During one of Jesus’ teachings, both Matthew and Luke reiterated a very profound truth: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21, Luke 12:34).
I like to visualize concepts in a tangible way because it seems to resonate and stick better for me. If we take this “treasure” concept and put it in a physical context, we may begin to see its importance and significance.
When we begin to collect and grow things in life, e.g. our bank accounts, cars, RVs, homes, and the like… we say we are “amassing” them. This word mass is a very appropriate term for this illustration. In the world of physics all mass has gravity. When we have a mass of “things” in our lives it operates in a very similar fashion; we begin to metaphorically (and, in some sense, literally) orbit around this mass which has a gravitational pull. The larger the mass, the more gravity; the more gravity, the more our orbital speed increases in order to maintain its path.
Now, let’s get back to our “treasures”. Are they in our bank accounts and our assortment of things…or is our heart in tune and in fellowship with our Creator? Do we truly, on a conscious level, give our hearts daily to God?
Jesus’ point was very clear. The desires of our heart will guide—even supersede—what we intellectually know to be wrong or misplaced. If we desire the things of this world we cannot, as humans, separate these desires into two nice and neat compartments: world and God. Jesus understood this and admonished us to be clear about where our heart’s desires truly lie.
The following lyrics were written by Steve Merkel and recorded by Michael W. Smith:
Jesus, I've forgotten the words that You have spoken
Promises that
burned within my heart have now grown dimWith a doubting heart I follow the paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief, Renew the fire again
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
I have built an altar where I worship things of men
I have taken journeys that have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning to Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions, Help me love You again
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:21, Luke 12:34). Wonderful words to live by.
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