On Treasures

A sweet Kenyan lady does housekeeping for our friend. She carries a heavy load as a single Mom, three children, an infant grandchild, and primary provider for her family, making barely 50 cents an hour in American money. Her walk to work in the morning is one hour; her trip home takes 1-1/2 hours because of the steep climb up the hill to her home, which, by the way has no heat source of any kind.

Every shilling is extremely valuable, and anything that could possibly be traded for shillings is a treasure. This bag of her treasures was nothing more than trash to me, but it spoke rebuke to my heart about my arrogance and pride in the things I value. I am not writing this as an insult to her nor am I saying that the things we have are wrong. But I am encouraging each of us to evaluate our treasures. Are they really worth anything in God's sight?

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).

Is my treasure in the things of this life, or is my heart focused in the treasure of a life honoring Him?