Today, I'm canning the last of the tomatoes from our garden.
Steve picked all the tomatoes that were left so he could pull the plants and get the garden ready for next year. We have lots of green tomatoes, so I'm trying a Roasted Green Tomato Salsa Verde (recipe below).
Strangely enough, with canning as my project for today, my devotional was Matthew 6:19-21.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
That got me thinking about what treasure was. The dictionary says a treasure is something valuable that is hidden or kept in a safe place. It usually refers to money, gold, jewels, etc.
I've layed up many jars of tomatoes this season. While they will be a tasty blessing this winter, I don't consider them my treasure. We have gathered lots of stuff in our lifetime, some are useful, and others, not so much. There are things I treasure, like a family bible from the 1800s. I don't have enough gold or jewels to consider them a treasure.
So what is the treasure we have that Matthew is speaking about? I believe that question is answered in 2 Corinthians 4:7
"But we have this precious treasure, the good news about salvation, in unworthy earthen vessels of human frailty, so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be shown to be from God and His sufficiency and not from ourselves." AMPC
We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God’s, not ours. TPT
The Passion Translation notes that Paul uses figurative language to say that we are common clay jars (created from dust/clay) yet we possess the brilliant light of God’s glory, Jesus Christ, and carry him as treasure in our being. The outward vessel is not as important as the glorious treasure within. The metaphors here may allude to Gideon’s clay pots that had burning torches inside.
God is not against us having things we treasure on earth as long as they are not our "treasure".
Our treasure is Jesus Christ in us and all that comes with that. That glorious treasure is within us is meant to be seen by those around us, not hoarded and kept to ourselves. We lay up treasure for ourselves in heaven when we let others see His power and glory working in our life.
With the supply chain crunch causing shortages, preserving what we have and sharing it is one way of laying up treasure here and in heaven. As we share the blessings God has given to us, we are letting others see His power and glory working in our life.
Even if you are not canning, God has given you some kind blessing you can share to show off His working in your life. If all you have is a smile, make that smile reflect His glory. You will be laying up treasure in heaven as you do!
"Inside every human being there are treasures to unlock."
Mike Huckabee
If you have green tomatoes left in your garden, you might want to try this recipe.
How are you laying up treasure? Share your thoughts in the comments below,
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1 comment
Jodee, such good truth here. Storing up treasures in the right way, that we might share them and glorify God, is a great way to view it. Having the greatest treasure stored in these fragile vessels is amazing, and clear that God gives us opportunity to share that treasure with others! By the way, your recipes look fantastic-definitely saving to try!!