Luke 12:34 - Where Is Your Treasure?
Luke 12:34 (NIV) For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
COMMENTARY PEARL
All Those Idols
Idols take many forms.
A church building can become an idol to
us, when all the while it is simply a place to
meet and worship our Lord - nothing more. Your
child can become your idol. In subtle ways you can
so adore that little one that your whole life
revolves around that precious gem. Your mate or date
can be given first place in your life and
literally idolized. Your work can easily become your
god. So can any pursuit in life. A house, a lawn,
an antique, a car, a letter in sports, an
education, a trip abroad, an achievement, and even that
goal of retirement can so grip your heart
that it becomes the object of all your
affection.
Theres nothing necessarily wrong with
any of these good things. To possess them is not
sinful. But it is sinful when they possess us!
Therein lies the difference. Its that sort of
thing that turns a golden dream into a hollow
chunk of bronze.
Can you testify to the fact that youve
destroyed the idols? Can you say you are free from
bronze anchors? That Christ reigns without a rival?
Or would you have to admit to a personal shrine
in your inner temple where you privately burn
incense? Here is the plain truth:
Wherever your treasure is, there the
desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34
I love the simplicity of that statement.
Our Lords words help sort out our priorities
and focus our affections on things eternal.
Your Lord and Savior wants to occupy
first place. Jesus says if He has it, everything
else will be added to you (Luke 12:31,
ESV). How long has it been since youve enlisted
His help in a private, personal temple-cleansing
session? Its so easy to get attached to idols -
good things, inappropriately adored. But when you
have Jesus in the center of the room, everything
else only junks up the decor.
Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body, wrote Paul, and He is the
beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So
he is first in everything (Colossians
1:18).
Did you get that? He holds first place in
everything.
Everything. [Chuck Swindoll
www.insight.org.]
COMMENTARY
What you value most is your treasure.
Where you spend your time and your money is your
treasure. Whatever dominates your conversation is what
you treasure. What others know you for is a good
indication of what your treasure is.
Most Christians are quick to claim that
God is their first priority. Yet often their
actions reveal that their treasure is not God but
things of this world. Some Christians find it
difficult to discuss their relationship with God, but
they can chatter easily about their family,
friends, or hobbies. Some find it impossible to rise
early in order to spend time with God, but they
willingly get up at dawn to pursue a hobby. Some find
it difficult to give an offering to God but
readily spend lavishly on recreation. Some boldly
approach strangers to sell a product, yet they are
painfully timid in telling others about their Savior.
Some give hundreds of hours to serve in volunteer
organizations but feel they have no time available to
serve God.
If you are unsure of where your treasure
is, examine where you spend your available time
and money. Reflect on what it is you most enjoy
thinking about and discussing. Ask your friends to
tell you what they think is most important to
you. Ask your children to list the things most
valuable to you. It may surprise you to know what
others consider to be your treasure. [Experiencing
God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re
Luke 12:34]
"Bend all your life to obeying God's will
and rest content with that. So many people give
all their effort to heap up things which in
their very nature cannot last. Work for the things
which last forever, things which you need not
leave behind when you leave this earth, but which
you can take with you." [Barclay Commentary]
True wealth is possessing a relationship
with the King. Seeking the kingdom of God means
making Jesus the Lord and King of your life. He
must control every area - your work, play, plans,
relationships, etc. Is the kingdom only one of your many
concerns, or is it central to all you do? Are you
holding back any areas of your life from Gods
control? As Lord and Creator, he wants to help
provide what you need as well as guide how you use
what he provides. [Life Application SB]
True wealth is the opposite of the wealth
that the world values. Jesus says that the good
life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so be
on guard against greed (desire for what we
dont have). This is the exact opposite of what
society usually says. Advertisers spend millions of
dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more
and more of their products, we will be happier,
more fulfilled, more comfortable. How do you
respond to the constant pressure to buy? Learn to
tune out expensive enticements and concentrate
instead on the truly good life - living in a
relationship with God and doing his work. [Life
Application SB]
True wealth is part of heaven - earthly
wealth is not. The rich man in Jesus story died
before he could begin to use what was stored in his
big barns. Planning for retirement - preparing
for life before death - is wise, but neglecting
life after death is disastrous. If you accumulate
wealth only to enrich yourself, with no concern for
helping others, you will enter eternity
empty-handed. [Life Application SB]
True wealth is measured in part by how we
use material wealth to benefit others. Money
seen as an end in itself quickly traps us and
cuts us off from both God and the needy. The key
to using money wisely is to see how much we can
use for Gods purposes, not how much we can
accumulate for ourselves. Does Gods love touch your
wallet? Does your money free you to help others? If
so, you are storing up lasting treasures in
heaven. If your financial goals and possessions
hinder you from giving generously, loving others,
or serving God, sell what you must to bring
your life into perspective. [Life Application
SB]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS TOPIC
Matthew 6:19-21 - Where Your Treasure Is,
There Your Heart Will Be Also.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200324-0853.html
Luke 12:31 - Making God First And Last And
Best In Everything!
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20140613-1208.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
