Thoughts from here and there…What is your net worth?
Some time ago, I was privileged to participate in the funeral service for Charlie Stack at St. James Catholic church. Before I offered my few remarks, I listened to the homely of Father Drutowski. One observation that he made really caught my attention. He asked us to consider our net worth.
What is your net worth? It all depends on how you define net worth. I suppose that you could add up all your physical assets; bank accounts, stocks and bonds, value of property held and reduce the gross by your liabilities to get your net worth. In the eyes of the people of the world life is measured by our net worth, but what is it in the eyes of God.
Quite dramatically, Jesus reminds us of the dangers of valuing possessions over character. In Matthew 6, he says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:19-21 NRSV).
A few simple questions help us to better understand what Jesus is talking about. What is treasure? In one case it is material assets. On the other hand, it is the results of a life of faith and love. Truly, treasure is what the person, above all else, desires for him or her self.
How do you store up for yourself treasure in heaven? How often it is that we really don’t know. The answer is simple. We need to be exposed to information that helps us to realize the meaning. I know of only one source. God is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. To answer the question one must become acquainted with the author of the source of the information. You cannot take it for granted that you can personally know within yourself.
We may have much net worth here on earth. That does not cut it with God. It makes no difference if we are wealthy or poor, or somewhere in between, what counts with God is the net worth that will be accepted and which provides us with a valid claim for participation in the kingdom.
What’s important in all this is my level of knowledge and wisdom. Worship attendance is designed to help each of us learn. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul said, “Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,” (Ephesians 3:8-10, NIV)
Notice the means by which the unsearchable riches of Christ are to be communicated; it is preaching. Ponder God’s intent how the manifold wisdom of God should be made known; it is through the church.
Congregationalists have always placed a great deal of emphasis on the Word, the preaching of the Word. It is central to our worship. And most often, though not always, the Word is preached in church. This is why it is important to participate in worship.
It would be very sad indeed to get to the gates of heaven and find out that your heavenly treasure is insufficient. You can enlarge your net worth through your participation in the programs and activities of the church and in living out the learned faith in the family and community.