“Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

CS Lewis wrote: “Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment ‘as to the Lord.’”  It’s hard to reconcile our long and short term plans and which to take more lightly, but I think I understand what Lewis was trying to get us to remember.  We shouldn’t short-change the need for good and robust long-term planning (we all need a 3-5 year Strategic Plan), but we shouldn’t get so hung up on it that we don’t enjoy and make the most of what we have in front of us today.  I’ve seen this dance many times.  Sometimes someone can’t get out of their own way because they spend too much time worried or caught up with what will happen next.  And other times, there are people who can’t think beyond right now and we beg for them to just plan their work out a little more efficiently or in preparedness for what might hit them next. It’s a balancing act for sure, and one worth pursuing.

Jesus teaches us how to think about tomorrow versus today when He tells us where to store our treasures.  As followers of Jesus we aren’t to sit in the corner and not live out our daily lives.  If that was what we were supposed to do, Jesus would have modeled that life for us, residing in a Temple, in the way of a hermit.  that was not Him. But, He was also quick to tell us that we shouldn’t “store” up all that we have here on earth, but instead focus our talents and treasures to be stored in Heaven.  How do we do that?  Well, we know we can’t take anything with us, but we can make our investments today with time and treasures in those places that will expand His Kingdom.  With a little thought and effort, we can find what belongs to tomorrow versus today.

Reference:  Matthew 6:20 (New Living Translation)