Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”1 Some people quote that as “Where your heart is, there will your treasure be also.” But that isn’t the way it is recorded in Scripture. The Lord said where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
And Matthew 6:19–21 says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there the heart is also.”
I don’t think God puts any premium on poverty, nor do riches shut the door of heaven, though Christ said, “How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God.”2 Note He said it’s hard for people who trust in riches. That’s the key—it’s where you put the trust.
In Luke 12, the rich man with many barns was called a fool because he was not rich toward God, not because he had riches. In calling him a fool, Jesus said, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”3 There’s the crux of the whole matter: “Not rich toward God.”
I’ve been searching my own heart to see if I’m deeply, truly rich toward God. What about you? Are you putting the emphasis on the right things, eternal things, by having a relationship with Jesus and fulfilling His plan for your life? Or are you occupying all your time and thought with the material? If so, then you’re not being rich toward God. You’re not laying up treasures in heaven. Paul said, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”4