Posts Tagged ‘Michael Spencer’

For Where Your Treasure Is

Mt 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I haven’t posted lately. It’s not from a lack of material to write about. Believe me, I could write many paragraphs about my cross-country train adventure. And will.

I offer no excuse for not writing, unless a general lack of motivation will do.

Then today, after reading the verses quoted above, restless thoughts began to seek adequate words for expression.

Matthew’s use of ‘kingdom of heaven’ instead of the New Testament’s more often found ‘kingdom of God’ has probably led some to believe these verses speak of storing up treasure for the afterlife. Yet the kingdom of God is within us and among us. (Luke 17:21)

Earthly treasures may be understood as material goods: food, clothing, tools, ornaments, buildings and all the other stuff we hoard. This includes all items of plant or animal origin, or any other material of this impermanent planet. Included, everything that may rust, rot, decay, decomposes, crumble or become lost, stolen, destroyed.

So if these are earthly treasures, then what are the treasures in the kingdom of God? This is the question that occupied my thoughts this morning, while watching a dreary rain through my office window.

I have heard many preachers talk about “kingdom building” What do they mean? All too often they appear to mean building new buildings, or larger, more elaborate buildings. Well, we humans do have a fondness for monument building, so this is hardly surprising. But is monument building, kingdom building?

A while back I went online to find current info about some of the churches I attended as a child. Most no longer exist, or have moved out of those rundown neighborhoods to relocate in more prosperous suburbs. This seems the trend in Central Florida. Churches leave older neighborhoods for greener pastures out by the Interstate. And by ‘greener’ I do mean the green in the wallet.

I remembered seeing this YouTube video about a long abandoned Methodist church in Gary Indiana. The video is an excerpt from The History Channel’s “Life After People”. After locating that video, I came across the following amazing music video shot in that same abandoned church.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Who remembers the name of the monument builder after the monument, no longer treasured, is abandoned to the ravages of time? Ruins crumble, testament to the identity of their kingdom. They are of an earthly kingdom of mortal men who dream of immortality through the building of momentary monuments.

These were my thoughts as I started writing. Then I took a break, went online to visit my favorite Christian blog. http://www.internetmonk.com/

I have been reading Michael Spencer – The Internet Monk – for well over a year now. His writings have meant so much to me. I was heartbroken to read about his battle with cancer last fall. Now, today, his wife Denise sent an update to tell his readers that “Michael most likely has somewhere between six months and a year to live.”

I usually pray: Lord, let Your Will be done in all things. As I watched the dreary rain outside my window my prayer became a petition. Please Lord! We need Monk’s honesty, his humor, his intelligence and clarity. So many of us need him!

Monk always wrote so honestly about the challenges facing the present-day church. With heartfelt words he wrote about the challenges we face along our journey of faith. Sadly, too many Christians perpetuate the notion that once we “come to Jesus” all is sunshine and happy smiles. And worse, many are led to believe that once saved they will be enveloped in perpetually happy and endlessly-loving church family.

But what about the people who feel out of place, who ask questions they are told they should not ask, who always feel the outsider? Many of us were fortunate enough to find The Internet Monk. In Monk’s honest discussions of the human condition, he allowed Christ to more brightly illuminate the Good News of The Kingdom of God.

Instead of building monuments, h wrote, and his writings and podcasts nourished the confused and questioning, those that doubted or were close to walking away entirely.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

No one could write as much as Monk wrote unless his heart was in the writing. And this was testament to the kingdom he treasured.

Thank You Monk for sharing the treasures of a kingdom where all questions may be asked and no one is denied entrance.