Tuesday, 15 June 2021,
Title: Laying Treasures in Heaven
By: Shaun Ling
Text: Matthew 6: 19-21

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be at your own funeral service? I don’t want to sound morbid but I have often wondered what would people say about me. How did I live my life? What would my friends say about me? What would my colleagues say? What would my family say? Is there anyone from whom you crave affirmation?

In my line of work, I have had the privilege to prepare wills for those who are terminally ill. I remembered one time, I rushed to the hospital at HUKM Cheras one Sunday afternoon to get my despatch clerk Bala, to sign his final will and testament after I got news that his condition had turned for the worse. Bala was not a Christian and although an excellent worker, he had a conflicted relationship with his wife and 2 children, aged 20 and 17 when he passed on. I knew because he asked me to counsel him and his family twice at my office. Unfortunately, the relationship did not mend itself when he died.

I am not sure what is your priority in life. May I humbly suggest that investing in relationships is one of the ways that we can lay up treasures in heaven. We cannot possibly have time to nurture an infinite number of relationships in our lifetime but we can choose those with whom God has laid in your heart. Start with your own family members and then move out from there. We don’t do this to get their approval but we do so because we believe that is what God has called us to do. Looking back, there were regrets in my life – decisions I made that has hurt my loved ones, the way I speak to them in a judgmental way and not affirming them enough when they deserve it. I also failed to step up to help friends when they were desperately needing help and I ignored them. I resolve to do better.

God calls us to lay up treasures in heaven. There are many elements to this but today, I choose to focus on relationships.

At my funeral service, I may well receive affirmations from family and friends. But what really matters is what God has to say. Will He say “Well done, good and faithful servant”? (Matthew 25:21)

Prayer

Father, help us to focus on our true calling. Let us be who You have called us to be. And help us to have the grace to reach out to those God has laid in our hearts. And keep us humble and teachable. Not to be afraid to say sorry. Help us, dear Lord. Amen

每日灵粮
星期二，2021年6月15日
标题：积攒财宝在天上
作者：林世勋执事
翻译：陈晓佩姐妹

经文：马太福音6:19-21

“不要为自己积攒财宝在地上；地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷。只要积攒财宝在天上；天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。”

您是否有想象过您会有怎样的追思会？我不想听起来很病态，但我时常会想人们会怎么评价我。我是怎么过我的生活的？我的朋友会怎么说我呢？我的同事会怎么说？我的家人会说什么？您有没有渴望从某某人得着肯定？

在我的工作领域中，我有幸为那些罹患绝症的人准备遗嘱。我记得有一次，一个星期天下午，在得知我的快递员巴拉（Bala）的病情恶化的消息后，我赶到蕉赖HUKM医院，让他签署他的临终遗嘱。巴拉不是基督徒，尽管他是一名优秀的员工；在他病逝时，他与妻子和两个分别为20岁和17岁的孩子关系矛盾。我之所以知道是因为他让我在我的办公室两次为他和他的家人提供咨询。不幸的是，当他去世时，他们的关系并没有自行修复。

我不确定在您的生命里什么是首要优先。请允许我谦恭地建议，投资于人际关系是我们积攒财宝在天上的方式之一。在我们有生之年，我们不可能有时间去培养无数的关系，但我们可以选择那些上帝已经在您心中安放的人。从您自己的家庭成员开始，然后从那里延伸出去。我们这样做不是为了得到他们的认可，而是因为我们相信这是上帝呼召我们去做的。回首往事，我的生活中有些遗憾 – 我做的决定伤害了我所爱的人，我以批判的方式对他们说话，没有在他们应得的时候给予他们足够的肯定。当朋友迫切需要帮助时，我也没有挺身而出去帮助他们，我对他们置之不理。我立下决心要做得更好。

上帝呼召我们要积攒财宝在天上。这其中有很多元素，但今天，我选择专注在关系上。

在我的追思会上，我很可能会得到家人和朋友的肯定；但真正重要的是上帝怎么说。祂会说 “好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人” 吗？（马太福音25:21）

祷告

父啊，帮助我们专注在我们真正的呼召上。让我们成为祢所召唤我们要成为的人，并帮助我们有恩典去接触上帝放置在我们心中的人。让我们保持谦卑和受教 ，不害怕说对不起。求帮助我们，亲爱的主。阿们。