Matthew 6:21 – “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
At the core of the biblical story lies a simple yet searching truth: God is deeply interested in the human heart. Again and again, Scripture reveals that His primary concern is not how much we give, how busy we are, or how impressive our service looks, but where our hearts truly rest. The heart is the place of affection, allegiance, and desire. It is the wellspring from which the rest of life flows.
This focus may feel unsettling, especially in a world that measures worth by productivity and performance. Yet God’s gaze is gentler and far more intimate. He looks beyond what we do and peers into why we do it. He is not after mere compliance or outward activity; He longs for genuine connection. When the heart is rightly aligned, everything else begins to fall into place.
THE HEART: THE CENTER OF LIFE
Jesus consistently pointed His followers inward. He taught that the heart is the center of human life: the place where emotions are shaped, desires are formed, and decisions are born. Our external lives are simply reflections of an internal reality. What governs the heart ultimately governs the direction of our lives.
This is why Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21 carry such weight: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Treasure is not limited to money. It includes whatever we value most: our ambitions, comforts, relationships, successes, and even our worries. These treasures quietly claim our attention, shape our priorities, and influence our choices. Over time, they reveal where our hearts truly belong.
WHAT WE TREASURE SHAPES US
Our hearts naturally gravitate toward what we value most. The things we repeatedly think about, invest our time in, and expend our energy to pursue are powerful indicators of our inner orientation. This is not an invitation to guilt, but to awareness. Jesus’ teaching invites us to pause and take an honest look at what holds the greatest weight in our lives.
Many of the things that compete for our hearts are not inherently wrong. Work, family, dreams, and responsibilities are all meaningful parts of life. The danger arises when these good things quietly take center stage, becoming ultimate things. When that happens, our hearts begin to drift, often without us noticing.
TRAINING THE HEART, NOT JUST GUARDING IT
Centering our hearts is not accomplished merely by resisting distractions or removing unhealthy attachments. While boundaries matter, transformation goes deeper. The heart must be trained, not just guarded. It must be intentionally directed toward what is true, life-giving, and eternal.
The apostle Paul offers a practical guide for this kind of intentional focus. He encourages believers to dwell on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise. This is more than positive thinking; it is spiritual formation. What we consistently meditate on reshapes our inner world. Over time, our desires begin to align with what we continually set before our minds.
JESUS AS OUR TRUE TREASURE
As our thoughts are shaped by what is good and God-centered, our hearts are drawn toward Jesus—not out of obligation, but out of affection. He becomes our greatest treasure because our hearts recognise His unmatched worth. When this happens, life begins to reorder itself from the inside out.
Fear loses its grip. Comparison fades. Contentment grows. Faith becomes less about striving and more about resting. Loving God is no longer something we force ourselves to do; it becomes the natural response of a heart that has found its true home.
REORIENTING THE HEART DAILY
Honest reflection is a powerful spiritual practice. Reflecting on where our time, energy, and resources are going can reveal where our hearts are truly leaning. These questions are not meant to condemn us, but to gently invite us back into alignment.
Spending time in Scripture and prayer provides space for this realignment. These practices do not earn God’s favour; they simply help recalibrate our hearts. In God’s presence, our misplaced affections are lovingly reordered, and our focus is restored.
Centering our hearts is a daily, intentional journey. It is the continual choice to return our attention to Jesus whenever it drifts. And as we do, we discover that a heart centered on Him becomes a source of clarity, peace, and enduring joy.
Amen.
SIX KEY TAKEAWAY POINTS
God’s primary concern is not outward activity but inward alignment:
The heart is where true transformation begins.
The heart shapes emotions, desires, and life direction:
What governs the heart ultimately governs the life.
Our treasures are revealed by what we consistently pursue:
Time, focus, and energy expose where the heart truly rests.
Centering the heart requires intentional training, not avoidance alone:
What we dwell on steadily reshapes our desires.
When Jesus becomes our greatest treasure, life finds its proper order:
Peace grows as striving gives way to rest.
Scripture and prayer help reorient the heart toward what truly matters:
In God’s presence, misplaced priorities are gently restored.
