Building On The RockSample

Where Is Your Heart? 

Howard Hughes had several accomplishments and amassed a significant fortune. He had made a number of movies and is famous for his great wooden plane, the Spruce Goose. But at the end of his life he sank into emotional instability and locked himself away from the world. He sat alone and watched the same movies again and again. His wealth served him no purpose. Not every successful multi-millionaire ends his life in this way, of course; and although we would need superhuman powers to know his heart, Hughes’ life forms a kind of parable of futility.

In the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus begins to talk about money, He does so bluntly, like this, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). He doesn’t say, “Be careful not to be distracted by pursuing wealth,“ or “Watch out for the dangers of greed.” He simply says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” Don’t do it.

The Savior gives the reason for His warning in these words: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). That is true almost by definition. Treasure is something we value. It is something we are careful to keep safe. It occupies our thoughts and distracts us from other things. Jesus is not saying anything new when He says our heart will be where our treasure is. Treasuring something can be defined as having our heart drawn to it. That’s almost a truism.

The Lord gives us an alternative. He says there is another place you can store your treasure: “in heaven.” Let your heart be focused on the concerns of God. Let your aim be to serve Him. Let the things you treasure be heavenly things. You must choose because “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

How is your attitude toward money? Are you serving it, or thankfully receiving what God provides? Will you give your life to futility or store up treasure in heaven?

Prayer: Lord, let me never be trapped into serving money. May it never be my master. If I am drifting in that direction, save me from it. Do, Lord, what You need to do to have my heart fully focused on serving You.