“Where your treasure is; there will your heart be also.” (Matt 6:21) This phrase has become a common cliche. As such it has been relegated to the file of common knowledge and avoids further scrutiny. I have just noticed something implied in this text.
First, we need to define what treasure is – it is something we value. In brief terms, it’s what we put our best efforts into obtaining. It may be a place to live, a way of life, a family, evangelism. We need to look at how we value what we pack around us.
Note the order of the statement: “Where your treasure is…” and then “there will your heart be also.” You see, our treasure draws our hearts. Where we invest the time of our lives, draws our hearts.
There is a pointed warning here. In the effort spent finding ways to service the “necessities of life” there is the risk that our treasures become mundane. In puzzling with the problems of paying for housing, transportation, food, clothing, schooling; these may become our absorbing treasures. It may well be we do not realize what we really treasure. The path of the heart following its treasure can be subtly but decisively shifted by how we answer the demands on our time and resources.
This is why our worship service calls us to the study of two books: The Bible and our accounts. We cannot really study one without being cognizant of where we stand with the other.
Father, As You gave me this brief message, I just learned how complete this worship service is. You draw us to study Your word. Then You have us place some of our material treasure here so our hearts are more inclined to follow Divine treasure. Father, show us how to make our investments so our treasure and our hearts, will be safe in your hands.