Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. Psalm 73:25–26 (NLT)
Can you imagine the beautiful things that Asaph, the song leader of tabernacle worship would have encountered as he entered the tabernacle? There were many beautiful and impressive things made of gold, silver, and bronze that were used for serving. Yet the confession of his heart was that God in heaven was his greatest treasure. Nothing on earth could compete with the glories of God. Nothing stirred his affections like the Sovereign Lord.
Jesus taught people to pull back from pursuing the treasures of earth — to stop storing them away for status and security. Money and possessions are temporary bits of wealth, and all of it can be stolen or ruined (Mt 6:19). As the psalmist’s greatest prize was in heaven, so Jesus encouraged his listeners to invest in things that would last forever (Mt 6:20). On another occasion, Jesus used a parable to compare the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. “When a man found it, he . . . sold all he had and bought that field” (Mt 13:44). When you found God’s presence as that great treasure, in that moment, did you sell all? Maybe you’ve had more than a few “moments” when you found Him more than everything you had, did you give all you had then, to have Him as your all? That’s the key to any emptiness you sense today in your life.
Life on earth features many luxuries and objects of worth. Jesus teaches us to resist the temptation to chase after things that will not last. Rather, those who believe in Jesus, is that you? Should spend their years investing in their relationship with God and the people he loves — dispensing grace, making disciples and loving unconditionally. These treasures of heaven will endure forever and bring much glory to God.
Imagine if we decided that eternity with God was not an add-on after this life, but our goal as it is God’s goal for us? How the things of this life would lose their false and deceptive charms of bringing personal fulfillment and become instruments, tools, to be used to help birth in others the recognition of the Great Treasure – Jesus.
Pastor Mark
Phil 3:7