There was a commonly-held but mistaken thought of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day that God would materially bless those He loved ¹. Therefore, they set out to ‘show how much God loved them‘ by accumulating and acquiring as much wealth and possessions as possible: if I have lots of fancy things, God loves me greatly…Knowing this helps us understand Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:
“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and devouring insect do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(vv.19-21, NET)
What we see as valuable shows us how spiritually healthy we are (Matthew 6.22-23) and we simply cannot be servants of both greedy gain and God (Matthew 6.24). Trusting God for our earthly provision is the duty of every Bible-believing, Jesus-following Christian (Matthew 6.25-33). Perhaps we are not seeking to show our wealth (and therefore how much God loves us) by accumulating a collection of carpets, pottery, and garments that are prone to moth and devouring insect, but, the truth is very applicable to you and to me now: where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Simply, what do we value above all else?
We accept and affirm that this is what the Word teaches, but, let’s be honest, this is hard. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in the accumulation of stuff, whether we do so intentionally to display our financial status or without even realising. It can be a slow and insidious descent into a home full of stuff. The problem with earthly treasures is that, as Jesus says here, they can disintegrate and disappear through no fault of your own: there is no safety and surety in them (v.20).
So, this lent season, pause and ponder: where are we accumulating treasure? Where does it look like our hearts are?
If that’s too broad, try and answer these questions;
- Are there clothes in my wardrobe that I haven’t worn in six months?
- If there are, give them to a local charity.
- Do I own books that I never intend to read again?
- If you do, give them to goodwill shops to sell on.
- Is there a room in my house filled with equipment from a hobby I have outgrown?
- If there is, consider selling and supporting the work of God in your community.
- Am I holding on to furniture, decorations, or general possessions ‘just in case I need it in the future‘ or ‘because, well, what else would I do with it‘?
- Simply, use what you have or move it on (Proverbs 12.27).
For the last few years we have used lent as a time to declutter and refocus our home. Look around at too much stuff and it’s easy to notice what we don’t have. Each year we have found that as we remove excess physical stuff, we find it easier to focus on what we do have. Gratitude and simplicity rise when you can actually focus on what you have. Backing up the words of Jesus above as a secondary benefit, modern research agrees that simply, less is better ².
As we move towards Easter and the ultimate example of God’s love for us,
this Lent season then look at the things in your life.
Accepting the gift of salvation and eternal life in Jesus is the only marker of how much you’re loved. Beyond that, it’s all just stuff.
This lent season, look around your home and see if you are [accumulating] for yourselves treasures on earth that are taking away your focus from the treasure you have in heaven.
This lent season, take seriously your Christian command to not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, and take seriously the truth that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
¹ – Louis A. Barbieri Jr.