I am thirty something. We are an interesting group. Most of us have moved from studying to working. We are building our castles; securing our posts. Being fruitful and multiplying. We are moving up the ladder, consuming anything that gets in our way.
I’ve been told this is the age of competition--we are trying to prove to the world that we really do have what it takes. Alexander the Great conquered the world by thirty something, Jesus of Nazareth conquered the cosmos by thirty something. It can be a powerful time, but what am I doing?
I’m driving a borrowed minivan that has a squeaky belt, and when I pull up to church or the drive-thru I feel like I’m “barely squeakin’ by.” Maybe its because I’ve gone to school for 24 years and my liabilities are still more than my assets. Maybe its because I am really not sure where home is anymore, or if I have one...
“Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven… .” Matthew 6:20
Growing up American, I have acquired an interest in the “American Dream”. Its sort of natural, I suppose, and being thirty something, I should be well on my way. I don’t need a mansion or a fancy car, but a comfortable house with lots of land in a safe neighborhood would be nice. My family wants to be comfortable and safe.
I’m not sure if it was the comfortable part or the safe part that led us to decide to work at a rural hospital in a developing country, but it didn’t really work out that way. We had things stolen on multiple occasions. We found a thief in our garage. We had spotty water, a shocking stove, and a constant dribble out of our shower head. My work consumed me in an often losing battle with suffering and death for which I spent most of my time feeling incompetent. We didn’t feel comfortable, and my family didn’t feel safe.
We returned to the United States from our rookie year a bit disheveled in spirit. The warm shower was so luxurious, and we reveled in a trip to Costco. Its amazing how a short time in a different environment can make what used to be normal seem luxurious. It felt so comfortable and safe.
Then a shadow blew over our path that led us to the doctor and a diagnosis which we did not want. In a moment the troubles of life abroad paled in comparison with the reminder that our days on this earth are numbered. My plans and possessions were all placed on the bargaining table. All of my material worth was rubbish in my eyes next to the continued presence of my wife.
“And this is eternal life, that they might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3
I used to think that heaven was a beautiful place. I used to think I was somehow supposed to invest in heavenly commodities instead of the stuff of earth. To use my earthly money to be “rich” toward God. To “buy” heavenly stock with US dollars. Unfortunately, my concrete materialism did not help me understand the treasure of heaven.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind, and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt 22:37
I have come to see heavenly treasure as relationships. First and foremost living in love with God, and secondly our neighbors. When this law is realized in us, we have crossed over from death to eternal life, and we are storing up treasure in heaven. The goodness of God leads us to love others, and we make huge deposits into our heavenly account.
As I sit here feeling a bit of a thirty something year old failure, its hard for me to ignore that the American dream kills heavenly treasure. I think it must have been upright and conscientious leaders in Jesus’ day who for their safety and comfort killed the King on a cross of shame. He gave up His comfort, safety, and so much more because He was the sum of heavenly treasure. He came to live an immaterial life to build a personal and eternal relationship with every willing human being, and to convince thirty something year olds that we can trust Him instead of money, or other worthless things. Baal and Molech didn’t save many Israelites, and trusting money won’t save a single soul in post-modern America. If the status of my bank account or portfolio means more in my life than a meaningful relationship with God, I am bowing low to the golden calf.
As Jesus is the sum of heavenly treasure, my relationships are a share. Investing in my wife and children with time and love is the most tangible way to invest in heavenly treasure. I hope 2014 finds this thirty something year old male investing in God and family. I hope 2014 finds the false security of materialism dethroned, and the King rightfully exalted in the lives of thirty something year olds all over the world.
