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Matthew 6:19-21
Immediately after Jesus speaks about fasting “in secret” (Matthew 6:18, NKJV) as to keep our growth and desire for our personal relationships with God between us and Him only, and not to do so in an attempt to gain favor of others, He then speaks of keeping our treasures/desires of the heart in heavenly things as is the desires of a pure heart to God. The treasures of this earth will fade, grow old, and will eventually pass on, but the treasures of heaven will never fade away, grow old, or pass us by if our hearts desire is on God’s will for our lives. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
This is a command to desire the everlasting treasures of heaven, not the temporary treasures of the earthly world.
The devil tempts us and strives to capture our attention with the desires of this world to keep us from seeing and realizing that these earthly desires will all one day evaporate and be no more. Jesus teaches us to put our desires/treasures on heavenly things that will build up an inheritance of blessings for eternity. The devil tries to blind us to the treasures of heaven with physical things that he offers us immediately and on the spur of the moment. He wants to prevent us from receiving the everlasting treasures of heaven because he has seen them and experienced them but has been cast away from them because of his disobedience to God. He is jealous and does not want us to have the blessings that he cannot. He knows that he is more powerful than we are and cannot fathom us, a lesser being, to receive the blessings that have been taken from him. Do not allow the devil to trick you into believing the things of this world are more important than the things of heaven. Put your heart’s desire and treasures in Jesus, and you will receive everlasting blessings in the treasures of 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 6:20b-21).
Dear LORD,
Please help us to see that there are many things in this earthly world that will be exciting and appealing to our hearts desire, but that we would also realize that they are temporary and will fade over time leaving our hearts empty and searching once again. Please help us to see that the treasures of heaven are everlasting and will fill our heart’s desires even during our time spent in this earthly world. Please help us to see that the goal is not to gain as many earthly things as possible, but that we would prepare for eternity by putting our faith in Jesus and the eternal blessings of heaven. In Jesus name I pray, amen.