Where Moth and Rust Destroy

Matthew 6:19 (NIV)

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Amanda Reece hired a former high school classmate, Bob Kitts, for a remodeling project in her 83-year-old home near Lake Erie in Ohio. As Kitts was tearing out the bathroom walls in the home, he discovered two green metal lockboxes suspended inside a wall below the medicine chest. Inside the boxes were white envelopes with the return address for “P. Dunne News Agency.” Inside the envelopes was $182,000 in Depression-era currency. Patrick Dunne, a wealthy businessman, apparently hid the money in the wall during the difficult time period of the Depression.

What was done with the money?

Kitts and Reece couldn’t agree on how to split the money. Reece offered 10 percent; Kitts wanted 40 percent.

One month after the money was reported in the local newspaper, descendants of Patrick Dunne filed a lawsuit for their share of the find. The courts ruled that twenty-one of Dunne’s descendants will each receive a small share. By then there was little left to claim.

Reece testified in a deposition that she spent about $14,000 on a trip to Hawaii and had sold some of the rare late 1920s bills. She also said that about $60,000 was stolen from a shoebox in her closet but she never reported the theft to police. Kitts said Reece accused him of stealing the money and left several threatening phone messages.

Reece also declared that she was considering bankruptcy and that a bank recently foreclosed on one of her properties.

From the events surrounding the discover of this “hidden treasure,” it is no wonder that the details of the story were revealed in an Associated Press article entitled, “Cash Found in Ohio House’s Walls Becomes Nightmare.”

The words of Jesus address the situation: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on EARTH, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). Paul’s inspired commentary also seems fitting: “For the love of money is the root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greed, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Instead of laying up treasures on earth where thieves steal and greedy people fight over fleeting treasures, Jesus said we should: “lay up for yourselves treasures in HEAVEN” (Matthew 6:20). These heavenly treasures are the REAL treasures. But they are hidden from the view of those who focus only on EARTHLY treasures.

Sin disqualifies us from receiving those treasures... but Jesus died on the cross so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins (Ephesians 1:7) and eternal “treasures” in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5).

These eternal treasures await those who: believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

EARTHLY treasures are fleeting and often mixed with strife! Why not focus on lasting, ETERNAL treasures that come only through a relationship with Christ.

Dear Lord, help us keep our focus upon the eternal treasure You have for each one of us. Help us not get all wrapped up with the things of this world and make them more important then You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.