Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don’t eat them and where thieves don’t break in and steal them. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~ Matthew 6:19–21 (CEB)
Lord, your message seems pretty clear. Our affections will follow our investments. We give our attention to what we collect and save. I don't like to think of myself as greedy. But I do think a lot about money and stuff -- how to get more of it and how to hold on to what I've got. At times my mind is consumed with strategizing about such things. Help me, please, to stop acting and thinking that way. I want to invest my time, money, energy, and thinking only in that which matters to you. Amen.
Challenging Words
- Affections -- the feelings of fondness, love. If you like someone you have affection toward that person. It's also possible to have affection toward a type of food, experience, money, or material possession.
- Investments -- money or possessions that you leverage for additional gain. If you put money in the bank hoping to gain interest you are making an investment. If you buy a house thinking that the value will go up and you will be able to sell it for more money than you first paid for it, you are making an investment.
- Strategizing -- the act of making a plan
- Invest -- the action of making an investment