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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Want some of the world's greatest advice? You can find it here in this column. No, it won't be from the human author; it will be from some of the authors and speakers that I quote. Today's advice cannot be topped by anyone or anything! Here it is; Jesus said, “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.” (Matthew 6.19-21).
The heart of which Jesus speaks is the center of man's being. It is the core of who we are and of our value system. The heart as Jesus spoke of it here is not a physical organ that has dimensions and mass. That is evident from the fact that is can be “located” at various places. For instance, in this text it is to be found in the same “location” as our treasure. An illustration might help to better understand the import of what Jesus was saying. Have you ever found yourself in one place while wishing you were in another. Maybe it was at a social event with your spouse, or in a store that held little interest to you, but was a "necessary evil" to please someone else. You were there, but your heart was not!
Well, Jesus was saying that our heart is always to be found in and around the things which we treasure most. If we want to make a list of the things that we value most, the easiest way would be to make a list of the things upon which our heart dwells. For some, it is pleasing others; for others it is pleasing themselves. Still others dwell upon material possessions and riches. This is the very point that Jesus is making. Material wealth may seem satisfying, but according to Him, it has a tremendous limitation; it cannot be protected from decrease at the hands of outside elements (human or otherwise). Rather than spend time thinking on such fleeting things, He suggests that we spend time thinking of things that cannot be affected by outside forces. These things are not on earth; they are not physical. Rather, the things that have permanent value are in heaven. The stock market will go up or down everyday that it is open, but the real value of heavenly possession remains a constant!
Paul also spoke of the value of having heavenly perspectives and treasures. He put it this way: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3.1-4). When a person becomes a believer and a child of God, the old value system is replaced by an entirely new set of values. Paul experienced that very transition when he named the name of Christ and renounced the former things of worldly worth. A portion of a larger narrative is cited here to show the force of that change. “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3.7-8).
The question of our heart's location is a question of unexcelled importance. I know I can recall many times when I was physically seated in a congregation of people who were worshipping God,I found my mind wandering to things of mere temporal values. Perhaps this is to be expected, but when it occurs, it merely shows the vulnerable nature of our heart and the fact that we must constantly be on guard to protect its most valuable possessions!
Questions:
1. What is the heart of which Jesus spoke in today's text?
2. What is there in the context of today's text that shows that Jesus was not speaking of the physical heart?
3. What things did Paul count as rubbish in exchange for the values that exist in Christ?
4. Can we guard our hearts? If yes, how? Can you list some biblical passages that teach this fact?
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