Text: Luke 12:34 NKJV
Further Reading: Luke 12:16-22
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:34 NKJV
MESSAGE
Treasures are those things that you value the most in life. Since you don’t keep valuables carelessly, a man stores up his treasure in a safe place. In life, there are so many things that seem important to us and are like treasures. Things like wealth, possessions, influence and so on could account for those treasures.
It is sad how Christians consider the things of this world as treasures. Those things will pass away with the world. People usually forget the fact that we brought nothing into this world and we will certainly take nothing out of it (1 Timothy 6:7). Those earthly treasures will become another’s one day.
The word of God in our reading is a pointer to us that though God wants His children to prosper materially, they should not make those things their treasure. The greatest treasure any man can find is Jesus. He is the eternal life that God gives to those who believe.
When you carefully look at the rich fool in our Bible reading, he was not condemned for being rich, but not for not having the true riches of God. He was so full of himself and desire to secure himself in the world.
“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Luke 12:21 NLT
We see many wealthy people taking a similar path today. They build estates and buy businesses but consider so lightly the matter of salvation. Many of them do not even believe in God and are not prepared to meet their God.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world [wealth, fame, success], but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matthew 16:26 AMP
The word of God admonished us to not store our treasure on earth where it will be outdated and fade with time. There is an inheritance that Christ has reserved for those that loved Him. This treasure is incorruptible and does not fade away, it is eternal in heaven.
If your heart is not fixed on heaven, then your treasure is not there. A man’s heart is fixed on the place where his treasure is. If God has blessed you, do not place your heart on those things, rather seek first the things of the kingdom. As much as it is your power, help the people around you, and do not use your wealth to oppress others.
What will matter the most, in the end, is whether you have the real treasure in your heart. Stop chasing the shadows, the best way to invest your time, resources and talents is the things that have eternal value.
Are you bent on making yourself a success with many mansions on earth, but will be without one in eternity? It will be a bad investment if you have everything in this temporal life and have nothing in the other life which is eternal.
Those who want to turn today from their earthly pursuits and ambitions to begin to lay their treasure in heaven can start by accepting Jesus as their Lord and saviour today.
REFLECTION
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Matthew 6:20 NKJV
Begin to invest in things of eternal value. Do not place your hopes in this world so that you will not be disappointed in the end when you face the eternal Judge.
PRAYER
Father, please help me to invest more of my time, resources, and talents in the things of the Kingdom of God from today.
