Still Learning...

Wow! Tammy doesn't know what she started in my life!!! (Thank you, Tammy!) On Friday, I posted a blog entitled My List. On this list, I put the things I want to do before I die. Now I have to tell you that when I got through writing my first rendition of this list, I only had spiritual things on it. I felt the need to apologize at the end. And then I reminded myself that it's OK to have fun--so I went back and added the fun things in. Let me explain. When I started to do the list like Tammy had done, I realized I couldn't do it--I know myself too well. I know if I had it to do all over again, it probably wouldn't be much different. I'm a very focused person. I have a job to do. I don't play around. In fact, I don't really like to play. (There. I admitted it!) I make myself play and have fun. Is that crazy? In fact, that is the reason I surround myself with fun people. They keep me balanced. Most people would never know this because I do love to laugh! But for those who know me well, know this about me--or maybe no one really knows this, I don't know! I also don't like to spend money. Part of the reason for this is that I spent a lot of years mismanaging money, so I learned not to trust myself. And because I have a job to do, I don't like spending money on frivolous things--and especially on myself! I want to be a good steward.

So...I've been thinking on all of this for a long weekend. And God began to show me something. Remember this verse? "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. I've tried all of my life to store my treasures in heaven. And if you know me, you know I am not materialistic. Things just don't mean a great deal to me. (This is where it gets exciting!) This weekend, I realized that storing up treasures in heaven isn't just bringing people to Christ, tithing and giving to needs, teaching Truth, discipling others, growing in Christ and all of those other godly, wonderful things.

I can spend money on things I've considered extravagant and even wasteful and be storing up treasures in heaven. If I'm investing in relationships, that's storing treasure in heaven. If I'm spending money to go on a date with my husband---that's storing treasure in heaven. If I'm spending money on a vacation with my family--that's storing treasure in heaven. If I'm spending money on going to see my kids & grandkids in Florida, that's storing treasure in heaven. And the reason this is storing treasure in heaven is because God designed these relationships. He wants us to invest in them. He has a plan for our marriages to be a picture of Christ & the church and for us, as parents, to be a picture of God to our children. These are eternal relationships. (Of course, they'll look different in heaven, but still eternal.) We're storing up treasures in heaven when we invest in these relationships. And when you invest, don't you do it wisely? You study how much and when to invest. Who knows who God has created your children to become? Isn't it wise for you to invest in them for God's kingdom purposes--with time and money? Do you know how God wants to use your husband in His kingdom plan? It would be wise to invest in him and your relationship with him. If we're not investing, we're saying that it's not important. And that's when things begin to crumble.
And where my treasure is---there's where my heart will be. I come in agreement with God for what is important---and eternal.