For Where Your Treasure Is…

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Luke 12:34

A few years ago, on the morning of February 1st, my wife and I had a full-blown argument. I don’t remember what it was about, but I was convinced it was all her fault. That is until she stormed out of the house slamming the front door behind her on her way to teach middle school students how to read. I started to feel a sense of regret and guilt and realized that this argument was mostly my fault. I needed to make it right.

I had an idea. I went to Sam’s Club and bought some roses, they’re cheap there. I took a few roses with a note of apology to her school and asked the secretary to give them to Mrs. Skattum. She looked at me and asked, “Are we in trouble?” “Yeah, I blew it”, I said. She smiled.

When my wife came home that afternoon, she forgave me, and we kissed and made up and kissed some more.

The next day I was still feeling some guilt (it’s a Dutch reformed thing) so I bought some more roses and again delivered them to her school. The secretary looked at me over her glasses and asked, “Still digging out?” “Yeah, I guess so”, I replied.

On February 3rd, I had another idea, “I’ll buy her some roses every day until Valentine’s day!” And so, I did. Every day I found a way to ‘surprise’ her with roses. I left them on the seat of her car, had a bunch in a vase sitting on her dresser, the kitchen table, even at the neighbors who’d deliver them later that day.

When the big day came, I went again to Sam’s Club and bought two dozen of the biggest red roses I could find. On Valentine’s Day I hand delivered them to her class room breaking all the school security protocols and avoiding the secretary. Her 6th grade students were stunned and giggled a lot.

Then on February 15th I did it again. Not two dozen but a few roses. And I did it on the 16th and 17th and every day until the very last day of the month. Everyday roses. More than once she asked me, “WHY are you doing this?” My only response was, I’m not sure any more, I guess just because I love you. Ask me at the end of the month.

When February 28th came and I gave her what would be her final installment of roses she asked, “Ok, now tell me, WHY did you do this all month long?” And it hit me. I said, “remember when Jesus said, ‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’?” “Yeah”, she replied. “I think I learned that lesson this month.” “Every day I had to buy roses and think of a creative way to deliver them to you. I realized doing this that God was teaching me the truth of that statement. My heart went where my treasure went. It went to you.”

Our hearts always follow our treasure. If I want to follow Jesus with my whole heart, I need to treasure Him with my whole life.

Prayer: Lord, give me courage and hunger to treasure You so I’ll follow You with my whole heart. Amen.