What Do You Treasure?

       
            As we embark on 2026, it behooves us to examine our hearts. Paul told us that "...a person must [prayerfully] examine himself [and his relationship to Christ], and only when he has done so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Corinthians 11:28 AMP).

            One of the ways to examine our hearts is to ask ourselves what we treasure. Jesus told His disciples, "Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or - worse! - stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being" (Matthew 6:19-21 MSG).

        Each of us must ask the question - what do I treasure? What does my mind naturally gravitate to? What do I spend my time on? My money? Our heart follows whatever we treasure.

        Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself]" (Matthew 13:44 AMP).

        The man considered everything he owned worthless compared to the treasure. I recently read an account of a Hindu family living in the Himalayas. One of the daughters received "The Book of Hope", which is a Bible in consensed form for children. Through reading it, she accepted Jesus as her Saviour. Everyone in her family, except her father, came to know Jesus, and began attending a local church.

        The father was so enraged, he decided to burn his whole family alive. He tied everyone up. Just as he was about to light the fire, a man from the church arrived. He stopped the father from committing the heinous crime, and even led him to the Lord.

        That family's treasure was Jesus. They didn't renouce their faith to save their lives. They were willing to give their lives, "everything they had," to "purchase" the treasure of Jesus.

        The Apostle Paul wrote, "For no one is empowered to lay an alternative foundation other than the good foundation that exists, which is Jesus Christ! The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! And the fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder." (1 Corinthians 3:11-13 TPT).

        I want to do here on earth that which will last for eternity. 

        The man who found the treasure in the field was joyful. It wasn't a struggle for him to sell all he had. He wanted to do it - it was the best day of his life.

        God has given us the ability to choose what we treasure. He knows He will find our heart wherever our treasure is. His heart's desire is for us to make Him our treasure. Dear Lord Jesus, in this new year of 2026, and in all future years, help us to choose wisely what our hearts seek after.

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