Treasure Hunting - Part 2

Glen and Mary built a life around his profession. While he worked, she did  everything to be supportive. She made sure the children looked good and performed well. She managed homework and school projects to ensure good grades to keep their father happy. Glen seldom made it home before the children's bedtime. Weekends meant relaxation to refuel himself for work. 

          This seems like an exaggerated account of family life and pushing self-absorption to the extreme, but this was the self-deception that pervaded both Mary and Glen's lives. Glen justified his life style: "I work long hours to ensure Mary and the children of a good life." "Someday we will have time to be together," was Mary's rationalization.

          Change involves examination of attitudes and values. Be honest about your commitments. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, therein resides the desires of your heart." You pass on to your children your treasures regardless of their eternal value. It may be late, but you can change. Be sure God occupies first place in your life so you can pass that on.  

Treasure Hunting - Part 1

As I was having lunch, it was easy to hear the conversation next to me because the tables were close together. One man asked another, "What really matters to you?" He was challenging this person to face whatever had pushed him into becoming so self-absorbed that he was immune to what was eternal. Did the man care for anything other than himself?

Self-deception evolves into self-absorption, which is the ultimate in self-betrayal, because it leads to impoverishment of the self and soul. To betray oneself is to become so obsessed with laying up treasures here on earth, there is no time or energy to care for your own soul or the souls of others who love and care for you.

Productive change means altering your attitude about what's important. Jesus questions each of us. "What reward is there in winning the world only to lose your soul?" A better way is to turn from self-absorption and begin laying up treasures in heaven, which means to care for the souls of others. Jesus helps you reach this objective as it becomes your commitment.