Reading: Matthew 6:16-21

Matthew 16:21 – “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

As we continue in Matthew 6, Jesus’ focus is the same. Turning to the spiritual discipline of fasting, the advice is the same as it was concerning giving and prayer: don’t make it all about yourself. When you fast, don’t go mope and go around muttering about how hungry you are. Look and act like you normally do. The fast is meant to deepen your relationship with God. Accomplish this and you will have your reward.

Verses 19-21 summarize what Jesus has been talking about so far in chapter 6. Earthly treasures, in this text, is the recognition that we can receive when we practice “showy” religion. These earthly accolades will rust and fade. When we give or pray or fast to strengthen our relationship with and commitment to God, then we are building up an eternal “treasure.” The eventual outcome of a devout faith is eternity in God’s glory, light, love, and presence.

Our passage closes with these words: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If we are seeking to store up recognition or status or power here in earth, then that soon becomes our focus. We seek after the next human approval, the next pat on the back… If our relationship with God is our focus, then we store up hope, joy, peace, love, mercy, grace, encouragement… Doing so we increasingly experience heaven here on earth. It is a choice. As John Wesley once said, whichever we seek first and foremost we “will soon come to seek this only.”

Prayer: Lord God, pull our hearts towards you and the things your heart treasures. Guard our hearts from the temptations of the world. When we do lose our focus on you and lust after recognition or applause or power, whisper our name, call us back to your heart. Thank you, Lord. Amen.