The Weekly Encourager – January 30, 2016 – Where Is My Treasure?

What is the last thing you think about before you fall asleep, and the first thing that pops into your mind when you wake up? This just might be the thing that dominates your life. For me, in this quiet season of winter, snow and cold have put a damper on some of the interesting activities of life. Sleep is difficult with the brightness of the moon reflected on white snow everywhere. Health issues take more time than I planned. I have much to do, yet little motivation to do it. My body is calling for carbs and comfort, yet I need to work. I feel more like Mrs. Drudge than Mrs. Disciple. In this home-bound sea of sameness, it is tempting to forget God. Yet His promises are true, and they are no less real when I am struggling.

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired; they will walk and not become weary.” – Isaiah 40:31
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33

A challenging thought from Oswald Chambers: “Look again and think.” Citing Matthew 6:25, “Take no thought for your life,” Chambers says, “A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come in the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

“'Take no thought for your life.' 'Be careful about one thing only,' says our Lord – 'your relationship to Me.' Common sense shouts out and says – 'That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.' Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.” – Oswald Chambers

Is my thought mainly for the duties and difficulties of this life, or the development of the heavenly one? Jesus Christ says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:19-21 These “treasures” can be anything that distracts us from God, whether finances, work, relationships, health, reputation, leisure, education, home, anger, anxiety, fear, laziness, or fatigue.

Jesus told a parable of three servants who were given talents before their master went away. Two went out and used those talents to produce more for their Master, but one buried what he had received. During the “long time” the master was gone, the faithful two were working for the reward. Have you ever wondered what the third guy was doing all that time? He was occupied with the things of this world. Did he have difficult circumstances as we do? Did he have mental or physical problems, financial worries, challenging relationships? Did he have a gambling problem or drug addiction or trouble with the law? Did he live for his own pleasure and comfort, never bothering to exert enough effort to complete a task? (He never made it to the bank!) We don't know his personal story, but you can be sure that his master did. Whatever his circumstances, they were no excuse, because they were sent by God.

Chambers was right: we are tempted to think that Christ could not possibly understand our circumstances, and that excuses our lack of interest in His causes. That excuses our lack of obedience to His commands. That excuses our lack of love for the One who gave His very life to save us! The Bible says He was tempted in every way just like us; He knows our frame, that we are but dust; with every temptation He will provide an escape; trials are sent to build our character; He knows our needs; He cares for us; He will never leave us. The incarnate Christ does understand! Any excuses I offer are idolatry.

What am I storing up? Where is my treasure? If my treasure is not Christ first, Christ always, Christ only, then I will find it ebbing away as a sand castle is flooded by the tide, as snow melts into grass when the sun comes out.

God is faithful,
j

Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest” 1935, p.27 January 27 “Look Again and Think.”