Day 9 - Journey of Prayer

Journey of Prayer

Day 9

Thursday, January 14, 2021

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34

In her devotional, Chris made me think about this verse in a totally different way. Like most everyone, I had always assumed that this verse simply means that our heart should not be focused on treasures that don’t last. I, for one, am guilty of asking God for things that don’t have any eternal value. But Chris posed an intriguing question that flipped my thinking upside down: She asked, “Where is your treasure? Is it in the answered prayer or the One who answers?” She also put it another way: “I must remember to treasure the Giver of the gift [God] more than the gift itself.”

The problem is that too often we are focusing on the treasure itself rather than on God, who provides lasting treasures. We are fixated on the gift instead of the Giver. Unfortunately, many of the things we find so precious and valuable probably won’t be in our possession for long. Jesus warns us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay upfor yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). The earthly treasures we hoard and the status we work so hard for can be suddenly taken from us. Again, we have made the mistake of putting all our effort and energy into obtaining the gift instead of building a relationship with the Giver of the gift. Paul tells us to depend on God for what we need: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). But there is a right way to obtain that supply: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). If we make God our treasure, then He will make sure that we will have more than enough.

As we go through life, lots of things can become our treasure and there’s a risk that they will replace God as the most precious thing in our life. It could be our job. We need that job to support our family and buy the things we need and want. So, we put all our time and effort into it. For some people, their treasure is making lots of money or getting that promotion. For others, intense exercising or eating right takes precedence. For others still, being popular or doing whatever they want is their treasure. Any one of these, and thousands of other priorities, can take the Lord’s place as our life’s treasure without us even realizing it.

This scripture should make each of us step back from our busy life and ask, “What treasure is my heart clinging to? Am I so afraid that I will lose my earthly treasures that I avoid giving myself totally to God? Or have I put God first-place in my life and made Him my treasure, knowing that He will supply my every need?

Father, forgive us for focusing on earthly treasures and setting our heart on things instead of on You, the Treasure-Giver. We know that only You can supply what we really need. Thank you for giving us the greatest Treasure—Yourself! Lord, today we focus our heart on You. You are where our heart is.

For Further Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:12; Luke 12:22-31; Luke 12:33; 1Timothy 6:17