Treasure

There is so much in this chapter, but a couple of things that occurred to me as I was pondering this week.

Firstly, the number of times the word “don’t” appears. I counted 17.
There are 11 times where we are told not to do something:

The first batch are about not being like some people:

When you do good deeds, don’t try to show off.

When you give to the poor, don’t blow a loud horn.

When you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know about it. 

When you pray, don’t be like those show-offs

When you pray, don’t talk on and on

Don’t be like them.

When you go without eating, don’t try to look gloomy

Then a section which is basically: don’t worry:

Don’t store up treasures on earth!

Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear

Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat?

Don’t worry about tomorrow.

That is a lot of don’t in one chapter.

The second thing I notice, is just before the prayer, we call the Lord’s Prayer

“Your Father knows what you need before you ask. You should pray like this:”

Not, if you pray or

if you feel like it

But when you pray.

The Lord’s Prayer is not only a prayer, but a pattern for prayer.  We start by acknowledging God, and how important God is
we then pray for the world as God would have it
then we ask for our needs

The whole prayer is in the plural, or communal. This isn’t a prayer about my lunch, but our lunch, not just people in this room, but all people.

I find this prayer challenging, because if I really want the kingdom of God to be on earth as in heaven, I wonder what am I doing to prevent that from happening?

Do I really want my sins forgiven as I forgive others?

In praying for food for today, am I living that out in how I share resources?

I hope that as we pray this prayer together, it might shape us into being people who work with, not against, what we pray.

And the third aspect of this chapter I will mention this morning is phrase from the reading: Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Is our treasure that which will rust, or be eaten by moths or stolen?

Or is our treasure in God?

I have a story for you – Herbert and Harry [ a picture book by Pamela Allen]

Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

What is your treasure?

Where is your treasure?