Give Me Jesus
LENT 2023 | DAY 17
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
(Eric Ang, Chairperson, Finance)
READ:
Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)
DAILY REFLECTION:
Where are my treasures? What do I treasure most? In today’s Scripture passage, Jesus tells me to ask my heart. Two recent life-changing circumstances have taught me to reorientate my priorities.
It all started with my retirement which coincided with the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. I was looking forward to my retirement, to do the things I wanted to but never had the time. I also wished to be a grandfather, to do with my grandchildren things I never did with my children.
Little did I know that my world would soon be completely turned upside down.
The first challenging situation was learning at the start of my retirement that my wife was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. The only cure was to replace her stem cells with that of a matching donor and worse, this had to be done right in the midst of the pandemic.
The second started with good news that I was going to be a grandfather. This was however shattered when my daughter developed complications in her pregnancy. Our family had to contend with either an abortive pregnancy or the birth of a very premature grandson. We prayed for his life and Ethan arrived on 2 Jan 2022, at a prenatal gestation age of 24 weeks.
Those were the darkest moments in my life. What I had and wished for were no longer important. I felt completely helpless and dejected. It was in those moments that Jesus’ teaching came to life: What do I really treasure? I clung on to the promises of God that “He goes before me and will be with me; He will not leave me nor forsake me. Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
My story is still evolving but let me pause to share that by the grace and mercy of God, my wife is in remission. To top it off, Ethan and I have just celebrated our 1st and 70th birthdays together!
My family pulled through because of the amazing love of our Heavenly Father and the wonderful support of our extended and spiritual families. They rallied behind us through prayer and intercession, supporting and caring for us. Let me close with the following lyrics that say it all for me:
More than silver, more than gold. You are the treasure that I hold. Now that I’ve tasted of Your goodness, nothing else will satisfy. Give me Jesus.
FAMILY DISCUSSION POINTERS:
1. Pause and Ponder: Where is your heart leaning towards – treasures on earth or in heaven?
2. Jesus says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth”. In what ways can you and your family share your treasures on earth with others?
3. In what ways can you and your family store up treasures in heaven?
