Luke 12:34 AMP
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Although a short verse, it is one of the powerful statements Jesus made while on earth. Jesus tells us that what we treasure shows us where our hearts are. Jesus also says that pursuing material or temporal things will bring us anxiety and stress. The truth is whatever we value and care about will tell us about the condition of our hearts. In other words, our hearts, the core of our emotions, desires, and identity, will center on whatever we keep around us. As Christians, we need to decide what we refer to as our treasures. Physical treasure has only short-term benefits and can open us to various physical and spiritual dangers. However, a spiritual treasure is of eternal value and comes from knowing and serving God. We might think our material things give meaning to our lives. But when we misplace or lose something valuable, we realize that our relationship with the Lord satisfies and endures forever. As believers, our focus should be on God, who loves us and takes care of us and our needs.
Children of God are not to align our value system with that of the world that permits divorce, polygamy, and mindless pursuit of material possessions. Today the boldness of witchcraft and occultism as religious bodies is growing rampant; some pastors are even part of this group. What a disgrace? Many are building their lives on the rock of materialism. They have put their trust in material things and have turned their backs on God; work, parties, children, husbands, wives, family, and all manner of things before God. Jesus asked in Mark 8:36, “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul?” While we strive for a life of our desires, remember who our enemy is, satan is his name. To shift our focus away from God because of the pursuit of wealth and other material things will bring doom to us. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20, “Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal;” It is only pagans who run after material things. When we tarry over material things, it takes our eyes off our purpose, and we become slaves to that thing. But when we store up Heavenly things, there is freedom, and our minds are steadfast in reaching Heaven. God’s mercy to us is freeing us from the cares of this world and pointing us to the reality of His infinite, eternal Kingdom of Heaven that awaits.
Beloved, do not conform with the world(Romans 12:2), but rather be content with what you have(1 Timothy 6:8-9). God knows your every need, and He will supply them if you have a heart toward Him. Life here on earth will end one day, and everything you stored here will become obsolete. The only bank that is unquestionably insured is the bank in Heaven. If God is God, serve Him well and stop all this partial service. I encourage you today to focus on God and give Him your heart. And in exchange, He will enjoy His trust and peace. Invest in eternal things, for such an investment is secure and the benefits everlasting. Seek the blessings that come from God, not the world. Realizing that the material and temporal will not bring security and life found in Jesus. Remember, it is always good to search yourself to ensure you are following Him as you should and have not deviated from the will and plan of God for your life.
O Lord, grant me the heart to go after things above in Jesus’ Name.