Time and Treasure

Yesterday I had the opportunity to help out in one of the adult Sunday School classes that gathers here at the Portico. They had been studying a book entitled, The Treasure Principle. The chapter dealt generally with Jesus' admonition in Matthew 6:
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..'

The class had no problem with the basic premise. We all seemed to understand that life is fleeting and unpredictable. These are people who are conscientious about their faith so I hadn't really been asked to help them swallow the sometimes large pill of Christian giving. What I had been asked to address was something else that the author seemed to be saying--namely, that God is keeping some kind of score in all of this. The writer suggested that every good deed (and we assume every wicked one as well) is tallied in some great ledger in order to be summed, balanced and pronouced on the day of reckoning.

As I prepared for the class, I was a bit surprised by the book. Not by the argument so much but the motivation. I was curious as to why someone would write a book on this topic. To the point, Jesus does make reference to God's watchful eye, especially in terms of how we live and how we treat our families, neighbors and enemies. But to suggest that God is some kind of Great Accountant is a bit of a stretch, at least in terms of the overall picture. The message of the Gospel is especially about God's remarkable concern and devotion to a people who are often uninterested and largely uncapable of returning that concern and devotion. Most of the class, myself included, were not too excited about the idea that God might be keeping some kind of score. Yet, it ocurred to me that we are certainly facinated with keeping score everywhere else. Jobs, houses, kids, spouses... How much here... How well there... Did you meet the quota... Did I get the bonus... Where are they sending junior to school...

And this was probably the answer to my curiosity about the author's motivation. He was, perhaps, looking around at the quasi-Christian world around him and wondering about our motivation. That is, what (or who) are we doing this all for? It would appear that we are frantically working on some kind of tally-sheet. So what exactly is it that we are trying to win? Who exactly are we trying to win over? Or, as the writer seemed to be saying, "if we insist on working to some kind of scoreboard, let's at least make it the right one... In the end of the day, the only one you're really going to have to impress is God.

O.K., I can see that. I still don't like the idea of God keeping score. Mostly because I sense that sincere spirituality is motivated by something more than rewards and punishments. Nevertheless, I can appreciate the writer's point. Because the fact is we do sometimes look a little like rats in a laboratory--running whatever maze it is that leads to the sugar water. And frankly, most of the rewards out there are nothing more than that. Of course, in the moment, it seems otherwise. But when we've only got 60, 70, 80 years to live, stuff and pats-on-the-head are really not much of a prize.

In this way, eternity gives us a priceless perspective. Jesus suggests that whatever it is that we do, we need to keep in mind the end toward which it is given. Whether it be time, resources or energy, we spend it toward some end. And if what we have is finite (as in 100 years or less), then it makes sense to spend it wisely... toward an end that has some staying power. Or as Jesus' puts it, 'store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.'

Jesus concludes this sentence by adding, 'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also..' This is where Jesus has my atttention in regard to this whole treasure business. I have little understanding and appreciation for keeping score and building up treasure but I do understand and appreciate passion. One way to look at 60, 70, or 80 years is to see how short this time really is! But another way to look at it is that we really do have something here! What an opportunity! To have the chance to live in this world and to do something with your life... Why would you want to waste something like that on mazes and sugar water?

This, it seems to me, is the real motivation for living a good life. Jesus suggests that whatever it is that we turn our eyes upon, wherever it is that we go and however it is that we spend our time, energy and resources... these are the things that reveal our hearts. This is how we identify what matters to us... This alone should clear our minds to think bigger than sugar water! Look around at the wonder and the beauty of Creation... Behold the blessing and the mystery of family and friendship... See the power of the human mind and its capacity to create and work for good in the world... Then ask yourself if you really want your life to be defined by a job or a house or even a degree.

Of course, we want to finish this thing well. Of course, we want God to pat us on the head when it is all said and done. But what will this mean if we have not lived a passionate life? What good is a bunch of tally marks if they refer to something less than a fully engaged and courageously spent life?