WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE?

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

What is your treasure in life? What do you value more than anything else?

If you asked these questions to 100 people, I’m sure you would get a variety of answers.

Many might name a person, maybe a parent or grandparent, a spouse, child, or dear friend.

Others may mention something material in nature that holds value like a home or owned land, a car, money, or a keepsake, collectible or collection.

Still others may list intangible things such as their health, happiness, or freedom.

There is no shortage of things this world and the life within it offer us to treasure. That’s for sure. Perhaps this is why Jesus chose to talk about the matter during His Sermon on the Mount more than 2,000 years ago. For this matter of choosing treasures is far from a modern day matter. Look again at the words of our Savior here:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Let’s start at the end and then work our way back.

Go back to the question that serves as the title of this devotion:

“What is your treasure?”

Jesus tells us the answer can be found in our hearts. This is because we attach our affection to whatever we treasure. Whatever we love most is what we’re most connected to.

It’s true, right?

There’s only one problem with this. In too many instances, people attach their hearts to things that are not sustainable. This is what Jesus was warning of when He said this:

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

You see, the treasures of earth are fleeting and when we attach our hearts to these treasures, we are often left with a void when that treasure is lost.

Need an example?

I don’t know how many times through my years in ministry and life that I have watched someone lose a loved one and then fall apart, like they have no other reason to live anymore. Their heart attachment to that person was so strong that when they lost their treasure, they were left emotionally and psychologically bankrupt.

The same thing happens when someone places all their devotion in riches or possessions or work. More than a few people have ended up distraught and personally damaged after losing one or more of these things. There is a real danger in connecting our hearts to the treasures of earth.

So what should we do? How can we avoid putting ourselves in a place where we suffer severe heartbreak after losing a treasure of the earth?

We follow the direction of Jesus who told us to:

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”   

Treasures of the earth are temporal but treasures of heaven are eternal. This is what Jesus is getting at here. And when we connect our hearts to things that are eternal, we never need be concerned that our hearts will be left void. Ever.

What’s the best way to fasten our hearts to the treasures of heaven?

I believe the answer is very simple. All we need to do is make Jesus our greatest treasure. Period.

Think about it. What could be more valuable than the One who died in your place so you might live, not just now but forever?

In Jesus, we have a beloved Savior who will always be with us, always, in this life and the everlasting, glorious one yet to come. In Him, we have everything we could ever want, everything we could ever hope for.

So what is your treasure as you read this today? Where is your heart?

If the answer is anything but Jesus or any other treasure of heaven, you may want to consider making a change. You’ll save yourself a lot of heartache later.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.
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