Thought For The Day

Disaster

It’s often hard to imagine what we have not experienced. If I have never had my house flooded, or watched it burn down, or seen sufficient wind to blow it from its foundation, it is hard to imagine the feeling of loss and despair that envelopes the mind and body.

Watching the pictures on the news this week (and seemingly every week) and taking a drive through the flood area here in my neighborhood, has reminded me of the multitude of disasters that I have seen over the years of my life. I have wept with many folks who watched some or all of their “treasures” lost to uncontrollable forces.

I do hope, however, that these things bring to mind the words of Jesus when He said, “don’t collect for yourselves treasures on Earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19). I know that He did not mean that we are not to possess those things that are necessary and needed to live on this Earth and carry out our day to day life.

Rather, He was reminding us that if our focus is on the treasures of this Earth, then our heart will be focused on this Earth as well. His design, of course, is for us to focus on Heavenly things. We join Him in the process of building a Heavenly treasure and as a consequence our heart (read: innermost being) finds its rightful place in His presence (Matthew 6:21).

We will certainly do something to assist with the recovery efforts. We will take of ours and give to others who are in greater need. That is the command of Christ our Lord through the “inasmuch” ministries of Matthew 25. As we do, remember that all the things of this Earth are transient and passing away, sometime sooner than later. The only thing that lasts is the treasure of the Kingdom. Focus on that as you assist those who have need.

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