Scripture

Matthew 6:20-21 (New Century Version)

“Store your treasures in heaven where they cannot be destroyed by moths or rust and where thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will be where your treasure is.”

Consider

Whom do you treasure most in your life? You’ll find your heart invested in that relationship.

Loving is risky business. We invest ourselves in love relationships hoping for a high rate of return. In looking to others to fulfill our needs, however, we expose our soft underbelly and open ourselves to the possibility of being disappointed and hurt. Inevitably, our treasured ones will fail to meet our expectations. We end up feeling stung, betrayed, perhaps angry and resentful.

The solution? “Store your treasures in heaven.” Jesus reminds us that everything earthly is imperfect and corruptible. Everything—and everyone—will eventually disappoint. Only God is wholly dependable and thoroughly good. In fact, before we even ask him, he has a plan to satisfy our deepest longings.

When we give God his rightful place as Lord of our lives, when we love him and serve him as the supreme Treasure of our hearts, then we can let go of our impossible expectations of other humans. We can accept failings and flaws in our loved ones with good grace and forgive offenses that might otherwise devastate us.

Pray

FATHER, you know the needs of my heart better than anyone. I confess to resenting others, especially those I love best, because they could not or would not give me what I crave. As I admit my own faults and flaws, give me grace to accept similar shortcomings in others. Teach me how to look to You alone for perfect love that can heal my heart wounds and satisfy my deepest yearnings.

Reflect

Deuteronomy 6:5; Psalm 27:1; Matthew 6:8

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How might making God your supreme Treasure ease a relationship in your life?