Do not store up for yourselves 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 or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21
There are a lot of Bible verses concerning the heart, which is intentional. The heart is the wellspring of life so, in a general sense, it is the stem of everything that we are and do (Proverbs 4:23). Think about it; without a beating heart, you wouldn’t exist in any sense.
It’s no wonder that Jesus spoke into this topic in Matthew 6. In verses 19-21, He teaches His disciples, and us, that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Our hearts reveal what we care about most. If sports are your treasure, then you’ll invest any spare time, thought or energy into it. The same applies to treasuring your spouse, car, job or anything else.
If you’re like me, then Matthew 6 causes you to start weeding out “good treasure” from “bad treasure.” There’s got to be some separation between what we should and could treasure, and there is. Jesus tell us, “do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy” (Matthew 6:19). This statement is brutally honest. Earth is what we’re experiencing right now so “treasures on earth” essentially incorporates everything that we see and acquire in this life, and Jesus is telling us to forsake these things. Everything that we see, experience and acquire on earth fades. Cars get rusty, clothes get holes, houses lose value, companies crash, etc. Nothing lasts forever. That’s why Jesus tells us to, store up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
What are treasures in heaven? Jesus’ life and ministry answers that question for us. He was a Servant, Teacher, Healer, Listener and Savior among many other wonderful things. He calls all of us is to follow His example (Luke 9:23). For me, following Jesus allows me to love others selflessly because of the love that He showed towards me on the cross (1 John 4:19-21). It challenges me to spend my time not furthering my own name, but magnifying His through serving others. It’s a call to surrender.
Temitope 