Sermonette: April 13, 2020

These last couple of weeks have been tough for a lot of us. While few (if any) of us have actually been touched by COVID-19, we’ve seen our schedules go up in flames. High school events, church services, community events, family gatherings, all sorts of things have been sacrificed on the altar of social distancing. The upheaval has been wide spread and dramatic. In this time of clear schedules and ‘shelter in place,’ I want to point to Jesus’ words as recorded by Matthew.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy 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 your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

This passage often is applied (accurately) to money, and physical treasures; but beauty of the word ‘treasures’ is that it can be anything. Pirates think gold is treasure. Investors see treasures in stocks. Hunters see treasures in animals. Children see pretty rocks as treasures. Your ‘treasure’ is what you value; and most Americans see value in their schedule. We see value in knowing what’s coming. We feel comfortable when we know what tomorrow is going to look like.

However, Jesus contests this. He commands us to put our treasures in heaven. To value the things that COVID-19 can’t touch. If this virus shredding our schedule bothers us deeply, it’s a warning sign that we are valuing things that can be destroyed. If our treasure can be taken away, then we are valuing the wrong things.

The challenge is this: what has this virus taken from me that frustrates or saddens me? What have I lost that I apparently valued? Events? Time away from the kids? Vacations? Don’t leave your heart vulnerable to pandemics, put it where COVID-19 can’t reach it.