Matthew 6:19-24

Matthew 6:19-24
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Treasure doesn't only change us once we find it -- it changes us in the process as well. 
  Think of a pirate with a treasure map, where 'X' marks the spot.  He isn't changed once he finds it -- the second he gets the map and his treasure is defined, everything else in his life rotates around seeking the treasure.  He plans, he prepares, he packs.  He makes choices based on whether they will help him reach the goal.  He might become ruthless, his very behavior changed by whether or not he intends to share the bounty.  He is driven.
  So what is your treasure?  Many of us are chasing financial security or independence.  We think it will bring freedom, and it does offer some degrees of freedom, but the pursuit of it can bind us in ways we don't recognize, and the desire for it can change how we behave, how we interact.  Others may be chasing popularity or acclaim, and that, too, shapes our lives.  Whatever the treasure is, life will not be the same once it is defined.  Some people may not be chasing anything, which is a treasure of a sort as well.
  Jesus invites us to seek the greatest treasure of all, the one that leads our heart deeper into the relationship it was created for.  The quest, while challenging, will ultimately fulfill us in a way nothing else can.  There is abundance and peace for those who seek treasure in heaven, but seeking treasure in heaven means not seeking other kinds of treasure above all else, and if we don't make this a conscious choice, it will be made for us. 
  So the invitation is two-fold.  First, pay attention to your life, to the rhythms of it.  Watch what excites you.  Pay attention to where you spend your time.  What do you think about in your idle hours?  What do you plan for?  That is likely your treasure.
  Second, seek Christ above all else.  Spend time with your Savior, and then make your other choices revolve around that.  Make God first, and the other treasures will be secondary.  They'll no longer motivate you like they used to.  You'll likely recognize that many of the promises made by financial independence or acclaim are empty.  When we lead our heart to seek Christ first, we discover the riches of grace God has in store for us.