Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Where do you hide your heart?

You know – your heart, the core of your being, who you really are, the seat of your values, desires, and affections. Where do you hide your heart? How do you find your way to someone's heart? How do you find the true inclinations of the heart of another? Can you guide and direct your own heart?

Jesus answers all these questions on Matthew 6:19-21:

"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."

Surprisingly (or perhaps not so surprisingly!), Jesus tells us straight up: to find a person's heart, look to where he hides his treasures. To put it crassly: the heart follows money. As much as we'd like to romanticize the largesse of our souls, our credit card bills and checkbooks are a more accurate assessment of our affections than our warm-hearted sentiments.

And not only an assessment of our affections but also of our trust. Do we trust God with our future or our investments? What tale does our bank account tell? A wise man once laid out the options for us:

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe."
"A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination." Proverbs 18:10-11

Today, everyone is looking for safe shelters for their finances. And there is nothing wrong with being wise. But beware the "wisdom" which would make wealth our "strong city" when in fact "the name of the Lord is a strong tower".

And yes, we can guide our hearts in new directions. Begin making kingdom investments. You will find your heart moving in a kingdom direction. And you will never be disappointed with the rate of return! As we invest with the eternal values of Christ's kingdom in mind ("treasures in heaven"), God promises to handle the "daily bread" stuff for us:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

The well wisher of your soul's happiness,

Pastor Tom

1 comment:

Buffalogal1958 said...

I don't know Tom, I would really have to say that my credit card & check book are more an accurate account of my overwhelming responsibilities.I would not say that is where my heart, affections or treasure are at all. It just is what it is.