Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Daily Devotion
I Found My Treasure
by Yoga Raj
Today’s devotional is on Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
There are a couple of chapters (“The message of the Kingdom” and ‘Where is My Tresure? Whose Kingdom?’) in the Purpose Institute course book ‘Running Scared’ by Edward T Welch, where the author has done a deep dive on today’s scripture. Bro Sirstad did an amazing job teaching on this subject in the Purpose Institute classes as well. I would recommend reading this book if you have the opportunity. Sharing a few quotes and references from the book.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’s teaching is about the kingdom as the center. He asks many questions on our allegiance to the two kingdoms – earthly kingdom and the Kingdom of God. In which kingdom do you invest? Store up treasure on earth or treasure in the Kingdom of Heaven? Which king do you serve?
The author has expounded on these questions in the book.
“Everything ends with either/or. Start anywhere you want – your emotions, your relationships, your job – you can trace your actions back to kingdom allegiances. You stand either with the true God OR the consortium of the devil, idols, and your own desires. It might sound overly spiritual, but that is the nature of reality. You cannot have simultaneous allegiances to two kingdoms. The reality is that you can’t have dual masters. Either the Lord is our master OR things of this world. Either we store up our treasures on earth OR we store them in heaven.
Anything that can be a consuming passion becomes a bridge to the devil’s kingdom. Any misdirected love, any attempt to manage our world apart from God or making life about our needs, desires and wants, should be confessed. When we confess Jesus gives a way out: “You can begin, by turning away from investments that promise emptiness and nothing more. You can begin by turning away from your-self and turning to Me”. Any journey back to the Kingdom of God must go through confession. Confession is the way to true wisdom and knowledge. Confession brings light. The Kingdom is not for the smart but for the contrite.”
The author also says what our lifestyle and attitude will look like if we are aligned with the King. The Kingdom is about allegiance to and imitation of the King.
“Life in the Kingdom consists of humility, peacemaking, mercy and a heart for the poor and the oppressed (Matthew 5:1-10). It delights in studying the Word of God in order to obey them. We keep our word, even when it is inconvenient or difficult (Matthew 5:33-37), forgive as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:9-15), love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-46), and pursue justice (Psalms 45:6). We invite others to live under the King, knowing that we have been given a gift of inestimable worth and we want others to receive it (Matthew 22:1). We shun any hint of exclusivity, superiority, distinctiveness (Matthew 23:13). Our models are little children, with their love and dependence toward their parents (Luke 18:17). In general, we look for opportunities to show grace and mercy so we will be a light to others.
Our kingdom allegiances reflect who or what we tressure the most, where our tressure is and where our heart is. Let the Kingdom attract you. What is this Kingdom that He is giving us? The answer, like His promises to us, is a list that is endless. He gives forgiveness, reconciliation, love, power, meaning, purpose, sanctification, glorification, peace and more. All the gifts of the Kingdom are gathered in JESUS the King. James 3:17 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Jesus is the pearl of great price, the water that leaves us forever quenched, the eternally satisfying bread. We belong to Him; He belongs to us. The refrain from Song of Solomon 6:3 captures it, “I am my lover’s and my lover is mine.”
When our eyes are fixed and focused on Jesus, our hurts, afflictions, hardships, insults, and abuses become blurry, blending into the out-of-focus area. When we have the mindset that it is all about Him and His Kingdom and not about us, we will be able to look past what others have done to us. Other’s opinion, judgement, or perception of us would not intimidate or belittle us, when all that matters is how the Lord sees us in His eyes. As it was preached in the Youth Revival a couple of weeks ago, no matter what comes our way, no matter what the devil throws at us, amidst our tests, trials, tribulations, suffering, struggles and storm, we keep digging our spiritual wells deeper when we treasure our relationship with Jesus the most.
Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
This thanksgiving season I am thankful that we have JESUS! We are COMPLETE in Him! Some hope that there is something better, WE KNOW that there is something better.
Song of Solomon 3:4 “I have found the One whom my soul loves.”