“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:21, ESV)
I read a story once about an old pastor of a country church. He was not paid very much by the church. He and his wife lived in an old country shack with poor insulation and a fireplace for heat.
One very cold winter night one of his parishioners was concerned about the elderly couple and he went to check on them. Sitting in the house with them he noticed that the place was quite drafty and they7 lived in a very meager lifestyle. Seeing this, he asked the pastor a question.
“Pastor, you are a brilliant and intelligent man. You could have done anything you wanted in life. You could have made a lot of money. Why did you choose to pastor a small church and live like this?”
The pastor replied, “Imagine that a person lived in this country, but worked overseas and earned a lot of money there. But he spent everything he earned in that country knowing that when he retired, he would have to come back to this country penniless. What would you think about that man?”
The parishioner replied, “I would think that that man was very foolish.”
The pastor stated, “I agree. You see this earth is not my home. At the end of my earthly life, I will spend eternity in heaven, my real home. I realized that it would be foolish to pour all my energy into that which would stay here when I retire to heaven. You see, I chose to store up treasure in heaven.”
I can’t think of a better way to explain the words Jesus presented here than to tell that story.
“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)
The children of the kingdom must keep an eternal perspective on their earthly labors. Jesus stated that this was a matter of the heart. There is a direct connection between the heart and our treasure. While it is not wrong to earn a living, support your family, and enjoy life, many will miss the mark of storing up eternal treasure. The reason is one of focused priorities. The Scriptures teach us, that the children of the kingdom are to live in such a way as to glorify God.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)
From a practical standpoint we store up treasure when our works glorify God. When we live and serve with a heavenly purpose using what He has given us we store up treasure in heaven.
Renewing the Heart 