Inspecting Our Treasury

Matthew 6:20-21 – But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (NIV)

How's your treasury doing? You'll have one, of course. I'm referring to your life priority, the one which drives your focus — your consuming motivational reality.

Our backyard chipmunk certainly has a "consuming motivational reality". His treasury is his stash of sunflower seeds and peanuts. That's what drives this creature, relentlessly. As long as we provide the goods, he keeps coming. He stuffs his cheeks to bursting, scurries back to his burrow, and returns — over and over again. His focus is obsessive, deterred by nothing. He craves an eternal supply of the treasure. Surely, that's the same heartfelt fervency that Jesus had in mind in His words, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Where's the chipmunk's treasury? Underground. Where's his focus? Underground. It's hidden from our view, so we don't think about it. Yet underground, he's embarked on a massive project. He digs and organizes for hours, day after day, alone, hidden deep in the ground. He's digging out an elaborate burrow system. It's an ever-expanding network of tunnels and caverns — including storage rooms for his treasury of seed and nuts, protected from threats and ready for future enjoyment.

Likewise, our treasury is hidden, for through Christ, "your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3 NIV) Eternity is born in our hearts. Christ is the heavenly eternal treasure within.

The chipmunk's habit provides depth to those words, "store up". The treasury is deep indeed! It's about an enormous undertaking deep within our being. It involves much digging — through the Spirit's work — excavating passages blocked by stony hindrances, such as worry, earthly distractions, unbelief, and unforgiveness. Thus, the Spirit keeps expanding our capacity for storing up the imperishable heavenly seeds of God's promises.

If we inspected our treasury, we'd notice that the digging and storing process looks messy and disordered. Yet, all along, our Lord graciously provides little nibbles from our treasury — plenty to edify us, yet to keep us longing for that day when we will fully experience His eternal glory.

How have you seen this happening in your life? Here's a recent example in mine: I found myself being pestered by a dismaying thought. It certainly wasn't my thinking, so I suspected that it came from the enemy. I asked God to replace it. He answered by providing a wee nibble from my treasury. I suddenly noticed that, without conscious effort, a hymn of promise by Civilla Durfee Martin was playing over and over in my mind: "Be not dismayed whate'er betide, God will take care of you!" Thank You, Lord. That's just what I needed!

Indeed, my Lord will always take care of me — throughout all eternity! It's His Word! He's my treasure — forever! Is He yours?

Prayer: Precious Lord, prod our wavering hearts to keep stocking up treasures in heaven — supplied from Your lavish provisions of imperishable seed. Amen.

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