Heart for It

When Jesus says,

“For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

he's not saying that our treasure

will follow our heart.

He knows that whatever we value,

our hearts will find their way to it.

Whatever we don't value,

our hearts will not seek out.

If economics is our driving force –

if we determine both God's love for us

and therefore our love for others

by the number of baskets

of leftovers we can collect;

if time is short and we schedule

and protect all of ours

for fear that there won’t be enough

for us to enjoy the fruits of your bounty

(or “our labor” as we are wont to call it) –

then, when a matter of mission

or justice or compassion

comes our way and we say,

“We don't have the time or money for it.”

what we are really saying is,

“We don't have the heart for it.”

Give us hearts for it, O God!

 

Fremont, WA

© 2014 Todd Jenkins