Matters of the Heart - Pt 2

[Jesus said], Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV).

Over the next few days we’re continuing to do a “check-up” on our spiritual heart. Typically, as I begin any period of self-examination I like to follow a specific list of principles from the Scripture that help me measure hwere I am in comparison to what God desires for me. I hope you’ll find these helpful in your own exam. You can also see that I have used a specific reading for each of these categories. The first concerns where I’m “putting my treasure.” When I think about treasure I am always drawn to those things that I cannot live without. I’ve often asked myself that old question: “If your house was on fire, and you could only save one thing, what would it be?” Of course, this assumes that my family and pets are already safely sheltered from the calamity. I’ve heard others list the things that are precious to them. Some say photos or scrapbooks; others list heirlooms passed down to them from generation to generation; and, some say there are vital documents they would save. I have all of those things in my home and they are very important to me. Some of them are even irreplaceable. However, none of them rise to the level of “treasure.” When I ponder the real meaning of this word it brings me to a decision about things that I cannot survive without; not merely things that I cannot replace. Perhaps an example would be helpful. The summer before Mary and I married we were separated for a few weeks. During that time we wrote each other letters nearly each day. Of course, we still have those. However, the most treasured communication of that time was a little booklet that she made for me. She bound it in a handcrafted hard cover and set each page together with a ribbon. There is poetry, song lyrics, and heart-felt prose written on each page. I have never been without it for over fifty years now. It has always had a place in my offices through the years. Just looking at the blue cloth cover brings me great pleasure. It is irreplaceable, but I can survive without it. I don’t want to, but I can. When Jesus told us to set aside treasures in heaven (v. 20), he was talking about those things that are eternal. These are things like faith, hope, and love. I don’t need to have a booklet to tell me that Mary loves me. She shows me love with every act of every day. Neither do I need anything to show me God’s love for me. He shows it with every breath I take. What’s your treasure? How’s your heart?