Of all the stuff I own, my most prized possessions are probably my golf clubs, my car, my yard, and my laptop computer. If my house was on fire and my family and the cat were safely outside, and I still had time to run in once more, I would grab my laptop and the car keys. I would pull the car out of the garage thus saving both the car and my golf clubs which are always in my trunk. (Thinking about this reminds me of a few things I need to put in the fireproof safe!) I’ve got a lot of stuff and, even after saving the most important things, I would still be devastated to lose everything else. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses our attachment to possessions. He issues a prohibition and a command: Do not store up treasure on earth, instead store up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20). Then He describes the reasons for the prohibition and command: Stuff on earth is temporary, depreciating, and destructible. But stuff in heaven is eternal and indestructible. And then He describes the root issue behind the prohibition and the command: It’s not about stuff; it’s about your heart, your affections. What you treasure both reflects and shapes your heart. If your love is for God, it will be reflected by the things you value, the things on which you spend your time and money. But if your love is for money, that lust will be reflected by the fact that you spend all our time and effort on stuff. And if you treasure stuff, focusing your efforts and affection on money, it will shape you into a lover of money. But if you treasure spiritual things and focus your efforts on the best things, it will shape you into a lover of God. There’s nothing wrong with stuff – God created stuff. But stuff should not be the primary focus of our affection. We should “store our treasures in Heaven,” place our affection on eternal things” by giving money and stuff, by investing in people, by developing Christ-like character. If the house burns down, it’s natural to be upset, but I’ve got to remember that God is the giver and taker of all things. Even if I lose my golf clubs, I have to remember that it’s all just stuff and I must bow in prayer outside my burning house and worship the Giver and Taker of all things.