“For Where Your Treasure Is”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles
In the context of Matthew 6:19-21, our Lord is emphasizing that we place what we value in heavenly things, rather than in earthly things (cf. Colossians 3:1-4).
He then states this unchanging truth:
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Stating this passage in today’s vernacular we might say:
“What we enjoy and have a passion for doing, is what we’ll be found doing.”
- Do we enjoy and have a passion for football (or any other sport)? Then that’s what we’ll be found doing.
- Do we enjoy and have a passion for playing a musical instrument? Then that’s what we’ll be found doing.
- Do we enjoy and have a passion for hunting and fishing? Then that’s what we’ll be found doing.
- Do we enjoy and have a passion for getting together with family and friends? Then that’s what we’ll be found doing.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of the above listed activities in and of themselves. But when they take precedence and priority over what’s really important — and that’s being about our Father’s business (Luke 2:49; cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16) — then those activities become wrong.
The question then becomes, “Do we thoroughly enjoy and have a passion for doing the Lord’s business “first” (Matthew 6:33), or is it just a sideline business — something of a far less priority than the above listed secular activities — something we had rather be doing?”
Remember our Lord‘s statement? “Wherever our treasure is (whatever we enjoy and have a passion for doing), there will our heart be also.”
Brethren, as our Lord strongly suggests, “let us not store up for ourselves secular treasures on earth” (Matthew 6:19 NIV) that will soon rust, decay and fade away, but let us store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where those treasures will never rust, decay, or fade away.
Let’s seriously think about it! — then if needed, reset our values and priorities, remembering that “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru” (Hebrews 11:13-16).