This last weekend I tagged along with my neighbor to an estate sale down the street. On the way there, I started thinking about what I might find at the sale. My focus was undoubtedly upon acquiring some “treasure.”
But then I entered the home. All of their things, their belongings, their treasures laid out everywhere with pieces of tape and prices on everything. I wasn’t prepared for the feeling of sadness that came along with an estate sale. That phrase “you can’t take it with you” takes on a whole new meaning.
This experience caused me to reflect on how much time I spend thinking about things, belongings, and treasures: thinking about them, planning for them, acquiring them, wearing them, collecting them, and even cleaning them.
And then I was reminded of one of the very first verses I memorized growing up.
All that earthly treasure leads to clutter, adds to our chaos, and at the end of the day isn’t real treasure.
I wonder if I spent as much time and effort on building relationships, encouraging others, and sharing a love for Christ rather than having a focus on the things of this world, how different my life might be.
In all honesty, I did purchase something (in the midst of my deep reflection) at the estate sale. The beautiful crystal vase shown above. I pray it will serve as a reminder that real treasure is found only in Christ, that our lives here are meant for so much more than building up a treasure trove of stuff, and that shifting our focus can lead us from chaos to Christ.
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