“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 NIV)

The broccoli was looking wonderful as my daughter and I discussed whether to cut it now or wait and harvest it the next afternoon when we would have time to blanche and freeze it. We decided to leave it until the next day.

The next morning, as I was walking down the driveway, I was horrified to see that not only the fence around the outside garden had been trampled down, but that the greenhouse door had been pulled off. Every single stock of broccoli was gone, even the roots had been torn out. And what did I find in the greenhouse? Two absolutely rotten, thieving goats, calmly looking around deciding what else they were going to devour, seeing as they had already gobbled up a number of cauliflowers and all the tops off the carrots. I was dumbfounded as never have the goats done such a dastardly deed. The fence was high and well attached to posts and the greenhouse door likewise. But obviously the temptation of this year’s extra large and luscious vegetables empowered them to strike with a vengeance and break down all barricades.

Still fuming the next day, due to the loss of our vegetables and all the love, work and care that had gone into raising them, today’s Scripture verses came to mind. So often we work so hard on earthly projects, jobs and the like. And we are proud of our accomplishments. Yet in the end, none of them really matter. We cannot take any of our achievements with us when this life is finished. We came into this world with nothing and we shall leave it with nothing. And what we leave behind will one day all fade away as well. And yet the Lord tells us that there are treasures that are worth storing up. Spiritual treasures. Love, hope, kindness, faith, trust, goodness, justice, mercy, and most importantly the source of all these treasures, our relationship with Jesus Christ. These are spiritual treasures that cannot rust or fade away and thieves cannot break in and steal from us, for they are eternal and shall live on within those who’s lives we have touched, long after we are gone.

So today, as we each go about our earthly chores and pathways, let us also remember to be cultivating and growing spiritual treasures. Treasures that point us to the One who loves us with an everlasting love. The One in whom our hearts reside and who’s heart resides in us. For where our treasure is, there also shall be our heart.

Prayer: Father God thank You that You have provided eternal treasures that are ours for the cultivating and receiving. May the storing up of these treasures be the ones we seek first and foremost, that we will not only be an eternal blessing to You but also to all those our lives touch. In Christ’s name we ask. Amen.

Lynne Phipps