Where is your treasure?

I have to admit that the presidential race has taken a toll on much of my thinking. Now that it is over I can see with much more clarity that the driving force behind our politics is money. The American treasure is the "American Dream" of economic fulfillment. I have lived the American dream. I have succeeded in that regard but I can readily see that the American Dream is really not what I treasure down deep in my heart. Way down deep, I treasure love and friendship. I treasure the gift of life that God has given me. I treasure my wife and family. I treasure God's grace. I treasure moments of deep passion and inspiration. I treasure the hope of the Gospel. None of these treasures depend on money. They are eternal.

The American lifestyle too often strips us of our deepest treasure. We lose ourselves in the pursuit of economic gain. When we can't find ourselves anymore then our life becomes a life of futility. The American political process is clearly in place to protect and advance the American Dream. It's obvious that the heart of America is all about its money. Christians try to infiltrate the political system to promote Christian values. This seems to be failing. You cannot legislate morality and values. They are matters of the heart.

Look at the two parties. The one on the left wants to give entitlements to the lower and middle class and make them government dependent. The one on the right wants us to become self dependent and free from government control to pursue the American dream. Either way you look at it, the focus is centered on what we do with our money.

We have unconsciously created a false treasure. A treasure that we cannot keep. Yes we can hand it down but is that the best inheritance for our children or are we just pushing them deeper into the cycle of economic gain.

I have learned from this election that I need to pursue real treasure. I want nothing more in life than valued friendship and the Lord's purpose for me with the years that I have left on this earth. I pray that all who read this will pursue the same and not be too caught up one way or another with the American political process.

Render to Caesar what is Caesars but more importantly render to the Lord what is the Lords. His treasures are eternal.

Matthew 6:21

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also