“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matthew 6:21

During the years of insurgency in the early 1980s, soldiers used to stage roadblocks at which they would rob bus passengers of everything of value.

So certain old man had a creative trick; he would hide his money in inside bread.

On one particular journey, he had two loaves of bread – one with the cash and the other without.

Guess the loaf the soldier grabbed – the one with the cash!

So, as the soldier was walking out of the bus, the old man almost knelt down as he desperately begged him to take the other loaf and leave the one that he had taken.

The soldier, not understanding the language, ignored him, and almost started getting irritated.

Rather exasperated, his fellow passenger told the mzee to shut up and let the soldier go after all he had not taken both loaves.

Later after some distance, the old man told his neighbour; “We are going but all my heart has remained behind.”

In the previous meditation, our Lord Jesus warned us about this world’s fleeting treasures and explained where eternal treasure lies.

In today’s meditation, he adds to that thought by saying; “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Of course, ‘treasure’ in this context, is not limited to just valuable material possessions like money, houses or cars.

While it certainly includes those, it encompasses anything we value most, invest our time, energy, and resources into, and find our security or identity in.

It could even be our career, beauty, family, social status, or even our own personal ambitions.

The Greek word translated ‘heart’ is not merely the physical organ that pumps blood.

It may also refer to the very core of our being – the center of our intellect, emotions, desires, will, and conscience.

It’s the ‘control center’ from which all our thoughts, motivations, and actions flow.

Prioritizing earthly treasures can distract from spiritual growth, while investing in heavenly treasures fosters a deeper connection with God.

What our LordJesus is essentially saying is that what we value most deeply will inevitably capture and direct our inner self.

Our deepest affections, thoughts, and efforts will naturally gravitate towards whatever we consider to be our ‘treasure.’

For example, the way we spend our money, time, and energy is a clear indicator of what we truly cherish.

If we spend most of our resources on fleeting earthly things, it shows that our heart is invested in those.

Yet, as we all know, earthly treasures are temporary and subject to decay, theft, or loss.

I mean that valuable piece of land that you paid all your life to acquire could be sold by the heir as soon as you’re buried in your grave.

You could see that political career shattered into pieces in a matter of days.

On the other hand, heavenly treasure – the spiritual investments such as living in God’s will and serving others – live on for eternity.

If our treasure is earthly, our lives will be consumed by worldly pursuits.

If our treasure is God and His Kingdom, our lives will be lived with eternal purpose.

In essence, we might claim to be followers of Jesus but should examine where our heart is – what truly holds the highest value in our lives.

He encourages us to invest in things that have eternal significance, knowing that our hearts will naturally follow our investment.

We can always make claims but our true priorities are revealed by what we value and invest in.

Your heart will always follow your treasure.

By investing in spiritual growth, acts of kindness, and God’s purposes, your heart becomes aligned with what is eternal and meaningful.

Prioritizing earthly treasures can distract from spiritual growth, while investing in heavenly treasures fosters a deeper connection with God.

What is Jesus telling you in regard to what you should consider less valuable?