Finding Heaven’s Treasure in Earthly Troubles
We can be confident that when we work long hours, our efforts will be rewarded. Whether it’s through a higher paycheck, the satisfaction from a job done well, or the gratitude we receive from those we serve, we are rewarded. Uber drivers look forward to the fares piling up, while bakers fill order after order for birthday cakes. Physicians gain the trust of their patients. The same way that labor in a secular job leads to a salary, the challenges and disappointments of each day can be used to store spiritual treasures for heaven. The mother who patiently endures the tantrums of her headstrong toddler, the accountant who maintains integrity despite pressure from unethical clients, the teacher who keeps working with a struggling student—when they offer these inconveniences up to Christ out of love, rewards are added in heaven. Our daily crosses, borne in humility and union with Christ’s sacrifice, become the means for atoning our sins and those of others.
Christ himself tells us to not store up earthly treasures but to instead lay up eternal spiritual treasures. When faced with problems or…
