“More light than we can learn, More wealth than we can treasure, More love than we can earn, More peace than we can measure, Because one Child is born.”  ~ Author Unknown

One of the great questions Dave Ramsey tells everyone to ask themselves is this:  “How much is enough?”  One of the unfortunate consequences of pursuing undefined success is the emptiness of never gaining a sense of satisfaction or fulfillment.  Unless you clearly define success ahead of time, you’ll never be able to celebrate it because you won’t know when you have it. 

You must be clear about the treasure you would like to gain.  Is the treasure you are pursuing “True Treasure”, or is it more like a mirage that lures you only for you to discover it has no real substance?

Here’s what Jesus had to say about “True Treasure”:

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.  Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.  (Matthew 6:19-21 NLT)

The treasure Jesus wants us to pursue is eternal and not temporal.  You must be a good steward of your riches and accomplishments in this life so that you can gain eternal treasure.  Transforming temporal riches into eternal righteousness is at the core of pursuing “true treasure”. 

Jesus points out the truth about what happens to temporal treasure.  It will rust or gain dust.  Other people will envy your treasure and try to take it from you.  Temporal treasure can be stolen and taken away.  That isn’t true of “true treasure”.  You never have to worry about the treasure you store up in heaven.  It is eternal and will never rust or gain dust.

There is nothing wrong with earthy treasure and riches.  Neither money nor success is the problem.  Paul tells us that it is “the love of money” that causes us trouble.  Not knowing how much is enough and never being satisfied is what takes our focus off the true treasure. 

Jesus wants us to keep life in its proper perspective.  We have to remember that this life is all about that life.  All that we have and all that we do in the temporal realm on earth has a purpose and significance in the eternal realm in heaven. 

Everything you gain or lose today along with all you do and say has eternal significance.  So, with that in mind; how would you define success?  How much is enough?  When you have a clear answer to these two questions, you are well on your way to finding fulfillment and satisfaction in all that you have. 

Be a good steward of all your earthly treasure so that today your heavenly treasure will be increased.  Think of today as a “true treasure” day.