WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO

(Matthew 6:21)

One unchanging spiritual law governs every human life: the heart always follows the treasure. These two can never be separated. Just as a body cannot be in one place while its feet are in another, your heart—the center of your thoughts, emotions, desires, and decisions—cannot remain somewhere your treasure has not been placed.

This is why people who invest their whole identity in worldly possessions crumble when those possessions disappear. If a person has stored all their treasure on earth and suddenly loses everything, they may feel empty, unstable, or even lose the will to live. Why? Because their heart—meaning their hopes, ambitions, sense of worth, and direction—was located in those possessions. When the treasure dies, the heart collapses with it.

Scripture makes this spiritual reality clear:

Matthew 6:21, ESV

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

This is not merely advice; it is a divine principle built into human nature by God Himself.

THE HEART NATURALLY MOVES TOWARD WHERE TREASURE IS STORED

If your treasure is on earth, your heart will cling to earthly things.
If your treasure is in heaven, your heart will be drawn upward toward God, eternity, and holiness.

This is why Jesus did not simply command people to “think about heaven.” Instead, He gave a practical way to direct the heart toward heaven:

Lay up treasure in heaven.

Not through emotion.
Not through imagination.
But through action—through giving, obedience, sacrifice, and kingdom investment.

HOW JESUS TAUGHT US TO LAY UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN

Jesus explained this vividly in the story of the rich ruler:

Luke 18:22 (NKJV)
“Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Jesus was not demanding poverty.
He was revealing a spiritual pathway:

✔ Give

✔ Serve

✔ Sacrifice for God’s purposes

✔ Prioritize God above possessions

These actions move treasure upward, and when treasure goes upward, the heart follows upward.

Jesus repeats this truth again:

Luke 12:33–34 (ESV)
“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy… provide yourselves with treasure in the heavens that does not fail… For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

WHY GIVING MOVES THE HEART HEAVENWARD

When a person gives to God—whether through serving, tithing, supporting the poor, advancing the Gospel, or offering their time and energy—they are relocating their treasure to heaven.

And as they do so:

• Their thoughts begin to dwell on eternal things.

• Their desires shift toward the Kingdom of God.

• Their identity becomes anchored in Christ rather than earthly success.

• Their affections rise toward the things above.

This aligns perfectly with Paul’s instruction:

Colossians 3:2 (NIV)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

But Paul’s command is not obeyed through willpower alone.
It becomes natural when treasure has been stored above.

WHY COMMITTED BELIEVERS THINK MUCH ABOUT THE RAPTURE AND CHRIST’S RETURN

Believers who continually give themselves to God—
their time, energy, bodies, skills, and resources—
find that their hearts drift heavenward effortlessly.

This is why such Christians often ask:

• “When will Christ return?”

• “How close is the Rapture?”

• “How can I prepare more for eternity?”

They don’t force these thoughts;
their hearts naturally live in the direction of their treasure.

Their lifestyle mirrors Paul’s words:

Philippians 3:20 (NKJV)
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

THE SPIRITUAL LAW: TREASURE MOVES THE HEART

If you want your heart to rise toward heaven…

Start giving God what He deserves:

• Your time

• Your mind

• Your body

• Your worship

• Your resources

• Your service

• Your obedience

As you pour your treasure upward, your heart will follow upward, without struggle.

Over time, heavenly things become natural to you:

• You begin longing to see Jesus.

• You hunger for holiness.

• You desire eternity more than earth.

• You see life from heaven’s perspective.

This is what it means to be transformed from earthly-minded to heavenly-minded.

BUT THE OPPOSITE IS ALSO TRUE

If a person invests everything in the world—
career, pleasure, wealth, status—
their heart will inevitably cling to the world… even if they don’t want it to.

The gravitational pull of treasure is stronger than emotion, stronger than desire, and stronger than intention.

You cannot escape the rule Jesus established.

Your heart will always follow your treasure.

A FINAL EXHORTATION

Where is your treasure today?
Where have you placed your investment?
What receives your time, passion, and sacrifice?

Wherever that is—
that is where your heart already lives.

Let your treasure rise upward.
Let your heart rise with it.
Live for what lasts.

Maranatha — Come, Lord Jesus!

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