Like this:

The passage of the month for me, as I keep reflecting on life during this Christmas season in my semester break:

“Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light within you has turned into darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth! That’s why I’m telling you to stop worrying about your life – what you will eat or what you will drink – or about your body – what you will wear. … … because it is the gentiles who are eager for all those things. Surely your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them! But first be concerned about God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be provided for you as well. So never worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:19-34

Things that I ponder upon reflection:

1. What can be categorised as treasures? And in what way are they ‘earthly’ or ‘heavenly’?

2. What can moths and rust and thieves mean?

3. “The eye is the lamp of the body” means…? And ‘light’ and ‘healthy’ and ‘darkness’ and ‘evil’, what can they all specifically mean? How to practically apply this principle of “No one can serve two masters. … You cannot serve God and wealth!”?

4. Is not “… your life…” a part of “… God’s kingdom…” as well? So does it not mean that while I must not worry about foods and drinks and clothes, I should in fact be seriously concerned, even about my own tiny life? What about family, friends, communities, and in fact, all people: Are we all not, or should we all not be, part of “… God’s kingdom…” if indeed we are to ‘… first be concerned…” about that kingdom? And how to relate all things to “… his righteousness…”? So, how to really and properly prioritise my puny life?

5. How to exactly explain these altogether considering various aspects?

6. Having attempted to answer all the above questions, are my answers reliable? Are they only my own opinions or another person’s individual impressive insights? What principles should I embrace that are approved by God, solid and applicable not just for certain individuals but for the general population?

7. “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?” [Luke 12:57]

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