The Treasures Of The Heart
by Pastor Mark
October 25, 2018
Checking our heart
The heart is a vital part of our life. What we fill our heart with is going to affect all areas of our life and ministry. If we fill our heart with that which is unrighteous, it will have adverse consequences to our life. If we fill our heart with that which is good and right, we would indeed be blessed. The Lord Jesus taught an important lesson about the heart…about the treasures of the heart. What is it that we truly treasure in the heart?
Treasures on earth
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;” (Matt 6:19)
The word “treasures” in Greek is “thesauros” where we get the English word “thesaurus” which means a treasury of wealth. The Greek word for “lay up” is “thesaurizo” which is the verbal form of “thesaurus”. It is written in the present imperative. The Lord Jesus gave the command to His disciples not to treasure the treasures of the earth…a perspective that we want to cultivate consistently. What are some of these treasures? It could be clothing where moth can destroy or a car where rust can destroy. It could be money and our possessions that thieves can steal. How do we know that such earthly things have become a treasure of the heart? It is when we find it hard to let go. When something is lost, are we able to let it go or do we feel the pain and agony of such a loss? Let us be challenged to check our heart and not harbour these earthly things as treasures of our heart.
Treasures in heaven
“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt 6:20)
What are these treasures in heaven? It does not mean that they are treasures that we would receive only when we go to heaven. These are considered treasures as seen from heaven’s perspective. They are treasures that we have been given already and for us to treasure.
- God…One treasure that we have is God Himself. He is our greatest treasure. He is regarded as the portion of our inheritance. (Ps 119:57)
- Our relationship with God…Another treasure is the special relationship that we have with God. We are seen as His special treasure. (Ex 19:5) There is a loving and precious relationship that we can cultivate with the Lord.
- The Word of God… Thirdly, the Word of God is another treasure. The psalmist wrote that the law of God should be desired far more than fine gold. (Ps 119:127)
- Faith…Let us also seek to treasure our faith. The Apostle Peter wrote that the genuineness of our faith is much more precious than gold. (1 Peter 1:7) Let us be challenged to value and find joy in these heavenly treasures.
The treasures of the heart
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt 6:21)
Let us ask ourselves…“What do we treasure as treasures of our heart?” Whatever we love in our heart, that is what we would treasure most. Let us be challenged to heed the challenge not to love the things of the earth which are temporal but to love the things of heaven which are truly lasting.
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