Pastor's Corner: Where is your treasure?
Do you know how hunters capture monkeys in the wild? They carve a hole in a coconut and put pieces of bananas inside. They tie a string around the coconut and hide about 20 feet away. When the monkey comes and reaches into the coconut to grab the banana, they got him for sure. You know why? The monkey won’t let go. If he were to release the banana, his hand would fit through the hole and he would be free. But by keeping a tight fist he is trapped. He has a choice to let go and be free. Or hold on and be caught.
Through this illustration I am reminded of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount found in the book of Matthew. There are so many lessons for us today in that sermon. However there is one lesson I need reminding of and maybe you do as well.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:19-21
There are times I seem to hold too tightly on to “things" — material things and possessions. We can get obsessed with our house, our car, our tractor, our boat, even our habits and work. Jesus tells these things are all temporary and will fade away. Do you notice that the car will rust and clothes will wear out? But having a true relationship with God through Jesus is an everlasting treasure — never to wear out or rust or be stolen from you.
Our church is doing an 11-week course called Alpha. During our time once a week we all get to ask those very tough questions about faith and God. We share a meal together and watch a very well done video and then we share openly about things of faith. I have found this to be a true “treasure” of a time. For some people this is all new information, a new treasure. For others it is reaffirming the ways of God, and perhaps finding a long lost treasure. Certainly material things, treasures on earth, are not bad or evil. They are necessary for our time here on earth, but when we store them up, hoard them, obsess over them and worry about them, they will possess you! Like the monkey holding on too tight to the banana, he is no longer free. He is trapped. The lessons I am always learning is that I need to hold loosely to the things that are fleeting. One way to do that is to be generous and giving.
At the beginning of Matthew chapter 6 Jesus says this: “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
If you feel trapped by the things of this world, your challenge is to follow Jesus teachings and practice generosity. I am convinced that your heart will grow and you will be free indeed.
Rev. Daniel Whiting is the retired executive pastor of the Clarkston Community Church (Church of God Anderson).
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Pastor's Corner: Where is your treasure?
