We spend our lives pursuing what we care most about. When we're not pursuing them, we're thinking about them. Let me give you an example from my life. I'm a track and field coach and I spend countless hours trying to make my team better. I recruit. I plan. I learn. I write works. I run practices. I spend my time building something to be greater than it is now. Using language from Matthew 6, I'm "storing up" by using my time to improve my team. I really put my heart into it. Where my treasure is, there my heart is also. Another example; even when I'm coaching/working, my mind is on my family; how I can provide and care for them, how much I love and miss them, and how I look forward to the next time I'm with them. I spend almost every waking moment, in some way, with my family on my mind. I'm storing up for them, so my heart is there also.
In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus is talking about where we store up our treasures. My thought process automatically starts thinking about the things I'm storing up and if they are treasures on Earth or treasures in Heaven, when that's not the point. The point is that our heart will be focused on Heaven or Earth based on the things we work for. If my aim is to earn money to care for my family, buy nice things, make a comfortable life for myself and those I love, then my heart is firmly planted in this Earth. However, if my aim is to make money so that it will aid me in telling the lost about salvation and forgiveness through Jesus and to help others do the same. In 'church talk', to build the Kingdom by saving the lost. Essentially, carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and obey the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40), then my heart will be firmly planted in Heaven, where it should be.
If your heart longs for the things of this Earth then that is where you are storing up your treasures. However, if your heart longs for the things of Heaven, then that is where you are storing up treasures. Wow! What a gut check! If that doesn't affect my focus then I ought to question my own salvation! If my aim isn't to build the Kingdom and my heart isn't focused on eternity and what will happen after I (and we all) leave this life behind, then what am I doing!?
Lord, may Your will be done, and may my focus be to see that Your will be done. Amen.
As if to put the nail in the coffin, Jesus follows up this command with this. "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." You cannot have one foot on Earth and one foot in Heaven. You are either serving your selfish desires or you are serving the King.
May God point our compass toward Heaven so we walk in that direction.
Come back again for Jesus' Command #14 - Seek God's Kingdom
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