The Rotting of Earthly Treasure

Let's turn to Exodus 16, which finds the Israelites grumbling in the desert for food. Hearing their grumbles, God rains down a bread-like substance, known as "manna."

God announces that manna will appear on the ground each morning. But there is a specific instruction (Exodus 16:19, NIV),

No one is to keep any of it until morning.

That is, the Israelites are to collect whatever they need for that day, and nothing more. God then will provide more manna the following morning. However, (Exodus 16:20, NIV),

Some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.

In the same way the Israelites were forbidden from taking manna into the following day, we cannot bring earthly treasure with us into the next life. So, a question to reflect upon: Do we, in our day-to-day actions, emphasize earthly treasures more than heavenly spiritual treasures? If so, let's use our prayers today to refocus on God.