By Jesus illustrated the Christian life as a treasure map where X marks the spot where your heart is.
“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.
Matthew 6:19-21
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The practical problem, like most treasure map legends, is that it is not as simple as you might think to find the X. Scripture marks the X very clearly, but when you overlay the map of Scripture on your own life, you might struggle to align the X accurately. What is the actual treasure of your life? What is your heart fixed on? Does the X on the treasure map of your life match the X on the treasure map of Scripture? Does the X on the treasure map of your life perhaps mark a spot where moth, rust and thieves destroy what’s there?
Here is a thought-provoking question to find the spot that marks the treasure of your heart:
What things in life make you more sad than the happy things make you happy?
(You might need to read that question a few times to sense the significance of it.)
Just because something makes you sad, does not mean it is some evil treasure that you hold more dear than Christ. For example, when a loved one passes away, we are grieved, but that does not necessarily mean we idolised that person over our worship of God. But, when something saddens you more than the truth about God makes you happy, then that thing marks the spot of the treasure of your heart.
Christian living is a life of paradoxes. Christians sense the futility of life, yet also sense the purpose of living for God’s glory. Christians mourn over sin, yet rejoice in forgiveness. Christians live for eternity, yet engage with the temporary. We know how to be saddened by one thing, yet maintain joy in the Lord.
But, when something overcomes you more than the glories of God, then the X on the treasure map of your life is on the wrong spot. If something depresses you more than the saints are able to encourage you, then your heart is in the wrong place. If the hopes of a certain future motivates you more than your hope of eternity with Christ does, then your heart is following the wrong treasure. If the disappointments in life dictate your attitudes more than the promises of God dictate your attitudes, then the X is misplaced.
What things in life make you more sad than the happy things make you happy? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.