Jesus was walking through the city when he saw a tax collector named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.

The people despised these tax collectors because they served the Roman Empire, which had conquered them. They demanded much more than the law required, obtaining great profits.

Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew, leaving everything behind, got up and followed him.

Matthew’s conversion is impressive because he immediately set aside his material wealth to seek something much greater in the Kingdom of God.

Matthew’s riches, although valuable to him, were ephemeral and fleeting: they would end when he spent them or when he died. For many, wealth consists of money, people, reputation, stability, or status. All of this can come and go depending on circumstances.

We need something more stable and unmovable, whose value does not deteriorate over time and that becomes our true wealth. Then, everything else will assume its real value.

Matthew met Jesus, encountered the Kingdom of God, discovered something more magnificent, and reordered his priorities. He celebrated a great banquet with the Savior and invited his relatives and friends.

Jesus said, “Store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21).