Where's Your Treasure?

I'm once again embarking on the process of developing a sermon to deliver this Sunday at my home church. I've come to realize over the past couple of years that sermons are never truly finished. Yes, one gets to a place where there is a text to share by the given due date, but the workings of the Spirit are never truly complete. My focus for this Sunday (often termed "Low Sunday" due to the decreased number of people in the pews following Easter and a play on words from the Highest of Holy days in Christianity) is devotion. The book that I'm using to prepare my reflection (in addition to the Bible) is called "Momentum for Life" by Rev. Michael Slaughter. Rev. Slaughter develops an acronym "DRIVE" as a tool to help people re-engage in their spiritual journey and keep moving forward. I'm starting off with "D" for devotion. Devotion is defined as a "focused commitment of time and energy; dedicated; faithful; deep affection." I'm reminded of a statement by Jesus in the New Testament that tells people to be careful about where there treasure is for that is where there heart is also. In other words, what you value most (treasure) is where you will put your time and resources (your heart). Where is our treasure in the U.S.? One can tell our priorities as a nation by looking at where our tax dollars are spent. What entities gobble up the greatest proportion? In 2010, 51% of discretionary spending went to the DoD, while 46% went to agricultural subsidies, highway construction and federal courts (only 3% for international activities such as foreign aid). The same year, mandatory spending saw 38% for Medicare/Medicaid and 33% for Social Security with the remainder for food stamps, retirement, disability, etc. Where is our national heart? It's pretty clear where our national treasure is. What about you personally? Where is your personal treasure and what are you most devoted to? It's clear that faith communities have become less and less a place for people to invest their treasure (here meaning prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness). Trends across denominations and faith traditions show that many financial givers treat faith community giving like any other donation to charity. Thus, faith communities have lost their narrative for sacrificial giving and have become like the March of Dimes, American Cancer Society or Habitat for Humanity (to name just a few). People's hearts do not seem to be primarily in the faith community - rather they are scattered in exile across many good and worthy causes. The solution is to reach out into those in exile and reconnect them with a life giving narrative. This week, take a good long look at the things you're most devoted to. Where is it that you place your treasure (not just your money - your time, talent, etc)? In this time post-Easter and Passover, it may be time to reconnect with a life giving story that will ignite your heart and your spiritual journey. A reconnection that can bring you out of exile into a land of devotion. Peace for the journey, Dan