32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 32-34 (NIV)

     Referring to us as sheep, Jesus reminds us that we don’t need to be afraid. He understands our fears and our limitations, yet he reassures us that it pleases God to give us his kingdom. He wants to bless us.

     Then Jesus encourages us to sell our possessions and give to the poor. Wow! That can feel like a punch in the stomach if our eyes are focused on the things we have worked so hard to get or the things we are still striving to obtain. But while struggling to regain our composure, Jesus gently assures us by encouraging us to provide for ourselves purses that will not wear out. The things we give away in this world are the treasures we are storing up for ourselves in heaven. 

     When we store up treasures for ourselves on earth, we are always at risk of having them stolen or otherwise taken from us. When we give them to others who need them, we are placing our treasures in heaven where they will never be destroyed.

     We so much need the courage to step out in faith on this teaching. Here in America where we have so much, especially in comparison to what people have in the impoverished nations of the world, yet we cringe to consider giving up what we have and settling for less. Lord, help us to focus our eyes on you so much that we will be willing to let you replace these earthly treasures that keep us down with heavenly treasures that will lift us up.

Copyright © 2008 by Janice Green

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.