Treasure

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:24-25 KJV)

In 1961 the US Army recalled thousands of reservists to active duty. We were among many who reported to Fort Polk, Louisiana, in response to a crisis in Berlin. We were renters, so we lost no home. Others did. We were employees, we did not lose a business. Others did. A lot was given in the service of their country, for their fellow countrymen.

What about those who would follow the Lord, but find they love what they are losing more than they love the path He chose for them? I think that’s what is meant in the above verse by life – the current way we’re living, the standards we desire, the income to buy what we like – if we leave Him to save that, what have we lost?

Can we follow Jesus’ words?

Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:33-34 KJV)

I can’t. I honestly cannot sell all that I have. I’ve convinced myself that it would not be good stewardship to sell our home and expect God to actually provide my daily bread. I turn to Paul for part of that justification:

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5:8 KJV)

Yet, Jacob’s descendants were asked to do that very thing – leave their homes in Egypt and follow Moses. Where do we put our trust? What treasures are we losing? Are we listening to God or ourselves?

Think of missionaries, pastors, the church staff that you know. They followed God’s call. Their salaries do not match those in the secular world, do they? These men, these families, have given their lives to the service of our Lord. They have not sought earthly treasures – but they’ve been promised a crown. Peter wrote of them:

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:2-4 KJV)

I believe it is good for all of us to pray for those called to be leaders in His service – the Peters and Pauls of our generation, the men who shepherd the Lord’s flocks. Those who fulfill their service most assuredly deserve that crown of glory – a true treasure.  Pray that they will continue to feed the flock of God among us.