Matthew 6:21

New International Version (NIV)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

For Meditation

It is interesting how Christians are so engrossed in the treasure hunt of this world. The ruthlessness of the hunt does not trouble many at all. It has become a fun game they play. The winner takes all and so they plow hard and play fair or foul. You are considered a failure if you don’t amass great wealth at all cost; for that is evidence of your financial prowess. “We have to live, you see, so when it comes to economics, let’s be real! The family has to be comfortable, you know. But don’t worry, I don’t forget to be kind to people. God has to be glorified and I do well to engage in charitable works. Besides, I know the word, and I do well to obey as much as I can. After all, no one is perfect – not until we get to heaven – so I’m not burdened by the victims along the way. It’s not a perfect world and I can’t do it all. God understands”.

With such worldly mentality, we are deceived and led astray. Our conscience is numbed as we hug our possessions and congratulate ourselves. Barely do we reckon that our treasure has stolen our heart. It dictates our priorities, and God is pushed to only Sunday worship and our fat offerings and gifts to the needy. God wants to have time with us alone, but He cannot even get our attention. God wants to input in our decisions, but we are too smart and knowledgeable to listen to Him. God has a mission for us, but we point to those we think have nothing to do. We, therefore, give to the need and thank God for the opportunity. Yet, He intended us to be the messenger.Our heart is tucked away in our treasure barn; and it is in the world, far away from the Lord Jesus we profess!

1. Where is the heavenly mentality we are supposed to have (Col. 3:1-2)?
2. What happened to Jesus’ warning that “No one can serve two masters … You cannot serve both God and money” (Lk. 16:13)?
3. How about Paul’s warning that “The Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim. 6:10)?
4. But do you know that other things like sports, entertainment, social … and the internet could become our treasure and steal our hearts away from God?
5. Don’t you know that none of those things have eternal value without Christ?

I pray we will remember that it is only when our hearts are keenly set after Christ that each of our good deeds could glorify God and attain eternal value.

So: May you acquire wealth, but with a heavenly perspective, and a Christlike mind and focus; and may you allow nothing else to steal your heart away from Christ and His kingdom values.

When you find treasure in Christ Jesus, your heart will never flirt with anything worldly.

Shalom