Where Your Treasure Is (there will your heart be)

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon 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 destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

This wonderful portion of scripture has come to mind many times over recent weeks as I have been in the process of moving.

I’m not moving far, in fact only a couple hundred feet. My daughter and son in law purchased the house Linda and I built 45 years ago, in which we lived together till her passing at the end of 2023.

Our daughter, Jennifer, grew up in that house from age 7 till she moved away. Our son, Jeffrey, was born two years after we built that house and he lived there till he moved away. Jennifer and Jason lived the first several years of their marriage in the Chicago, Wisconsin, and Minneapolis area, but upon having their first child, Jacob, decided to move back home to Lindale, Texas. And I do mean back “home” because they moved in with us for almost two years, in which time they also had Sophia. It remains a most precious and memorable time in all of our lives. As Jason was establishing employment and while they were building their home down the road from us, Jennifer and Jason had two more children, Alex and Caleb; so needless to say, our house holds many fond memories for our children and all our grandchildren.

In recent years when Jason and Jennifer would mention how they might like to buy our house someday, a seed was planted that has now come to fruition. After Linda’s passing it didn’t seem necessary or advantageous for me to continue to live in that house alone.

Linda and I built a lovely cabin just down from our house over twenty years ago. We built it for my mom after my dad passed. After mom’s passing a few years back, it has continued to be a blessing to family members, friends, and guests through the years. Now it’s going to be a blessing to me.

I absolutely love the cabin. I feel like I’m on vacation every day! I’m going to add on a little extra room for my piano, a fireplace, and additional storage. It’s going to serve all my needs wonderfully and I’ll be close to my daughter and her wonderful family.

Now…why did I tell you all of that? First, because I want you to know what’s going on in my life and I want you to know I’m doing well and am greatly blessed. Second, I want to encourage you to take a moment to focus on God’s great blessing and provision in your life (even perhaps in the midst of great difficulty) and consider the things that really matter as well as the things that don’t.

In recent weeks as I began to pack up a lifetime of memories, often represented by various items Linda and I had accumulated through the years, I was struck so often with how many things we possess that have no real significant eternal or even temporal value.

There was no condemnation in these moments, but as I would hold a particular item in my hand, remembering where and when Linda and I decided to (with joy and excitement) accumulate this “treasure”... and now I’m sitting here wondering if I should keep it (I don’t have room!), give it away, or take it to my friend’s garage sale.

This really is the central issue of this portion of scripture which I’ve highlighted in this letter. The Lord is not condemning “things” or even treasures. He is telling us to not have as a priority an attachment to things that are subject to decay or theft.

He is encouraging us to prioritize or seek to possess those treasures that cannot diminish or decay, nor can they be stolen or misplaced.

“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”

What are these heavenly treasures? I believe they can be any of the things we do for the honor and glory of the name of Jesus.

Every good work done in His name, every act of service for The Kingdom, every step of obedience for the furtherance of the gospel, and our continual abandoning of our will to His, are all heavenly treasures that will one day, at least in part, comprise those crowns we will lay at His feet. As I was packing up boxes to move I don’t think I came across a single item and thought, “Oh, I wish I could lay this at the feet of Jesus!”

Again…no condemnation in the things! I don’t believe God was ever disappointed at the enjoyment we received from many of the things we accumulated over the years. But as the loving Heavenly Father that He is, He knows that when the things we treasure most are the things which please His heart the greatest, we will be greatly if not doubly blessed!

So, “Lay up for yourselves treasure in Heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be.” In Christ,

Dallas Holm