Heart Check- Where your treasure is?

wrote this last night in the wee hours of the morning Had had a lengthy conversation with someone concerned about a loved one making choices that were very detrimental... You know God gives us the choice of what and who we we listen to, and what we focus our time and attention on.  This Word, just kind of flowed out of all those thoughts.

Where is your treasure? WHAT is your treasure? Is it a treasured memory? A family heirloom?  Is it a thing, or a place or is it even a person, or persons in your life? 

I am what my husband terms a "sentimental slob."  Things have value to me because of the people I attach and associate them to. Things in of themselves usually don't matter that much to me, but if it has a tender memory attached to it, or was given by someone dear to me, then it grows in great value.

God's Word sheds some light on God's concept of treasure, so lets look at it for a moment:

Prov 15:6  In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble. Treasure= wealth: - riches, strength, treasure

Prov 21:20  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
treasure, storehouse a depository: - armory, cellar, garner, store(-house), treasure (-house) (-y).
1a) treasure (gold, silver, etc)  1b) store, supplies of food or drink
1c) treasure-house, treasury  1c1) treasure-house
1c2) storehouse, magazine 1c3) treasury
1c4) magazine of weapons (figuratively of God’s armoury)

Isa 33:5-6 (AMP)  The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation). And there shall be stability in your times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His. 

Matt. 6:21(MSG)  It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Mat 12:35  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
 
What are we putting into our hearts?

Matt. 13: 44 (GNB)  "The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

Hmm, righteousness, wisdom, oil, weaponry, a heart made good... sounds like someone I know!

Jesus was made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness.  He promised to send the Holy Spirit, who is our light and guide, and does a work in our hearts. He also gives us power and weaponry to pull down strongholds and fight against the enemies of our own mind and soul as well as those enemies of the Cross of Christ and of Heaven!

2 Corinthians tells us that we carry this treasure inside of us.  When we asked Jesus into our hearts, not only did he come in, but He brought His Network if you will.  We are now connected!We have backing!We have help!

We have buried treasure.  Not only that but WE ARE the buried treasure that was hidden in the field.  Jesus came to seek and save that which had been lost.  He found us, unearthed us, paid to buy the field ( the whole world) and set about cleaning us up and preparing us for the palace!  

2Timothy 2:20 (GNB)  In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use. 

Down here we may look at ourselves and think, "Oh, I'm just ordinary, nothing fancy. God can't use me for special occasions."  But what you don't understand is that  we ALL start out common and unclean... but as we submit and yield ourselves and as we flee from those things that would contaminate our souls, and mar us, then we are allowing the Holy Spirit to change us into useful and special tools for God!

2Tim. 2: 21 (MSG)  Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing. 

 We are containers that are meant to carry His Glory. To carry His Presence.  We are meant to find our Purpose and fulfillment in HIM.

But too often we try to find it ( purpose and fulfillment) by chasing after the everyday grind! What shall we eat, what shall we wear... how shall we do? Can we "supersize" the house, the car, the boat? Can we go here, do that...  and we wear ourselves out filling ourselves with riches that demand so much to keep up and pay for them.  

Don't get me wrong, I am NOT against prosperity.  But where is our heart? Does it even have time to stop and think, let alone think about others? To enjoy what we do have? Or share it with someone else?  

I used to listen to Larry Burkett on the radio and he said something once that really was like an arrow straight to the matter.  He asked a simple question, "How much is enough?"  "How much do you really need to be comfortable, happy, healthy?"  Very profound thought isn't it? 

Think of all that we (The Church, The Body of Christ) could accomplish in sharing the Gospel and doing good!  How many fresh water wells could be dug in Africa!  ( A cup of water given...) How many Bible schools could be planted and pastors raised up?! How many Bibles given in native languages!  Bicycles and motor scooters given to help the evangelists get out there!  Currently about 5.96% of all money given to "Church" is spent on evangelizing and of that 1% to the "unreached!" (Per a report on missions put out by global frontier missions.)

But times are tight and things are tough and I have to take care of me and my family...   yes, I am sure that is true, now more than ever!  But there is a principle that God put into motion called seedtime and harvest.  And long before we ever reach into our pockets and pull out our wallet, or dig into our purses and plant a seed into the kingdom, there is already another seed planted and at work... it is either the seed of trust and joyful giving, or it is the seed of stinginess and fearfulness!  And that seed is planted in our hearts.  For where your treasure is...  Luke 12:34 (CEV)  Your heart will always be where your treasure is.

Where is your heart? Where is your treasure?  Is it in God's Word, God's Kingdom, God's ways?  He says He will bless us.  It is His good pleasure to do so.  So why are so many worried about getting, getting, getting and have never taken time to pursue true treasure?

Jesus said, "My meat is to do the Will of Him who sent me."  That was where Jesus put His treasure. In seeking out and doing God's will. So much so that Act's has recorded the treasury of that in this verse: Acts 10:38
(WNT)  It tells how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, so that He went about everywhere doing acts of kindness, and curing all who were being continually oppressed by the Devil--for God was with Jesus. 

 Heart check.  What is the main thing?  

Ecclesiastes 12:13

(AMP)  All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man. 

Amen.  Let us begin now.