Pastoral Pondering

Written by Rev. Martha Langford, Senior Pastor at Second/First Church of Rockford, IL

Treasuring our lives…

Jesus talks rather bluntly with his disciples about what we consider
treasure. Like most of us, the ancient world equated treasure with
possessions and with wealth. These were things that rust and
moths and thieves could steal away. Then he suggests that
treasure is something that is better stored in heaven; something safe from rust and
moth and thieves.

Heavenly treasure has something to do with our deepest allegiance, our passions, our
purpose. Treasure—if we listen to Jesus—is about what we value and about who we
value and about the way we relate to those people and things. For the people and ideas
and values we treasure shape our hearts, and our hearts shape our lives.

When we treasure our neighbors, our lives begin to reflect generosity and kindness
toward even the prickliest among them. When we treasure justice, our voices rise to
speak truth to power. When we treasure God, our hearts spill out in love and gratitude.
It’s all related.

I wonder—what are the treasures in your lives… Really, I would love to hear them
because the church is meant to be a community where we unpack our treasures and
share them with one another. The church is a place where we share our treasures with
the world.

The Apostle Paul talks about the gifts that God graces our lives with; gifts that light us up
like twinkle lights on a tree. He talks about wisdom, knowledge, healing, understanding,
discernment, teaching, self-control, true speaking, mutual encouragement, faithfulness,
kindness, generosity, patience, love… The gifts go on and on and, like Paul, I am
certain that each one of us is God-gifted in ways that contribute to the well being and
common good of this faith community and the neighbors around us.

These gifts are among the treasures of our faith, heavenly kinds of treasures that are
safe from corrosion, consumption, and corruption.

In another letter to the early church, the Apostle Peter writes, “Like good stewards of the
manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”
THIS is the place where treasure reshapes our lives—as we name our gifts and share
them generously.

In this stewardship season, let us invest ourselves in the life of this community and the
witness it makes to the grace of God.

In Christ,

Martha