Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 6:19-21 (New International Version)

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Song Title: We Fall Down, by Chris Tomlin

We fall down

We lay our crowns

at the feet of Jesus

The greatness of

Mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

We cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

We lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus

We sang that song today in church.

A crown is a symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a god, for whom the crown is traditionally one of the symbols of power and legitimacy. ([wikipedia]).

What are my crowns? What are the things that I have that mean power to me? What are the things that I treasure above all else? Am I willing to lay those things at the feet of Jesus? Am I willing to surrender all power and glory that I have accumulated for myself and give those things to Jesus?

treasures on earth

What are my treasures on earth? An obvious interpretation is money and the things that money can buy. There are lots of examples of those things. They include cars, houses, computers, TVs, jewelry, and such. Those things will rust and fade away.

Other treasures? Sure, there are lots of those as well. My title, my standing in the community, what other people think of me, my appearance, my bearing – funny how most of these things are preceded by the word “my.”

What are my treasures? How can I realize what they are? Imagine someone taking something away or speaking badly about something of mine.

For example,

• you went to a cow college, so your degrees don’t count
• you wrote crummy books that no one would buy, so they don’t count
• your kids aren’t at the top of anything, so you failed as a parent
• no one attends your classes at church, so no one respects you

treasures in heaven

What are these treasures? The passage hints that they last forever. The passage also hints that no one can take them away from me either by physical stealing or by saying or feeling badly about them.

Examples?

where your treasure is there your heart will be also

Where is my heart? Is it in heaven or is it on earthly things?

What can I do so that my heart is in heaven?

How about this idea: What comes first, my heart or what I do? Can I do things by force of will or by my mind and keep doing those things enough so that I change my heart?

How about this: I spend my time on other people. I spend my money at church. I spend my money on other charities. I don’t buy stuff.

Will a life of depravation change me heart? Will a life of giving change my heart?