We bought a nice set of cooking utensils, a spatula, prongs and a large serving fork. They had black rubber handles and what looked to be stainless steel serving areas. But a few times in the dishwasher and the true nature of the beasts were exposed. Rust had damaged the shiny surface.
We bought a shiny new blue car last year. The color fairly glistens when the sun hits it. It was a bare-bones edition of the name brand, but it was exciting to smell the new interior. On the way to church yesterday morning we noticed a scratch and a tiny dent on the rear bumper. Someone had evidently bumped it in a parking lot and did not deem to leave contact information.
Coming home from work one day I noticed the address post at the end of the driveway was knocked down. Upon closer examination we found the post was broken near the base and several of our newly planted bushes were damaged with tire marks. A customer who bought one of our dogs had managed to miss the driveway, which must have caused some damage to the undercarriage of their pickup. They also did not tell us about their accident.
What does all of this have to do with the book of Mathew? Jesus told us in Mathew 6:19-21, “Don’t lay up treasurers on earth, where moth and rust destroys and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
When God blesses us with material things it is always wise to remember Job's words, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Our things do not belong to us. They belong to God and he can do with them as he pleases.
