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.  Matthew 6:19

I want the flashy new car.  I want to work out so I have a great body.  I need a bigger house or that next promotion.  Which surgery is going to make me look by best?  Today there are quite a few things we find ourselves working towards.  We are told that we need goals to inspire us and to keep us on track.  The world lays out a lot of enticements through media and popular culture to what we should be aspiring to.

So I find that I need to ask myself; what is the intent behind my striving?  Do I have an objective behind the desire for the object and is that objective worthy of the calling of our Almighty Father.  For example, do I want work out because I am a creation of My Father and this body is a work of His?  Therefore I should be a good steward of this body which I did not create and try to keep in health to the glory of Him?  OR do I want a body that men would envy and women would lust after.  I want to show off my strength and prowess.  My body is my creation and the building up of it is for my glory.

We are told to find a job or vocation that we love.  Yet if I can find something similar for more money then that is what I will go after.  And I must be striving for more.  If I’m not moving ahead then I’m automatically being left behind. We all need a college education to land that good job so there is something less than worthy for someone who choses a different path.  The goal seems to be to strive very hard, even if you love what you are doing so that you can stop doing it and retire to leisure at the earliest possible time and then it is time to enjoy life.  To what end?  What is the objective during each day for this mad rush to succeed and exceed all others.  Is it to glorify ourselves, to show ourselves worthy of praise and wealth?

Jesus points to nature first.  He gives examples of unparalleled beauty and strength, GIVEN by God not earned by the plants and animals listed.  None of those were examples of creatures who were created in His image like we are. 

Jesus also gives us a warning.  As we strive so hard for the objects in our lives we miss out on the overall objective.  To live in a Loving relationship with Our Heavenly Father who will supply those objects we need freely.  Worse yet when we strive ourselves for the objects and obtain them, we then find ourselves praising us for our achievements and finding no place or need our Heavenly Father.

Alas, this world and the objects in it will pass no matter what we do.  Age and wear and tear will eventually diminish if not destroy them all.  Do not focus on the object so much that you completely lose sight of the objective.  Jesus tells us “Your Heavenly Father knows that you need them….” 

Live first the objective of Loving our Heavenly Father and then loving each other.  He promises that the objects will fall into place.