“Coming soon . . . our new baby this summer!”
I feel like
every time I go on Facebook these days, I see these announcements all over my
newsfeed. In addition to pregnant belly selfies, baby shower photos, adorable
pics of newborns just out of the hospital. Statuses about each child’s precious
moments. The baby’s first. . . whatever. Baby’s first this, first that. Cute
family photo shoots. New brothers and sisters arriving. Every where you look, families
are blossoming all around us, new lives are appearing, and new chapters in life
are beginning. I myself am 18 weeks pregnant with my first child, due in the
summer.
The years go by, more children come. Kids toddling around to
starting school to becoming a teenager to going off to college. Life becomes all about family, and it goes on
and on and on...
Yet reading Matthew 6 this morning, the words of Christ simply
say
“Is not the life more than food? And the body more than
clothes?” (v. 25) And it struck me that in the same way, couldn’t you say “Is
not the life more than children? And the body more than taking care of family?”
In verse 19-20, Christ says “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
vermin destroy. . . but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
moths and vermin do not destroy.”
Treasures on earth. Yes, those could be lots of money,
gorgeous homes, state-of-the-art technology, designer purses, or stylish
furniture. Yes, they could be educational degrees, dream jobs, higher
paychecks, or promotions. But couldn’t these treasures on earth also speak of
our children?
Maybe the Lord has allowed you to have a child, or even
several children. He can also take them away. “Though riches increase,” it says
in Psalm 62:10, “do not set your heart
on them.” As in the life of Job, who had 7 sons and 3 daughters. . .they were taken away in a single moment. And
Job said “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. May the name of the LORD
be PRAISED.” (Job 1: 21). Or, as we see all the time, God can allow our
children to not meet our expectations. They can disappoint us. Disobey us. Not
turn out how we hope they will. They fail us. They will never satisfy our hearts.
If God is allowing you to start the new chapter of your life
of having a child, it is for certain what He is NOT trying to do. He is NOT
giving you a child so that you can set your eyes, your expectations, your
hopes, your joys, your life, upon this new baby. Your new treasure on earth. Just like your other possessions, God is not
giving this baby to you to make you happy
or to fulfill your dreams.
“You cannot serve both God and money” (Matt. 6:24). Likewise,
you cannot serve God and any other type of “riches.” You cannot serve both God
and your baby. You cannot serve both God and your family. Either Christ is your
treasure, or something of this world. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves
the world, love for the Father is not in them.” (1 John 2:15). Are not our
children and families something “in the world?” Many of us claim to love God
above all else, but our words, our actions, our social media posts show that
our true treasure is our families, the “blessings” God has given us, and not
God Himself.
If Christ is in you, your family will be taken care of. “But
seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33) The Heavenly Father never fails to take care
of His own in the most incredibly perfect way.
But as for us, as for you reading this, where is your treasure? Don’t say it is Christ
and then live each moment for your family. For your relationships, for your
goals, for your future, for whatever. No, but humbly ask yourself what your
true treasure is. Be willing to let God show you the answer, which may very
likely step on your toes. The riches that have taken hold of our hearts don’t
like to be threatened.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Our hearts are either 100% Christ’s, or they are not.
Is your heart filled with the treasures of the earth? Or with
the One True Treasure. . . Jesus.
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