How to Know What You Treasure Most in Life

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They say if you want to know what people treasure most, look at their calendar and their checkbook or credit card statement.

I imagine it’s because we invest most in the things that are most important to us. We spend most of our resources on things we believe necessary to enjoy a life of peace and happiness.

What do you treasure most?

Here’s a list of just some of the things people treasure (need):

• Appearance – Conforming to the culture’s idea of beauty.
• Happiness – Doing whatever it takes to experience pleasure, enjoyment, and contentment.
• Inclusion – Spending time and money to be accepted and valued by those around you.
• Knowledge – Wanting to have an extensive amount of information and education.
• Prestige – Achieving a high level of fame and personal importance. 
• Relationships – Having a close connection to family and friends. 
• Security – Living in a stable environment free of danger. 
• Success – Ability to accomplish goals in your chosen field. 
• Wealth – A great quantity of money, possessions, or property.
• Youthfulness – Striving to maintain a young appearance and level of activity.

Is your greatest treasure on that list?

One of my goals here at Counting My Blessings is to focus on the places where faith and life intersect. With that in mind, you may have noticed a few things missing from the list above.

Things like:

• A Relationship with God Through Jesus.
• Faith.
• Prayer.
• Loving God.
• Loving Others.

Paul said in Philippians 3:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him.

Phiilippians 3:8–9a

That’s a high bar, isn’t it?

We live in a busy, full-of-distractions, here-and-now; yet, we’re called to a faith that lives focused on eternity. A faith that realizes most of the things we treasure are temporary.

But our greatest treasure is our relationship with Jesus, the Pearl of Great Value…

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

Matthew 13:44

Matthew used the phrase “The Kingdom of Heaven” 32 times in his Gospel message.

Got Questions defines it like this:

While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. 

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe.

More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God.

And God’s rule in our hearts is what Jesus described as most valuable, and how Paul described His relationship with God through faith in Jesus.

So once again . . . What do you treasure most?

I’m asking myself. I know what my heart wants to treasure most. I even know what my head knows I should treasure most.

But I’m wondering, if I showed you my calendar and my investments, could you tell what’s in my head and my heart?

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Treasure Most
the Things of God’s Kingdom

Father, we know the kingdom, power, and glory are Yours. The Spirit inspired David to write…

All of Your works will thank You, Lord,
    and Your faithful followers will praise You.
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom;
    they will give examples of Your power.
They will tell about Your mighty deeds
    and about the majesty and glory of Your reign.
For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
    You rule throughout all generations. (Psalm 145:10–13)

You created us to love and be loved in a relationship with You and the people around us. We fail to love as You want, but rather than reject us, You sent Jesus to save us and make it possible for us to be citizens of Your Kingdom.

Knowing, Loving, and Trusting You, through Jesus, is life’s greatest treasure. There is nothing in this world we need more. And by Your grace and the help of the Spirit, there is nothing I desire more.

Please help me pause to evaluate my calendar and where I invest my resources. Help me reflect on whether my life truly reflects the faith in my heart. I want to surrender all of my life to You, trusting that You are faithful to keep Your promises…

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need. So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:31–32)

I love You, Lord. I give my life to You. Please fill me with Your Spirit that You may be who I treasure most forever and always. And may I generously share Your love with everyone around me.

I pray this all in the precious name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Amen.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship…

“And if we ask how are we to know where our hearts are, the answer is just as simple – everything which hinders us from loving God above all things and acts as a barrier between ourselves and our obedience to Jesus is our treasure, and the place where our heart is.”

I believe the question we must ask if we want to know what we treasure most is … what am I seeking? Where am I investing my time and my resources? Am I devoted to loving the Lord and the people around me?

Hmmm. I have a lot to think about. You too?

May the Lord bless us and give us everything to treasure most, living and loving like Jesus.

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