Poernomo speaks: "Do not worry, your treasures are in heaven."

Poernomo, a PHD student in chemical engineering from NTU, is a delightful person who inspires all of us with his awe and amazement for God's creations.

Today I'd like to share something Iearnt from Matthew 6, two passages about "Treasures in Heaven" and "Do not worry". Initially I didn't expect to gain more insight from these two passage, but as I read it slowly and tried to relate it to my own condition and the world now, I can;t help but feel in awe on how God's words are really alive.

Matthew 6:19 starts with a warning not to focus on storing up treasures on earth as they are not eternal. As I read this, I was thinking of what treasures that I pursue here on earth? For myself, recognition, reputation, ambitions, obsessions, and glory are all what I tend to pursue here on earth. And all these sourced out of my pride, which is my biggest weakness. Can it help me to keep my salvation? No! Most likely when I focus on them, I;ll put God aside and it definitely ruins my relationship with Him. This is the reason why Jesus continues asking us to eagerly store up heavenly treasures that are eternal. Absolutely if we're pursuing humility, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, joy, we will focus on God alone.

Regarding this, Jesus wants to remind us to guard our eye. Why? Because it is the lamp of our body. Means what we see everyday through our eyes, absolutely affects us alot. If we see things in the worldly way, such as when we see someone is doing so much better than us, and we become envious, Jesus says our whole body will be full of darkness. How true it is as we will not be able to think about anything else but ourselves critisizing him/her and end up being plunged more in our worldly desire. This example is really true for me as I'm facing this challenge in my workplace everyday.

And the last part of this passage when Jesus says that we can;t serve two masters, it makes me think about pursuing a balanced life. Is there such thing of having a "balanced life"? What is a "balanced life"? Is it having a great secular life with all its wealth and succes and at the same time having a great spiritual life and serving God? I don;t think there is such thing. Motivation will always be the big issue! Nowadays many people are blinded with prosperity doctrine, saying that if you are trully a Christian, you are surely be blessed materially. Is it true? For many times I heard people saying something like "God blessed me with a new car when I was about to pledge this amount of money, so and so." Once again, God says,"No one can serve two masters, You cannot serve both God and money." This verse really convicts me alot, as it make me think again about my motivation in doing this PhD course. Is it because I want the fame, wealth, and reputation or because I want to be a changed person, to learn more, to prepare me to play my role as what God has set for me as a PhD.

So the conclusion from this passage: Why are we doing what we are doing now? What treasure are we storing up? And what can we do in order to serve one mater only, which is God?
Quoting from Rick Warren,"We are here on earth to prepare for eternity". How does this fact affect us? That God created us as "human being", NOT either "human having" or "human doing". God expect us to merely become a true human, with all limitations and strength, to treasure life here together with Him, not worrying about food, drinks, clothes and other materials (nowadays these basic necesities have become a "want", no longer a "need").

All right, love you guys.

Love, poer