Treasure

I just had a wonderful conversation with someone who is somewhat of a treasure hunter;  a seeker of Civil War artifacts with his metal detector.  The History nerd that I am, I was amazed at the beautiful War relics he had in his office.  I love treasure.  I love the adventures of treasure hunters, from men who look for things buried deep within our local areas, or to the fictional characters such as Dirk Pitt in Clive Cussler novels.  Treasure is something of value.  It may be intrinsic value, or it may be monetary value; whatever it is, if it is treasure, it is valuable.  Therefore, in each of our lives, we have treasures that are valuable to us, and therefore kept close to our heart.  Obviously, as God tells us, "where your treasure is there your heart will be also."  I think that is why we so often live painful and stressful lives because our hearts are devoted to the wrong things.

The human heart is a fragile and tender part of who we are and it is eager to give itself away.  Despite how hard we sometimes act, the heart instinctively wants to be given away.  Be it to the pretty girl who sits across from you in class, or to the church that has done so much for you.  Maybe it is the place that has always been home, or the car that just drives faster and looks cooler than any others.  Whatever it is, our heart is looking to be given away.  Therefore, when people fail you, church doesn't go the way YOU want it, that girl talks to someone else, the car gets old or wrecked, and so on, our heart is broken.  That treasure that we had in our heart is gone.  We have lost something of great value to us. 

So the warning of Matthew 6:21 is this.  Be careful where you put your heart because if it is not given to the right thing, you will be hurt, and you will be misguided.  So if we must guard our heart, in order to gain the correct treasure, what must our hearts be set on?  Isaiah 33:5-6 (The Message) "God is supremely esteemed.  His center holds.  Zion brims over with all that is just and right.  God keeps your days stable and secure - salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus, and best of all, Zion's treasure, Fear-of-God"

A God whose center holds, and whose kingdom is overflowing with these great things opened His heart up to us thousands of years ago.  His treasure is His people and He invites us to trust in Him.  he invites us to place Him completely in our heart, and make Him our complete treasure.  Though many have asked Him into their hearts, how many allow Him to become their treasure.  When He is our treasure, our value, our heart beat we will be guided every step, we will see the hurt in different ways, we will be more concerned with the God of the Church rather than the Church, and others WILL see our heart's treasure and be changed.