jesus tell us?  Stop spending your time focused on money.  It doesn't last.  All those things you now own will deteriorate & become worthless.  Why spend all your time & energy on them?  Instead, let's focus on our relationship with God.  You see, as I recently read, "we aren't physical beings having a spiritual experience - we are spiritual beings having a physical experience."  The physical is going to end, there's no stopping it.  Oh, but the spiritual - well that's eternal.  So let's put our focus there.  Because frankly, there is only so much time in a day, so many hours in our life & one master we can pursue at a time.  One master cares about you, wants to bless you, & will always provide for you.  The other master, well money is an inanimate object - it has no feelings or motivations.

Are you going to spend your time on that which is temporary or that which is eternal?  Only one can bring true happiness.  Quite frankly, all the money in the world can't buy what the Spirit gives us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Isn't that the treasure you're really seeking?