People get caught up with “stuff”; most of us fall into this trap at one time or another.

How much stuff is enough?  Is it really true that the guy with the most toys wins?

A farmer may put his excess crop into a barn, but as you can see, the day comes when the barn falls into disrepair. The vines start growing up the walls, the brush over grows the area around it, and the roof begins to leak ruining what is stored inside…  What happened to the farmer’s security?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19-20

Jesus taught something entirely different; store up your treasures in Heaven, but what does that mean… is it like an investment account?

Well, not exactly.  It wouldn’t seem that Jesus was talking about saving up cash; He seems to have had something more profound in mind.  Of course, this takes us to the real question:  What is it that we really value?

If we really value money, things, and earthly ease this is a tough teaching.  If, on the other hand, our focus is on other things, eternal things of value, then the physical and earthly kind of wealth is of little import.

So, what really is important?

From the point of view of Jesus’ teaching, what’s really important is serving God by serving others in a way that advances God’s purposes. This would include focusing our lives on our relationship with Christ.  This would include seeking and saving the lost through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teaching them to become His disciples.   This would include placing such a high priority on serving God and others that we stop being concerned by mere earthly things…

…And now we are back to the starting point: We begin the re-orientation of our value system by first and foremost focusing on our relationship with Christ.