Scripture:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:18-21)

Reflection:
There was a recent newspaper story about a woman in Tel Aviv who decided to do something nice for her elderly mother. She bought her a new mattress. The woman's bed was hard and lumpy; so as a surprise this woman had her mother's old mattress carted off to the junk yard, and she replaced it with a brand new one. As it turns out, the older woman had hidden her life's savings in that mattress. It was stuffed with over one million dollars. They haven't found it yet, and an Israeli newspaper ran a picture of a woman desperately combing through a junkyard in southern Israel without success.

Many would pass judgment on the older lady put her money in the wrong place. Smart people do not place their riches in old mattresses that end up on the garbage heap. Yet, how many “smart” people do you know that invest in things that, like the old mattress, ends up in the trash? Investments in things that deteriorate and wear out will eventually be worthless. Investments made in people and noble institutions and projects will last forever. The picture of the old woman combing through the garbage looking for her money could be the picture of many of my friends who have put their money in the wrong place. I don’t want anyone to ever see me searching for my heart in the trash. Where would you have to search for yours?

Prayer:
Father, help me invest this day and all my resources in those things that will last for eternity. I choose to be rich in heaven rather than have an abundance of things on earth.  Amen.