On the most recent snow day, my youngest asked if I would stay up and watch National Treasure 1 and National Treasure 2 with him. He’s the age where he loves a movie marathon and loves his daddy still as well. I was willing. We had a fun time watching both these now classic movies.
Watching these two movies would lead to at least two or three conclusions. First, treasure hunting is dangerous. Second, treasure hunting produces some great treasure and benefits. Third, when you treasure hunt, you get the pretty girl. I think I’ll pass on that observation and discuss briefly the first two.
First though, for those of us who follow Christ, we need to establish that it is important to treasure hunt every day.
The Best Treasure Hunts
Jesus said:
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus explains why it is important to lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. In other words, Jesus, knowing us with our love of treasure, points us toward the best treasure. He encourages us to collect heavenly treasure. Essentially, heavenly treasure comes from living a life that honors Jesus. As we do, our heavenly treasure amasses. Heavenly treasure cannot be stolen, will not rot, and will not become corroded with rust.
Plus, He identified whatever your treasure is, there your heart will be also. This one line of truth Jesus shared provides us incredible insight, clarity, and discernment. He describes for us the key to understanding our hearts. Every time we identify what we truly love, desire, want, or treasure, we receive insight regarding our heart. Of course Jesus also teaches, From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Therefore, whatever the heart treasures maintains functional control of our attitude and behavior.
Therefore, for the disciple of Jesus Christ, we need to go treasure hunting in our own hearts to determine what it is our heart’s treasure.
What Are Some Good Questions for Treasure Hunting?
Again, let me point out the connections for you.
Whatever we treasure in our heart functionally controls us.
Our treasure can be anything – simply whatever it is that we value highly.
Heavenly treasure is much more valuable than any kind of earthly treasure.
Therefore, we want to be able to identify the treasure of our hearts. Is this treasure God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled, Gospel-focused, and heavenly-minded? Each of these questions help reveal functional gods; that is, what or who actually controls particular actions, thoughts, emotions, attitudes, memories, and anticipations.
If all of this is true, then what questions can you ask to better identify the treasure of your heart? Here are ten to get you started.
- What do you treasure/desire so much that you are willing to sin to get it?
- What do you treasure /desire so much that you are willing to sin if you do not get it?
- What do you treasure/desire so much that you are willing to sin if you are afraid you are going to lose it?
- What do you turn to as a refuge?
- What do you love? Hate?
- What do you want? Fear?
- What do you seek, aim for, pursue? What are your goals and expectations?
- In what do you hope? Trust? Deeply long for?
- What are your plans, agendas, strategies, and intentions designed to accomplish?
- What do you think you need? What are your “felt needs”? What do you demand?
Use these questions to help you treasure hunt. Seek to determine what you value most in your heart. Try to discern what truly makes you tick, rules your heart, and drives you.
Treasure Hunting is Dangerous? Produces some Great Treasure and Benefits?
If you have watched the movies, then you know, as depicted in the movies, that treasure hunting is quite dangerous. Why? Because everyone is driven to get the treasure for their own personal reasons, like being rich, famous, clearing one’s family name, etc. People do crazy things to get whatever it is they want or treasure. When treasure hunting, primarily, the ends justify the means. In other words, most people will do many, many things in order to secure whatever it is for which they value and search.
Friends, this is dangerous. We end up making decisions that create all kinds of destruction and carry all kinds of consequences because of something we treasure or desire so deeply.
However, there is also great treasure and benefits as well. If we lay up treasure in heaven, we are most wise and honor God in the process. If you live for God’s honor, striving to become more like Jesus in everything, you will lay up all kinds of treasure and benefits for yourself. Your life on earth will be more fulfilling and less complicated. In heaven, your treasure awaits.
Happy hunting!
For more great treasure hunting questions see David A. Powlison, “X-Ray Questions: Drawing Out the Whys and Wherefores of Human Behavior,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Number 1, Fall 1999.
Image Credit Nadjib BR
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
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