OUR DAILY BREAD                    Thursday, December 15, 1994
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READ:  Matthew 6:19-24

              THE TROUBLE WITH TREASURE

 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth."

                   - Matthew 6:19

The trouble with storing up treasures on earth is
that they are so temporary.  Some of them, such as
buildings or jewelry or certificates of deposit,
can be so easily destroyed.  A little spark, a
theft, an economic downturn, and they are gone.

Jesus warned of an even greater danger.  Accumu-
lating material wealth can take over our thoughts
and our affections, becoming our god.  "Where
your treasure is," He said, "there your heart
will be also" (Mt. 6:21).  And the wealth of
earth does not convert into currency of heaven.

I heard a missions speaker compare the value of
US dollars with the currency of a central African
nation.  He said that one American dollar would
purchase 1,700,000 units of that country's
currency.  Wow!  We could make $1,000 over there,
convert it, and ship back billions!  But we
wouldn't be rich because that nation's money is
worthless in the United States.

The same is true of the treasures of earth.
They may be of value down here, but they have
no worth in heaven.  How much better it is to
accumulate the treasures of heaven through
service to Christ, obedience to Him, moral
purity, faith, love, and investing our lives
in helping others!  It's worthless to treasure
the treasures of earth.

   --  David C. Egner

 I do not ask for treasures here,
    To hoard, decay, and rust,
       But for the better things of life --
          Humility and trust.

              -- Meadows

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           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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      Treasures in heaven are laid up
    as treasures on earth are laid down.

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THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Philemon; 1 Peter 1-2

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Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of
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