MARCH 31, Matthew 6:20

While the rest of her family swam and soaked up the sun at the beach, Joy moulded a huge sand castle. She made soaring towers and dug a deep moat all around her castle. When Joy noticed that waves were coming closer and closer, she quickly began to pile sand high up all around the castle walls. “Help, Dad!” exclaimed Joy after a moment. “The water is going to get my castle!”

Dad shook his head. “It is of no use,” he said. “The tide is coming in, and the waves will come a lot higher before they go back down.” Joy did not want to believe that. She dug a wide trench all around her castle and continued to build a sand barrier to protect it. But water soon crashed over the barrier and filled the trench. The waves splashed against the edge of the castle, pulling it apart with watery fingers. “It took me a long time to build that, and now it is gone in no time,” moaned Joy.

“Well, just be glad it is only sand,” said her sister, Danielle. “Sometimes people lose real houses in catastrophes like fires and storms, do they not, Dad?”

Dad nodded. “Actually, all earthly possessions are a little like that sand castle,” he said. “Many people work all their lives to get more and more things - things that will not last. It is too bad so many people are more concerned about their present life than their future one. They forget that there’s something much more important than earthly things.”

“Like doing stuff for God?” asked Joy. Dad nodded. “That is right. First of all, we need to make sure we possess eternal life through Jesus. And then we need to remember that nobody can keep earthly things forever. Soon they will all be gone. Instead of worrying so much about them, we should store up treasures in heaven by serving God.”

“When we are grown up, right?” suggested Danielle.

Dad smiled. “Yes, and right now, too,” he said. “Kids can store treasure in heaven by being kind, helpful, and obedient. I am sure you will be able to think of many things you can do.”

Thought: Where are you storing treasure — on earth or in Heaven?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me remember the things I can buy and enjoy on this earth will not last. Help me to focus on things that will last, and that is treasure stored in heaven. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.