You-Store-It, Part III

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We all know moths can eat clothes and rust can eat metal, but the real message of Matthew 6:20 is that storing too many treasures is risky, and not just for the treasures.

But what about the second part of that verse, thieves breaking in to steal? It’s not just one, but multiple thieves. This week someone asked me, “Do you ever get scared living alone?”

I answered “no” but last night did have a flash-fear moment. While brushing my teeth in the upstairs bathroom, I thought I heard someone crawling on the roof. Since the room has a dormer window, the roof was only inches over my head, and in an instant of wild imagination, I pictured a furtive figure moving along the shingles toward the bathroom window with a desire to break in.

I took a deep breath and pulled back the curtain ever-so-slightly to take a peek, hoping I wouldn’t be nose-to-nose with a thief. And there on the snowy roof was the explanation: raccoon paw prints.

The Matthew verse about thieves isn’t meant to frighten us but to caution us not to store too much on earth that’s worth stealing. Scripture does tell us, though, there’s one category of stuff we’re supposed to store: treasures in heaven.

What is that?

As a little child I brought pennies to Sunday school knotted in the corner of Mom’s linen hankie, eager to unwrap them and drop them in the offering basket. I figured those pennies magically ascended from the basket to God’s home in heaven where he saved them for lofty purposes.

Then I grew into the double digit years, and common sense told me my offering coins were the definition of “treasures in heaven.” Now, however, I see God’s treasure is not money at all, although dollars can evolve into heavenly treasure by what they accomplish. The Lord does, however, let us know there’s a wide variety of other ways we can store it.

Helping someone who needs help is one example. And if we set aside something we wanted to do for ourselves in order to help that person, the treasure is a bit bigger.

We can also store heavenly treasure by making righteous choices when no one is watching us.

Another way is to squelch our natural selfishness in favor of demonstrating the nine fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness kindness and self-control). Each is a treasure in heaven.

I believe sincere prayer for the interests of others is also a treasure to God. And doing our part to explain the Gospel to those who will listen has heavenly worth, too.

Any time we act in love toward another, especially if that one is difficult to love, we’re safely storing something in heaven. In short, whenever we obey God, it’s a spiritual ka-ching no thief can touch.

Interestingly, some translations of Matthew 6:20 say, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” In God’s economy, what we do on earth for others just may end up benefiting us in the next world.

It wouldn’t surprise me at all if our loving Lord has set it up exactly that way.

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Don’t Worry!

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I Linnea, Margaret’s daughter) was a little concerned when I woke up this morning and saw that my mom hadn’t put up a new post. It doesn’t matter if she’s on a vacation, not feeling well, or up with friends until 2am. She always does a new post. I sent her a text at 6am (I have a 10-month old who woke me up at 5am) and tried not to worry.

At 8:30am, my mom wrote back and said their internet’s down because of a winter storm. “I drove all over at midnight trying to catch someone’s signal. It didn’t even work at the public library!” she said. My mom is very attached to you, blog reader.

Hopefully she’ll be back online soon, sharing the wisdom God gives her each day. I know this isn’t a real post, but I figured she’d still want me to wrap it up with a verse. I love you, Mom!

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

You-Store-It, Part II

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The sad truth is, I’m attached to my stuff. I’m especially bound to pictures, journals and anything marked “memorabilia.” If I was younger, this wouldn’t be a problem, but because I’ve accumulated 65 years of mementos, I’m continually battling a storage predicament.

Three years ago as we contemplated a move, I was determined to eliminate at least one-third of everything we owned. One cold night in our garage, I sat on a short stool facing four loaded file cabinets, an eight-drawer challenge.

Pulling a giant garbage can next to me, I opened drawer #1, a row of alphabetized manila folders three feet deep. It was easy to toss out papers referring to cars we no longer owned or pet info about dogs long-gone. And it was clear I should keep health records, insurance policies and the passport file. But many of the folders shouted, “I’m memorabilia! Keep me!”

Passing up one folder after another, I knew I had to get ruthless. More files needed to go. Then I came to a bulging folder that took up 5” of drawer space. Its tab said, “Nate’s notes.”

Nate had been faithful to pen weekly notes to our older children on 3 x 5 cards, summarizing family news and offering encouragement. It was his way to stay connected when they were far from home, and the kids have kept most of their notes. But they weren’t the only ones getting cards.

He was an early riser, usually before 5:00 am, and I slept till 6:00. Often he left for work before I made my way to the coffee pot, and I’d find a note propped there for me:

“Remember to pick me up at the train, 6:37 — car is in the shop.”
“I love coffee, and I love you.”
“11 degrees – Do you know the whereabouts of my gloves?”

Each card was dated, and all were signed, “Love, Nate.”

That night in the garage, I lifted the overstuffed folder from its place and debated what to do. The space it took in the file cabinet would house a dozen other important folders, and I knew I should be ruthless.

Nate was in good health then, no sore back and no cancer. More notes would be written, I figured, probably many years-worth. Soon I’d have another 5” file filled with his meaningful words.

And in one swift move, I threw them all away.

Three years later, we learned Nate was terminally ill, and my mind traveled back to that night in front of the files. Realizing I would never receive another note made me ache to undo my mistake. Oh how I’d treasure those cards now!

So here I am today, in the basement with another garbage can at my side. What do I keep? What do I toss? I no longer trust my judgment. When I asked the Lord what to think, he brought Nate’s death scene to my mind. The sum total of what mattered then had nothing to do with pen and ink or any other earthly possession. It came down to Nate and God. And after those last breaths, the only “things” that mattered were the ones he’d stored in heaven.

I believe the Lord was telling me to let the notes (and my bad decision) go. He was reminding me that one day it’ll come down to just God and me, and on that day, nothing in my basement will matter at all.

“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)