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What You Love Reveals What You Treasure Most
By Dave Jenkins
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Where Is Your Treasure?
What would someone learn about you if they looked at what you love most?
That is not merely a casual question. It is a revealing one. Jesus teaches that your heart follows your treasure. So ask yourself honestly: What do I prize above all else? Where do I run when life becomes difficult? Where do I turn for joy when things go well?
Dear Christian, what you love reveals what you treasure. And what you treasure reveals what you worship.
For those who are in Christ, our greatest treasure must not be success, comfort, possessions, or the approval of others, but the Lord Himself. He is faithful, unchanging, kind, and good, regardless of how we feel or what we face.
God’s Character Is Your Anchor
Life is not always easy. Seasons shift and circumstances change, but the Lord does not. Whether you are experiencing joy or walking through a difficult trial, whether you are at home, at work, or serving in ministry, you can trust the Lord. He has revealed Himself clearly and sufficiently in His Word.
God’s promises do not bend under pressure. They are not weakened by time or threatened by culture. They are firm because He is faithful.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” In Christ, God’s saving purposes and promises are fulfilled and secured. Through Christ, believers are forgiven, adopted into God’s family, and given a sure and eternal hope. Because Christ is risen and reigning, His people can rest in Him with confidence.
Treasuring Christ in Life and Death
Church history is filled with believers who treasured Christ above all, even when faithfulness cost them dearly. Polycarp, for example, refused to deny Christ when threatened with death. Jan Hus likewise suffered for his conviction that biblical truth must not be abandoned.
These men were not faithful because they possessed unusual strength in themselves. They were faithful because they treasured Christ more than safety, reputation, or comfort.
“Christ is never loved till sin be loathed. Heaven is never longed for till sin be loathed. When sin is bitter, Christ will be sweet.”
— Thomas Watson
The enjoyment of God is the only lasting satisfaction for the soul. Every earthly treasure will eventually fail us, but Christ will never fail His people.
The Heart and Treasure Always Travel Together
Matthew 6:21 is not simply about money. It is about desire and worship. Jesus shows us that what we value most reveals the true condition of our hearts. Our affections, habits, and responses to trials often reveal what we believe is our true reward.
This is why the Christian life is not merely behavior modification. It is heart transformation. We do not need more self-help. We need to behold Christ as infinitely more glorious and satisfying than anything else we could pursue.
How to Grow in Treasuring Christ Daily
Here are a few practical ways to anchor your heart in Christ:
- Open God’s Word each day, even if only for a few minutes in the Psalms or a Gospel.
- Praise God in prayer for one of His attributes, such as His holiness, mercy, faithfulness, or love.
- Step away from social media for a time and meditate on a promise from Scripture.
- Memorize Scripture and carry it into your conversations, temptations, and trials.
- Gather faithfully with God’s people for worship, fellowship, and discipleship.
Spiritual growth is not about pursuing intensity for its own sake. It is about steadily growing in grace through the ordinary means God has given His people.
Treasuring Christ in the Church
One of the greatest needs in the church today is a recovery of true worship: worship that exalts Christ and is shaped by His Word. When we treasure Christ, our churches reflect it. The pulpit becomes a place of proclamation rather than performance. The songs we sing are marked by biblical truth. Discipleship becomes a genuine pursuit of holiness and faithfulness.
If Christ is our treasure, He will be at the center of all we do.
A Word to the Everyday Christian
You do not need a seminary degree or a ministry title to treasure Christ. Most believers who make a lasting gospel impact are ordinary Christians faithfully walking with the Lord in everyday life.
You treasure Christ when you open His Word before the day begins. You treasure Christ when you choose integrity over ease at work. You treasure Christ when you fight sin, love your spouse sacrificially, forgive quickly, and pray for a wandering friend.
Your quiet faithfulness in unseen moments matters. The Lord sees, the Lord knows, and the Lord is at work through His people for His glory. Keep going. Treasure Christ where He has placed you.
A Word to Pastors and Ministry Leaders
If you shepherd God’s people through preaching, counseling, or discipleship, you have a sacred trust. You cannot faithfully call people to treasure Christ while your own affections are divided. If platform, productivity, or popularity has become your treasure, repent and return to your first love.
The pulpit must be a place where Christ is proclaimed, not a platform for self-promotion. Churches do not need personalities at the center. They need the truth of God’s Word. Preach Christ, exalt His Word, and remember that the people in your care ultimately belong to Him.
The more Christ shapes your private life, the more your public ministry will point people to Him.
Affections, Idolatry, and the Battle Within
Scripture is clear that our loves shape the direction of our lives. This is why idolatry is such a constant danger. We never stop worshiping. Instead, we are tempted to worship created things rather than the Creator.
John Calvin described the human heart as “a perpetual factory of idols.” The answer is not merely to reject false treasures. It is to pursue the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:8).
Reflection Questions
- What do your habits and thoughts reveal about what you treasure most?
- Are you resting in God’s promises or leaning primarily on your own strength?
- How can you reorient your heart to treasure Christ today?
A Prayer to Treasure Christ
O Lord, no day of my life has passed that has not proved me guilty in Your sight. Even in my best efforts, sin has mingled with all. But in Christ, I am held fast. Make Him my delight. Make Him my confidence. Make Him my treasure above all.
For Further Encouragement
- Psalm 73:25–26 — The Lord is our portion forever.
- Matthew 6:19–21 — Store up treasures in heaven.
- Philippians 3:7–11 — Count all things as loss because of Christ’s surpassing worth.
- Romans 8:38–39 — Nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ.
Continue Growing in Following Christ
Following Christ involves a call to discipleship, a real cost, and a life increasingly shaped by His character. Explore the full Following Christ: The Call, the Cost, and the Character of Discipleship series for further biblical encouragement.
You can also subscribe to the Servants of Grace YouTube channel for biblical teaching and discipleship resources.
