Treasures in Heaven

Meditation: What gives hope and satisfaction to our desire for
happiness and security? A young man who had the best the world could offer
– wealth and security – came to Jesus because he lacked one thing. He wanted
the kind of lasting peace and happiness which money could not buy him.
The answer he got, however, was not what he was looking for. He protested
that he kept all the commandments; but Jesus spoke to the trouble in his
heart. One thing kept him from giving himself whole-heartedly to God. While
he lacked nothing in material goods, he was nonetheless possessive of what
he had. He placed his hope and security in what he possessed. So when Jesus
challenged him to make God his one true possession and treasure, he became
dismayed. Why did he go away from Jesus with sadness rather than with joy?
His treasure and his hope for happiness were misplaced. Jesus challenged
the young man because his heart was possessive. He was afraid to give to
others for fear that he would lose what he had gained. He sought happiness
and security in what he possessed rather than in who he could love and
serve and give himself in undivided devotion.
Why does Jesus tell his disciples to "sell all" for the treasure of
his kingdom? Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the
place of desire and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we
most set our heart on is our highest treasure. The Lord himself is the
greatest treasure we can have. Giving up everything else to have the Lord
as our treasure is not sorrowful, but the greatest joy. [See Jesus' parable
about the treasure hidden in a field in Matthew
13:44.] Selling all that we have could mean many different things –
letting go of attachments, friendships, influences, jobs, entertainments,
styles of life – really anything that might stand in the way of our loving
God first and foremost in our lives and giving him the best we can with
our time, resources, gifts, and service.
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find that
they cannot outgive God in his generosity towards us. God blesses us with
the priceless treasures of his kingdom – freedom from fear and the griping
power of sin, selfishness and pride which block his love and grace in our
lives; freedom from loneliness, isolation and rejection which keep his
children from living together in love, peace, and unity; and freedom from
hopelessness, despair, and disillusionment which blind our vision of God's
power to heal every hurt, bind every wound, and remove every blemish which
mar the image of God within us. God offers us treasure which money cannot
buy. He alone can truly satisfy the deepest longing and desires of our
heart. Are you willing to part with anything that might keep you from seeking
true joy with Jesus?
Why does Jesus issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well as to
the rest of us who desire to be rich)? Was he really against wealth? We
know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per se, nor was he opposed to
the wealthy. He had many friends who were well-to-do, including some notorious
tax collectors! One even became an apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the
teaching of the Old Testament wisdom: Better is a poor man who walks
in his integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways (Proverbs
28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be
wise enough to desist (Proverbs 23:4). Jesus seems to say that it is
nearly impossible for the rich to live as citizens of God's kingdom. The
camel was regarded as the largest animal in Palestine. The "eye of the
needle" could be interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe
the narow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travellers when
the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized man had to
"lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would literally have to knell
and crawl through it. Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth?  Wealth
can make us falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about
their attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you say,
I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelations 3:17). Wealth
can also lead us into hurtful desires and selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10).
Look at the lesson Jesus gave about the rich man and his sons who refused
to aid the poor man Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They also neglected to
serve God. The scriptures give us a paradox: we lose what we keep and we
gain what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this life
and in eternity (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us an incomparable
treasure which no money can buy and no thief can steal. The thing we most
set our heart on is our highest treasure. Material wealth will shackle
us to this earth unless we guard our hearts and set our treasure on God
and his everlasting kingdom. Where is your treasure?
"Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and opened to us the treasures
of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight and may nothing else
keep me from giving you my all."
This reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2012, whose website is located at http://www.rc.net/wcc/readings