"Avoiding A Divided Allegiance" What, Where and Who is your Treasure? (Matthew 6:19-24)

The basic principle of this passage is found in verse 21, which reads, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Understanding and embracing the truth of this principle enables us to avoid the real danger of verse 24 which says, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." This is the problem of a divided allegiance! Verse 21 stresses the principle that our hearts will naturally desire and long toward the place where our treasure resides and therefore, we have to be careful about where we lay up our treasures! What does Jesus mean by our "treasure?" The context teaches that Jesus is teaching us about where it is that we keep that which is most precious to ourselves (treasure), as well as, the treasure itself! This is seen in verse 19, which says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth" and in verse 20, which says, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven." What does the Lord mean by our "hearts?" He's not talking about the organ that pumps in our chests! He's teaching about the center or core of a person's being. He's talking about the mind, the will, and the emotions. Jesus is teaching about that in us which desires a treasure so much that it moves our whole being to go after it! Also notice that the Lord is not specific concerning what our treasure is, but whatever our treasure is and wherever it may be, there our hearts will be also! May I make a suggestion as to what our treasure should be? As Christ followers, our treasure is to be Christ Jesus Himself! Let's examine the words from a man whom God said was a man after His heart (Acts 13:22). This man is king David. He said about God, "Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth" (Psalm 73:25). If this is not David's idea of laying up for himself treasures in heaven, and not storing up for himself treasures on earth, I don't know what is!! According to our principle, when Jesus is our treasure, and He's in heaven, then our hearts will be inclined toward the place where He is! Where does your heart show that your treasure is kept? Your move. Be encouraged! We'll continue in part two!