Treasures, Collectibles, and the Kingdom of God

Yesterday, I had some older people in our store. For those who don't know I work in a store called Clem's Collectibles that sells comic books, games, and sports memorabilia. They had some comic books that they thought would be worth thousands. If I were to buy them from them, they would probably be with worth $35.

I get people all of the time in my store that think their baseball cards, comic books, or some other sort of collectible is going to be worth a ton and help them get out of the financial straits they find themselves in. I feel terrible having to be the person that has to break the news that what they have is pretty worthless.

A lot of us, myself included, like to collect things. We clutter our lives with comic books, board games, music, movies, video games, little ugly statue of white people that look like marshmallows, etc. I do all of the above except the marshmallows. I don't think collecting things is necesarily bad. We can enjoy the art of collecting. But I must warn eveyone before you come to my store with that "rare" and "pristine" item you are collecting - it is worthless.

More than likely most of the items you are collecting will not even return to you the price of your initial investment. Do not view your collections as an investment. If you enjoy collecting, then fine. But if you're collecting something to make money, you better really know what you're doing or stop. Go buy land or stocks or put your money in the bank. Only that rare one in a million item will be worth any money of a substantial amount.

(Luke 12:31-36 NASB) ""But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. {32} "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. {33} "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves purses which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. {34} "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. {35} "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight. {36} "And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks."

So there are some actions we can do as a result of this passage.

Seek His Kingdom. It's interesting that he doesn't tell us to seek personal spiritual exuberance land. He tells us to seek His Kingdom. That theme in Scripture has changed my life.

Do not be afraid. God will take care of our needs if we seek His Kingdom.

Sell our possessions and give to charity. Okay, this one is tough. Am I supposed to sell my beloved collections? After just writing that it is okay to collect things, I am hit with this verse. AHHHH!

Be dressed in readiness and keep our lamps alight. This is a great verse. We need to be ready to always do the will of the Kingdom. And we have to have our lamps always shining because we don't know whether we will need it to light the path or to see an opportunity to serve.

Remember, more than likely are collections are already worthless. Let's not let them be a distraction in our lives from our focusing on God's Kingdom.

Watch out for the potholes.