I was watching an episode of American Pickers on the internet recently. One of the pickers found an old motorcycle sitting in the corner of a large building. The motorcycle was covered in dust and halfway hidden behind a lot of other junk. When he asked the owner if he would sell it, the owner thought for a moment and then said something like, “No, I couldn’t possibly sell that. I love that motorcycle, it is really important to me!” Of course, the picker said the exact same thing I was thinking, “Then why is it stuck in a corner and covered in dust, where it has been sitting for several years?”
All too often, we have set our affections on thing like that old motorcycle and our affections are lost on so many things that in truth and reality don’t really matter. As a Christian all that should matter is Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven!
Jesus clearly clarified what our affections should be placed upon, “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.” (Matthew 6:19-20)
Paul told the church at Colosse, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)
One of the great reliefs to me in the past few months was when I sold my condo and cleaned out all my closets and got rid of a lot of stuff that had just been sitting there like that old motorcycle, collecting dust. There was a time when I really valued material possessions and things that maybe had some sentimental value to me, but now all I care about is knowing Jesus Christ and pointing others to Him as well. When He becomes all to us, nothing else really matters! Without all those material things taking my time and money, I can focus more on what really matters, and I can use my time and money to point others to someone they should love more than anything in the entire world!
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)