Shelly Eberly
Worship Team Vocalist
Moth and Rust.
What does that make you think of? When I hear the word moth, I think of mothballs. Mothballs repel moths and other insects… they stink! They repel me too. I’ve never witnessed the destruction that a moth can make but it’s definitely a thing! Moths destroy fabrics and clothing, especially in storage. How about rust? I drive a 2010 Mercury Mariner. I like my little SUV. When I bought it there was no rust to be found. Like a good, little, responsible car owner I took it to get it undercoated so there would never be any rust, but guess what? Ohio winters and time have taken their toll and there are rust bubbles on my rear fender’s. Snap! Rust starts slow and continues to grow! Moth and rust prove that the things of this world don’t last.
I was out shopping with a friend yesterday and she kept mentioning she wants to purchase things for her home that are timeless and won’t go out of style. Me too! Wouldn’t that be lovely? Don’t we all want to know that what we are investing in will last?
I love how Jesus talked with pictures. He’s the master at making his point and giving us a powerful visual to go with it to help make it stick. He knows we are drawn to shiny, new, wonderful things, He knows we need things to survive, and yet we can get carried away by wants over needs. We tend to forget that things are subject to the limits of this earthly place we call home (for now). They can be stolen or chewed up, they can disintegrate over time, they can go out of style in a blink and yet, we clamor for more.
It’s like Jesus is saying, “Hey wait…are you sure you want to invest in things? How about my kingdom? How about what will last?” That farmhouse remodel or new car is going to be old before you know it and you’ll just be left wanting more. If you invest in my kingdom your heart will be focused and your reward there will never fade. Take that in…NEVER fade. Heavenly rewards aren’t limited by earthly boundaries. They aren’t limited by trends and the elements. They will never grow old or lose their sparkle.
As we look into this passage in Matthew over the next few Sundays be asking God for His perspective on where you are investing your resources. Are you investing in the latest “thing” or in the greatest thing? Where’s your treasure?
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21