Treasures of the Heart
Genesis 15:1-6
Psalm 33
Hebrews 11:1-16
Luke 12:32-40
Tim
Christoffersen
St. Anselm’s
August 12,
2001
In
the readings this morning, we have two of the most widely known sentences
in the New Testament. From Hebrews we read, in the New International Version,
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we
do not see." And the words of Jesus in the passage from Luke,
"For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also."
The story of Abraham is familiar to many of us. Abraham is over 100 years
old and Sarah is in her nineties. God says to Abraham, "Do not be
afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. Abraham
and Sarah are childless and so Abraham says "what will you give me,
for I am childless." God promises them a son whom they are to name
Isaac and through whom Abraham’s descendents will be as numerous as the
stars in the sky. Abraham believes God’s promise.
Abraham is sure that God will keep his promise and certain of God’s presence
in his life. There is a sense of immediacy between Abraham and the Lord God
Most High in the passages in Genesis.
But these words from Hebrews are just as true for us today as they were for
Abraham. "…Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain
of what we do not see." We know in our hearts that God exists and
that he cares for each one of us. In prayer we trust in what we do not see.
We trust that God is there and we are heard. Prayer is at the spiritual heart
of our relationship with God our father. Thomas Merton once said, "prayer
is a death to every identity that does not come from God." In prayer
we know God creates us and our life is a gift. The psalmist in today’s
Psalm says "Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust."
So from the readings from Genesis, Hebrews and Psalms, we know that hope and
trust in God our father and our Lord Jesus Christ are the heart of our faith.
When we turn to Jesus’ words in Luke, we discern the spiritual importance
of trust in our daily lives. Jesus says "Sell your possessions, and
give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure
in heaven…"
A struggle we all face is clearly between heavenly treasure and earthly treasure.
Throughout Luke’s gospel, he clearly wrestles with balancing the personal
renunciation of possessions and the proper use of possessions. On the side
of renunciation, Luke tells us in the beatitude in Luke 6:20 "Blessed
are you poor; the reign of God is yours." We also read in Luke 14:33
that Jesus says, "None of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce
all his possessions."
But on the other side, in Luke 22:35 Jesus says to the 12 apostles at the
Last Supper, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you
lack anything?…But now if you have purse, take it, and also a bag…"
In verse 19:8, Luke tells us the story of Zaccheus, the wealthy tax collector,
a disciple who wants to give half his possessions to the poor. Jesus does
not ask him for more and he says, "Today, salvation has come to this
house…"
The basic principle that emerges, I believe, is that we must be free from
an undue concern and attachment to material things and we must use our possessions
wisely, recognizing that they are a gift from God. Last week John talked about
the Rich Fool who built bigger barns to hold his possessions but died the
night he completed them. He did not come by his wealth fraudulently but he
became attached to it. It was clearly an earthly treasure and that was where
his heart was.
The words from Shakespeare capture this image: "Why so large a cost,
having so short a lease, dost thou upon they fading mansion spend?…within
be fed, without be rich no more."
Last week, Susan and I had two experiences that spoke to me about possessions
and their use, and how I am at risk of being possessed by them. We had our
two kids over for a "picture party" to go through all our photographs
of their lives growing up. We have several photo albums and felt the many
remaining pictures would have more value for them than remaining in boxes
in our attic. Somehow this seemed to be a proper use of possessions. Parting
with the physical token of the memories reminded me of the wealth of these
warm memories
.
The other experience was in trying to simplify our lives a little by getting
rid of "stuff." My focus was books. I have a special attachment
to books. When I was a college student, I had little money and generally sold
most of my books back at the end of each quarter to have more money for the
next quarter to buy books for that quarter. My first year of seminary I had
a rather generous fellowship and a lot of money for books. I became a little
‘hooked on books’ after that.
We went through all our books together and came up with five boxes of over
200 books. Almost every book that went into the boxes was painful. When we
were done, I immediately took them to a charity that takes books. I wanted
to get the pain over with.
Later, I realized I felt a sense of lightness or freedom, like a small weight
had been lifted from my back. I realized the depth of my attachment to my
books. I remembered a passage from Ecclesiastes that I used to quote. "Of
making many books, there is no end, and much knowledge is weariness of the
flesh."
I believe one of the spiritual treasures Jesus calls us to store up in heavenly
purses is the love we have for others and that others have for us. The love
may be in family relationships; it may be friends and it may be strangers
we encounter and connect with and help in some way. As some of you know, I
volunteer as a hospice chaplain and I gain so much more from those I visit
than what I can give to them. I know in my heart that these are spiritual
treasures. I feel deeply rewarded by being a small part in their journey back
to the Lord.
We don’t see spiritual treasures like we see our earthly possessions,
but when our hearts are open and we believe God is there and cares for us,
our heart will know them. It will know them by the fruits of the Spirit that
include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and faithfulness.
"For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also."
AMEN.
