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I have an old car that is almost twenty years old that seems to have done its duty and is ready for the junk yard. Thankfully it is no longer our main means of transportation as it once was, but when it came off the assembly line in 2003 it was a fine machine and was roadworthy for any trip of any distance. I did not buy it new, but it was nearly new when I drove it off the sales lot and it served me well for a long time as it provided safe and dependable transportation for Gale and me for many years.

Over time that old car has gradually deteriorated; even though I have tried to take good care of it by keeping it serviced and repairing and replacing parts as needed, my best efforts could not eliminate the inevitable fact that someday it would be a three thousand pound piece of scrap metal; it looks like that time has come. As my efforts to keep it going transitioned from repairing to rigging I knew it was only a matter of time before the cost of fixing it would surpass its value. As I drove it home Sunday night with the transmission barely functioning enough to make the trip, it convinced me that it is time for the old Buick to go. There is no need for me to complain, though, after all those years of ownership and thousands of miles of travel. I suppose my next dilemma is not how to fix the old clunker, but how to get rid of it!

Material things give out, and it seems that the lack of quality workmanship in the things we buy today often causes them to have a much shorter usable life than we would hope. That is just another reminder that we need to hold loosely to the things of this world and pay more attention to eternal things.

The lust for things in this life has produced an abundance of greed that has in turn resulted in all kinds of ungodly behaviors. No wonder the apostle Paul warned the young preacher, Timothy, in the New Testament of the Bible of the dangers of becoming too attached to money: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10, New International Version). That same idea might be applied to more than just cash, and extend to attachment to any material thing.

When our focus becomes fixated on monetary wealth, it is easy to allow greed to overtake us. That is not a new issue and Christ addressed it when He was on earth: “Then He said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Scripture refers to greed in many places as something that greatly displeases God. In 1 Corinthians 6, greed is put in the list with such offenses against God as sexual immorality, idolatry, drunkenness, and thievery. Those who participate in such lifestyles, Paul describes as being wicked and who “will not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 10). Serious business! It pays to keep things in proper perspective and value what God values. In the words of Christ, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34).

We would all do well to take time for a little heart searching and see what kinds of treasures we have. Things—money and possessions—are alright in their proper place, but when they become our most important pursuit in life we are seeking the wrong treasure. We must hold tightly to the things of God and loosely to the temporary things of this life if we expect to be found pleasing in His sight.