Where Is Your Treasure?

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:20-21

When you compare worldly ideals, to the teachings of Christ, the contrast is staggering.  This is because all that is in the world is: the lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life; these are not of the Father but of the world.  Within the Sermon on the Mount, Christ brings to us fundamental principles of the gospel.  Of such, is one profound truth, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The scriptures have a lot to say about the status of the heart.  The Word says: out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  It speaks of having a fixed heart.  The condition, direction, and allegiance of your heart is of vital importance.  The heart drives humanity.  When Jesus says where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, he is issuing both a commandment and an epitome of exhortation.   When you think of treasure it calls to mind: gold, silver, and precious stones.  It is something tangible that has great value.  It could be: gold, silver, land, cattle, fancy clothes, elaborate houses, and the like.  In our modern day you could reasonably add: motor homes, airplanes, boats, cars, etc.  Treasure simply means something that has great value.  The ability of moth and rust to corrupt, and thieves to break through and steal; implies that Jesus is warning against laying up for yourself temporal treasures.  Rather than laying up or investing in treasures on earth; Christ tells us to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.  Somewhere, someway, we are all laying up for ourselves treasures, and where your treasure is, your heart is.  They are inescapably linked to one another.  Everything you have, has you.  This strikes to the heart the subject of worldliness.  If worldliness is an identity with the world, then we as holiness people should take great care to have no such identity; but rather an identity in Christ.  If Christ preached, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, and not treasures on earth.  How can we preach abstaining from wearing jewelry, suggestive dress, and make-up; then have homes you could fit homes in?  Does it really matter if we pull off our wedding rings, only to wear a wrist watch that could feed a family of five for months?  Worldliness (or the lack of it) is simply the fruit of your allegiance.  Either to Christ and godliness, or to the world, flesh, and the devil.  Furthermore, God help us, to understand that it is not the absence of wealth, rings, fancy dress, etc. that brings Christ-likeness, but rather the presence of the Holy Ghost in the heart.  A Holy Ghost that brings a love for God and a love for what God loves.  A desire for what God desires, and an emphasis on His direction in our lives.   

When we lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, we place our heart in jeopardy.  Thereby, placing our soul in jeopardy.  If we are heavily invested in this world, then we will be of this world.  If we are divested from the world and invested in Jesus; it will guard our hearts.  The sermon on the Mount is not only the gospel of Jesus, but it is also the opportunity to safeguard ourselves against the trails and temptation of life.  By taking no thought, we guard against care.  By giving, we guard against covetousness.  By yielding, we guard against pride.  By laying up treasures in heaven, we guard against worldliness.  In all this, we are children of the Father, and lights to the world; with the fire of the Holy Ghost is burning within. A fire unhindered, free to burn, and draw the sinner who would be saved.