Your approach to money and possessions is central to your spiritual life. Look at the story of Zacchaeus in the Bible. As someone with a reputation as a dishonest tax collector, he definitely put his possessions/money before anything else. But after being shown kindness by Jesus, he realized where his true treasure was! “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount’” (Luke 19:8, NIV). If you had to choose between Jesus and your possessions, what would you choose?
Zacchaeus was using the cost benefit ratio. He weighed his earthy possessions against Jesus and realized He was far more valuable! No earthly treasure can compare to heavenly treasure. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44, NIV). While what you gain on earth can make your time here more comfortable, it’s not something you can take with you when you die.
Matthew 19:21 (NIV): “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” This isn’t to say that anyone and everyone who wants to serve the Lord has to give up all earthly possessions. This was just something Jesus said to a man who wouldn’t have been able to serve the Lord otherwise. The point is, there shouldn’t be anything in your life you idolize over God.
Today I want you to take a step back, look at what you have, and see if there’s anything you’re putting before God. Are things distracting you or keeping you from God? If so, consider clearing them out! Focus on lasting treasure rather than temporary treasure. Get to the point where you’d be perfectly fine without your earthly treasure. If you worry about what you’d do or how you’d live comfortably without your belongings, it’s time for a Eureka moment!