Where are your treasures?

Today’s scripture:

“But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:10)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Today we are looking into the twelfth topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Lay up treasures in heaven”. Matthew 6:19-21… “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.”

The last part of this passage, in my opinion, is the most important… “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Once again it all comes back down to the heart of the matter, because it is the heart that will determine one important factor…and that is legalism or a relationship through a believing faith in Jesus Christ.

See, one might read this and think it is about works, especially if you read the first of today’s scriptures about the Lord rewarding those whose actions are deserving. But, God sees our hearts and He knows our secrete motives behind our actions.

Take a look at the apostle Paul before his eyes were opened to the truth. He was considered “The Bomb” when it came to religious practices. Philippians 3 says that he was the stock of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews and he was proud to be called a Pharisee concerning the law.

Then Paul says in verses 7-11… “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Do you know what he is saying here? He is saying the status of that recognition he had, and a high status at that, was counted as rubbish, no good, not fulfilling, empty, and certainly not pleasing to the Lord! All that he gave up for the precious, closeness, intimate relationship with his King! He finally saw what was most valuable in life. He saw his relationship with God was priceless and very fulfilling. He didn’t want the knowledge anymore. He didn’t care what people thought of his actions, faith, adoration for God, and the newfound love for Jesus. All he wanted was to know Jesus!

Like 2 Corinthians, 8:9 says Jesus gave up the riches of heaven to become poor so He can know you, so did Paul give up the riches from the religious knowledge, and recognition he gained and became poor in spirit so he can know Jesus and give back to Him by serving His sheep.  

Reflection:

Jesus is talking about an attitude of a servant here. Putting yourself last while you serve others is a dying to self attitude. Once again, this brings us back to the cross. Think back to the garden of Gethsemane when Jesus said “if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus knew what this was going to cost Him, and that is to be separated from the true love of His Father. Yet, He also knew what the Trinity was going to gain from it, which is His treasure, and that is US!

Challenge:

Please dear ones do not take this lightly if you truly want to have Jesus to be the most important person in your life. Take an inventory of your life. Look at the things you do in ministry and ask yourself one honest question – Am I doing these things for Jesus or am I doing them so I can be recognized? If they are to be recognized, then simply confess that to God and repent. Turn from that attitude and submit, then choose an attitude of a servant for Jesus.

-Doug McGowan