By: John Mitchell
In Matthew 6:21 Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Jesus is telling us that whatever, or whoever, we highly value as a treasure to us, is where our heart will be. It is so important that we treasure the right things in our life, so that our heart will be in the right place. We know that our physical heart is not going to come out of our body and attach itself to that person or thing that is most important to us in our life. What is referred to as our heart, is the emotions and desires of our mind. These emotions and desires are the things we strongly say, and the actions we strongly take, for or against, a person or thing. They are guided by the deep inner values and beliefs of our mind, that we are passionate about. The things we say and do show the people around us what is in our heart. It shows if we are seeking after good or evil. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.” Matthew 12:35) What are we treasuring in our mind? Where is our heart today? Do we have a treasure of love and kindness in our heart toward others, or do we have a treasure of hatred, and evil thoughts and plans toward others in our heart? The condition of our heart is very important to God, as shown in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” And Jeremiah 17:10, I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” and Matthew 15:8-9, “These people draw near tome with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” I can list scripture after scripture showing how God looks at the condition of a person’s heart. In the Bible the word heart is mentioned 826 times, and it is mentioned and referred to 955 times. There are two types of mind sets, or conditions of our heart. The first is the carnally minded person. His mind is set on the things of the world. The second is the spiritually minded person. His mind is set on the things of God. If a person is not a Christian they have a carnal worldly mind. 1 John 2;15 says to us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” A carnal minded person cannot love God with all of their heart. Romans 8:7,8 reads, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” The opposite of being a carnal minded person, who walks in the flesh, is a spiritually minded person, who walks in the spirit. The Spiritually minded person with a heart for God, and the things of God, walks in love, joy, peace, and is longsuffering, has an attitude of kindness and goodness, is faithful and gentle, and has self-control. (From Galatians 5:22-23) Those who walk in the Spirit shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16) A carnally minded person walks in the flesh and has a heart for the things of the world. The works of the flesh are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (From Galatians 5:19-21) The Bible says, if you are not a Christian you are in bondage to, and a slave to, sin. “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.” (John 8:34) To be able to walk in the spirit, and not accomplish the deeds of the flesh, (Galatians 5:16), we have to be a born-again Christian, who is following and obeying God’s plan of salvation. Romans 12:2 tells us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The more we read the Bible, the more we understand how much God loves us, and the more we will love, trust and obey God. When we love and value God more than anyone or anything else in our life, then God and His holy inspired words of scripture will be the the treasure of our life, and then the condition of our heart will be right, and in the right place. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Matthew 6:33 tells us that in our life, we should first seek to become a member of the kingdom of God, a son or daughter in the family of God, and to live a righteous life, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The Great Commandment in the Bible reads, “Jesus said to him,” ”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” “This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 6:37-40) God wants us to love Him with all of our heart. How amazing is it that God, out of His love and compassion for us, gave to us, His only Son, Jesus, to be punished and die for the sins we have committed. When a Christian puts God, and His righteous plans for him, first in his life, then everything else in his life will fall into its proper place.