Gaining a Heart for True Treasure
““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
Our volunteers come with their hearts open to serve. We’re blessed with their desire to really care for those who come to CCDC. We also have wonderful caterers like Ramona Mintz of Soul City Catering and Michael Spalding and Dorothy Coleman, who all have tremendous hearts of compassion for the needy people of the Near Eastside. They all help us by giving us a lower price for our dinners, in spite of rising food prices.
This past year in which the economy has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the shutdown of businesses, we have seen the effects on our lives. The rising costs of basic goods like food and gas are a concern for us all, but especially for lower-income people. Our hearts go out to those who come for our meals and for groceries at Westminster food pantry. They have it much worse than those of us who are in a higher economic level. We may complain about the rising cost of our groceries, but they have a hard time buying any groceries at all. Those who come to CCDC are unemployed, homeless, living on government assistance, or barely surviving on low-paying jobs. They struggle to meet their basic needs. The inflation that has hit our economy is making life even more difficult.
Jesus teaches us to direct our hearts to the poor. He calls us to treasure what is of greater value than our material well-being. Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Possessions are not evil. Money is not evil. But the love of money is. (I Timothy 6:10) Wealth is not sinful. But the concern for ourselves without the concern for the poor is. Our hearts need to treasure what God treasures.
James 2:5 says, “Listen, my beloved sisters and brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?” The poor are God’s chosen treasure.
The poor who come to CCDC have gotten a hold of my heart. I have had to reevaluate what I value. I’ve grown to treasure the people of the Near Eastside neighborhood.
I’m grateful for our supporters who have been so generous in their giving because they look beyond their own needs and see the need to share the good news and provide for the poor in our city. They are making an investment in God’s heavenly treasure, helping those who have very little. They are accumulating a heavenly reward that infinitely exceeds any earthly material reward. It’s better than whatever the stock market can give.
Come join us in investing our lives in serving those in need.
May God’s Peace be with you,
Pastor Jim and Debby Riley