An Overstuffed Backpack
Over the summer, I went on a backpacking trip with my wife. We spent a couple of nights on the trail, climbed a mountain with a stunning 360-degree view, and discovered the wonder of packaged Rice Krispie Treats. Upon completing the trip, I unpacked my backpack and confronted an already-known truth: I overpacked. In most cases, overpacking shows preparedness, but not in backpacking. The excess gear and supplies only increased the difficulty – the craggy trail only became more challenging with seven unnecessary pounds heaped upon my body. Without these useless ‘rocks,’ I would have traveled faster and farther.
Our life is similar to a backpacking trip. Both are wondrous journeys with ups, downs, and lots of in-betweens. If our life is like a journey, we all face this essential question: what do we carry in our backpack? As we considered our packing list for life’s grand adventure, Jesus (unsurprisingly) has some insights for us:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6)
These ‘treasures on earth’ seem akin to the unnecessary items in my backpack. Both are mostly ‘just in case’ items. Why do we store more and more money? Just in case something goes wrong. Why do we keep more and more possessions? Just in case we need them. Why do we rebuy an item that already works? Just in case our working one fails. Ultimately though, the earthly treasures become counterproductive. Initially, the ‘treasures’ might have served a purpose, they quickly devolved into a serving-only-treasure purpose. Consider this example, a person named Jolly buys stuff to be happy. Jolly is happy. Jolly keeps buying stuff. Now, the house is too small, so Jolly buys a new house to hold the ever expanding stuff. But, to afford the bigger house, Jolly now works extra hours. Jolly’s spouse laments the absence, which strains the marriage. On the weekends, Jolly now finds solace in a spouse-less (and expensive) hobby. Jolly’s children, sensing the strained marriage, retreat from the family and begin to despise both parents. In conclusion, we find ourselves asking this question: Would Jolly have been happier with fewer ‘treasures on earth’?
The beauty of ‘treasures in heaven’ is they bring fulfillment to this life - and the next one. While earthly treasures are treasure-serving, heavenly treasures align to the yearning of our innate being. God created us to enjoy loving relationships with our Creator and people. Let’s consider another example. Modest works a less-than-middling job with a less-than-middling income and lives in a less-than-middling residence. Modest owns few possessions, and those few were bought on the cheap. But, Modest works an average number of hours, which permits time to connect with Spouse and volunteer at Child’s after school activity. On the weekends, Modest and family cannot afford pricey excursions but they enjoy their time together, especially worshiping God every Sunday morning at their local church.
As we consider these examples, which seems to bring more joy: earthly treasures or heavenly treasures? Obviously, the answer is heavenly treasures. Given that answer, what earthly treasures are we willing to discard? Such treasures are a burden and they serve only to weigh us down. We mistakenly think these things will enhance life, but in reality, they make life harder - just like the unnecessary items in my backpack. Heavenly treasures, however, center upon relationships with God and people - and relationships are weightless. They allow us to travel more nimbly. We can travel farther and faster. With our lightweight packs, we can travel to the mountaintops and experience vistas inaccessible to our stuff-laden compatriots.
