No Disclaimers

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where theives break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where theives do not break in and steal.  Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV)

Jesus said this.  It challenges me.  I imagine it made the people he was speaking to uncomfortable as well.  Whether you are a first century Jew or a 20th century gentile, it makes one squirm a bit to be told not to accumulate stuff.  I’m pretty sure Jesus knew it would bother his audience then and now.

Yet almost every time I’ve heard this passage taught, there has been a disclaimer offered where I’ve been told, “Now Jesus didn’t mean for us to be irresponsible and not plan ahead,” or “This doesn’t mean it’s wrong to have nice things or save money.”  Now disclaimers like that may be true, but I’m very much of the opinion that they are unnecessary.  Honestly, are many of us REALLY tempted to focus so much on heavenly treasure that we neglect to be financially prudent? 

C’mon.  My temptation, and what Jesus made the point of warning about, is to store up wealth here and now.  I desperately need to hear his warning and I need to sit and stew in it.  I need to wrestle with how I make my living, how much I’m driven by the need to accumulate, how I strive for wealth and comfort and the good things here on earth.  And I need to work through the disconnect between what I say is of most value and what my life and lifestyle actually reveal. 

I’m fully capable of justifying myself without anyone’s assistance.  I don’t need that, and I doubt you do either.  I need to hear it unfiltered and it needs to really, really bug me until I do something about it…….