Every heart is tied to something — a passion, a purpose, a pursuit. Jesus knew this when He said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21). In a world pulling our attention in many directions, God invites us to anchor our hearts in His house — not as mere visitors, but as sons and daughters who love, build, and belong. The question is not just “Do I go to church?” but “Does my heart live there?”
#1. The Heart follow the treasure
Question #1: Which comes first — does the heart follow the treasure, or the treasure follow the heart?
Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” — Matthew 6:21 (ESV)
Jesus’ words confront a common assumption. We tend to believe that we give to what we already love — that the heart leads and the treasure follows. But Jesus reverses that idea. He reveals a deeper truth:
1. The Teaching of Jesus: A Radical Reversal of Assumptions
Jesus didn’t say, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be.” Instead, He said the opposite. Where your treasure is — your money, time, energy, and attention — your heart will be drawn there.
This reveals a principle of spiritual formation: What we invest in, we begin to care about.
“The movement of your money signifies the movement of your heart.”– John Piper
In other words, treasure is not a thermometer of the heart, but a thermostat — it sets the temperature and direction of your affections.
2. The Principle: Treasure Leads, Heart Follows
This is a spiritual law Jesus lays down — Treasure precedes affection.
If you begin to consistently invest your resources into something, your affections will catch up. Where you give and where you serve will become where you care.
- Invest in a business → you care about its future.
- Spend time on a hobby → your love for it grows.
- Give to the local church → your heart becomes tied to its mission.
Randy Alcorn: “As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure.” (The Treasure Principle)
Your heart is not the initiator — your treasure is the driver.
3. Biblical Case Studies: The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:21–22):
Jesus asked him to give up all his possessions, because when he truly did this, his heart would follow the path of spiritual fulfillment and deeper connection with the divine.
4. Applications: Start with Treasure to Shape Your Heart
If you want your heart to be in the right place, put your treasure there first.
- Want to love the church more? Start serving and giving — your heart will follow.
- Want to grow a heart for missions? Start praying for and giving to missionaries.
- Want to desire God’s Kingdom over the world? Begin reallocating time and money toward things that have eternal impact.
Your heart can be discipled by your giving. Don’t wait for feelings — start with faithful investment, and affection will grow.
5. Conclusion: Direct Your Heart by Redirecting Your Treasure
Jesus gives us a key insight into spiritual life: Where your treasure goes, your heart will grow.
You don’t have to wait to feel love for God’s house or God’s mission — start giving, start serving, start sowing. Over time, your heart will be rooted where your treasure is planted. So let’s take Jesus’ word seriously: Reorder your treasure — and watch your heart be transformed.
This means that whatever we invest in — time, money, attention, or energy — our heart will eventually be drawn there. If someone begins investing their treasure in the Kingdom of God, their heart will increasingly love the Kingdom. But if someone pours their treasure into the world, their heart will be drawn toward worldly things.
Question 2: Why is it important for our heart to be in the house of God?
“Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your glory dwells.” — Psalm 26:8 (NIV)
This verse beautifully captures the heart of someone who doesn’t just attend God’s house — they love it. The house of God is not just a location; it’s the place where His presence, His people, and His purpose converge. To love the house of God is to love what God Himself cherishes.
1. Because Loving God’s House Reflects a Heart that Loves God
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty… Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” — Psalm 84:1, 10
David didn’t separate love for God from love for His house. In Psalm 26:8, he expresses affection not just for God, but for the place God chooses to dwell.
Loving God includes loving the gathering of His people, the mission of His church, and the movement of His Spiritthrough the local body. When our heart is in the house of God, we love His Word, His worship, and His work.
Charles Spurgeon: “There are no perfect churches, but even with all their faults, the Lord Jesus never disowns them. He still calls them His.”
2. Because the Church Aligns Our Life to God’s Purpose
“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
— Psalm 92:13 (NKJV)
The local church is where:
- Truth is proclaimed and lies are confronted.
- Worship realigns our hearts toward heaven.
- Community encourages and sharpens us.
- Mission propels us beyond self-centered living.
When your heart is rooted in the house of God, you stop living for your own comfort and begin living for God’s calling.
Bill Hybels: “The local church is the hope of the world when it’s working right.”
3. Because the Church Is God’s Chosen Instrument on Earth
“I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” — Matthew 16:18
The Church is not man’s idea — it’s Jesus’ idea.
Loving the house of God means joining Christ in what He is building. The Church is:
- The body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)
- The bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25–27)
- The family of God (Ephesians 2:19)
To love the house of God is to honor what Christ died for.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “The Church is the Church only when it exists for others… not dominating, but helping and serving.”
4. Because Our Hearts Become What We Honor Most
“Let us not give up meeting together… but encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:25
If we only casually connect to the house of God, we will casually grow. But if we anchor our heart in His house, we become spiritually nourished and missionally mobilized.
Rick Warren: “You are called to belong, not just to believe. Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’”
- We move from consumers to contributors.
- We stop spectating and start building.
- We don’t just “go to church” — we become the church.
Bill Hybels: “The local church is the hope of the world when it’s working right.”
Question 3: How can we place our heart in God’s house?
Here are several practical and spiritual steps:
1. Start investing in God’s house
- Give your time, talents, and finances.
- As Jesus said, where your treasure is, your heart will follow.
- For example: begin to serve, join a small group, give consistently.
2. See the church through Christ’s eyes
- Ephesians 5:25 — Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.
- See the church not merely as an organization, but as the bride of Christ — precious and loved.
3. Build relationships in the house of God
- Our hearts connect where healthy relationships grow.
- Find community and develop friendships in the local church.
4. Pray for God’s house
- The more we pray for something, the more we grow to love it.
- Prayer binds our hearts to what we bring before God.
5. Understand God’s purpose for the Church
- The church is God’s instrument to reveal His Kingdom on earth.
- When we understand God’s will for His house, we’ll want to be part of that mission.
Conclusion:
The direction of your heart shapes the direction of your life. And your heart will always follow what you treasure. If you want to love the things of God more deeply, begin by investing your life — your time, talent, and treasure — into His house. When your heart is rooted in God’s house, your life bears fruit that echoes into eternity. May we not just attend the house of God, but love it, serve it, and carry it in our hearts — because what we build for God, God uses to build us.
The principle “Treasure leads, heart follows” is a spiritual law that applies not only to our love for the House of God but also to many areas of life. Wherever you consistently place your treasure—time, energy, resources, attention—your heart will eventually become emotionally invested. Here are practical applications in other areas of life:
1. Marriage and Relationships
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”
— Ephesians 5:25
Jesus gave Himself—not leftovers, not convenience. His love was sacrificial and active. That’s the model of marital love.
Giving precedes growing. Where we give ourselves, we attach our hearts.
Marriage is a covenant, not a contract. Contracts protect rights. Covenants surrender rights to pursue oneness. To guard the covenant, we must guard the heart. And to guard the heart, we must direct our treasure.
When we cease to invest in our relationships, our hearts begin to drift; temptations rise, and grudges become more entrenched. However, when we continue to invest, love is revitalized, intimacy flourishes, and the relationship embodies the love of Christ.
Application: Intentionally invest your treasure—your time, energy, attention, affection, words, and acts of service—into your spouse or loved ones.
This includes:
- Scheduling unhurried time together, even in a busy season.
- Expressing affection through meaningful words, physical touch, or gifts.
- Offering acts of service that meet their needs—whether big or small.
- Creating emotional safety through listening and vulnerability.
- Praying with and for each other regularly.
This investment isn’t just about what you do but why you do it: to nurture the heart connection that sustains love long-term.
Result: The heart naturally follows where you consistently place your treasure.
In marriage:
- Emotional distance begins when investment stops.
- Emotional connection deepens when intentionality increases.
Even in dry or difficult seasons—when passion fades, communication breaks down, or stress increases—consistent investment can rekindle love. Small, faithful efforts accumulate. Love grows in the soil of intentional investment.
Practical Ways to Apply This Principle in Marriage:
| Area of Treasure | Example of Investment |
|---|---|
| Time | Weekly date nights, device-free dinner conversations |
| Words | Verbal encouragement, thank-you notes, affirmations |
| Acts of Service | Doing chores without being asked, cooking, small favors |
| Prayer | Praying together before bed or during challenges |
| Generosity | Giving gifts that show thoughtfulness, not just value |
Dr. Gary Chapman: “Love is a choice you make every day. Emotional love wanes, but intentional love grows.”
2. Parenting: love deeper
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” — Ephesians 6:4
This verse calls for active, engaged, loving investment — not passive parenting or authoritarian control. True instruction flows from relational connection and consistent presence.
Parenting reflects the heart of God. As He lavishly invests in us as His children — with grace, correction, and patience — we model His character by investing in our own children. If your parenting feels disconnected or dry, don’t wait for feelings. Start sowing treasure, and your heart will return.
James Dobson: “Children are not casual guests in our home. They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values.”
Application:
Parenting isn’t just about raising children — it’s about discipling future adults. And that requires sacrificial investment, even when it’s inconvenient or exhausting. The treasure you give your children — time, energy, focus, affection, correction, and prayer — isn’t always met with immediate reward, but over time, it pulls your heart deeper into their world.
This means:
- Taking time to listen when you’re tired.
- Showing up for their seemingly small moments.
- Correcting in love, not anger.
- Being present not just physically, but emotionally.
- Praying for them daily, even when they don’t see it.
Every act of faithful parenting is a deposit of treasure that deepens your attachment and shapes their soul.
Andy Stanley: “Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.”
Result:
When you invest treasure in your children, your heart grows in awareness and love for them. You begin to:
- See more clearly who they are becoming.
- Hear more deeply what they’re not saying.
- Discern more spiritually their struggles and giftings.
- Parent from love, not just obligation.
Without investment, parenting can become mechanical, reactionary, or guilt-driven. But when your treasure is in the child, your parenting becomes relational, intuitive, and grace-filled.
Practical Ways to Invest in Your Children:
| Area of Treasure | Example of Investment |
|---|---|
| Time | Undistracted meals, playing, helping with homework |
| Attention | Asking questions about their day, listening without rushing |
| Words | Speaking identity, blessing, and encouragement over them |
| Discipline | Setting clear, loving boundaries with consistent follow-up |
| Prayer | Praying for their heart, future, friends, and calling |
“Children spell love T-I-M-E.” — Dr. Anthony P. Witham
3. Career and Work
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Paul teaches that our work is spiritual worship, not secular labor. Whether you’re a CEO or a janitor, God sees excellence, and when you give your best, it becomes an offering. Your workplace isn’t just where you earn — it’s where you serve, grow, witness, and glorify God.
“My work station is my worship station”– Louie Giglio
- Work existed before the Fall (Genesis 2:15) — meaning it is part of God’s original design for us.
- Jesus worked as a carpenter before preaching — showing that ordinary work has eternal dignity.
- Faithfulness in small things is the path to promotion (Luke 16:10).
Dorothy Sayers: “The Church’s approach to an intelligent carpenter is usually confined to exhorting him not to be drunk and to come to church on Sundays. What the Church should be telling him is this: that the very first demand that his religion makes upon him is that he should make good tables.”
Your work matters to God — and so does your attitude in doing it.
Application:
Most people wait for passion before giving their best — but Jesus teaches us the opposite: start by investing, and passion will grow. When you consistently pour in your treasure — effort, creativity, responsibility, focus, and time — even ordinary work takes on new meaning.
Ownership and excellence create momentum. They turn duty into devotion and transform a job into a platform of purpose.
Martin Luther King Jr.: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music… so that all the hosts of heaven will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”
Result:
When you begin to invest fully in your work, your heart will begin to follow.
- What once felt routine becomes a place of impact.
- Mundane tasks are infused with mission.
- Frustrations are replaced with ownership.
- You discover joy in the process, not just the outcome.
You don’t have to love your job to start working like it matters — but if you work like it matters, you’ll start loving it more.
Practical Ways to Invest Treasure in Your Work:
| Area of Treasure | Example of Investment |
|---|---|
| Time | Showing up early, planning your day, eliminating distractions |
| Excellence | Delivering high-quality results, even in unseen tasks |
| Responsibility | Solving problems proactively instead of blaming others |
| Creativity | Bringing new ideas, improving processes, suggesting solutions |
| Integrity | Being honest, reliable, and honoring commitments |
“Don’t wait for passion. Start with investment — passion will grow.” budihidajat88
4. Health and Fitness: Stewarding the Body, Investing in Well-being
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…? Therefore honor God with your bodies.” — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NIV)
Our bodies are not just flesh and bone — they are temples of God’s presence, tools for His mission, and vessels of service to others. Stewarding our health is not about vanity, but about worship. God doesn’t require perfection, but He desires faithful stewardship.
- You can’t fulfill your calling effectively if your health is neglected.
- Clearer thinking, greater energy, and emotional stability often accompany a healthy body.
- Spiritual discipline is often strengthened through physical discipline (see 1 Corinthians 9:27).
Rick Warren: “If you want God to use you greatly, take care of your body. It’s the vehicle He gave you for your life’s purpose.”
This is not about obsession with body image — it’s about honoring God with the life He’s entrusted to you.
Application:
We often say we want to get healthier, but desire without investment rarely produces transformation. When we start putting treasure into our physical health—through gym memberships, healthier food choices, fitness coaching, or carving out time for exercise—our heart begins to follow.
This includes:
- Budgeting for a fitness class or health plan.
- Scheduling time for physical activity or rest.
- Choosing nutrient-rich meals over convenience.
- Being mindful of sleep and recovery.
- Monitoring stress, hydration, and posture.
Each of these is a sacrificial investment. And over time, your heart grows to value the health you’ve worked for.
Craig Groeschel: “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.”
Your commitment begins to shape your character and care.
- You stop viewing health as a burden and begin seeing it as a blessing to protect.
- You become more grateful for your body, more aware of your choices, and more motivated to sustain growth.
- What once felt like a chore becomes a source of energy, confidence, and stewardship.
The law of sowing and reaping applies to your body just as it does to your spirit (Galatians 6:7–9). Consistent investment brings lasting fruit.
Practical Ways to Invest Treasure in Your Health:
| Area of Treasure | Example of Investment |
|---|---|
| Money | Join a gym, buy healthy groceries, consult a health coach |
| Time | Block out 30–60 minutes daily for physical activity or rest |
| Focus | Plan meals, monitor sleep, avoid screen time before bed |
| Accountability | Partner with someone to exercise or meal prep together |
| Prayer | Invite God into your health journey, asking for strength and discipline |
The principle Jesus taught — “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” — is not just about finances; it’s about formation. It reminds us that love grows where we sow. Whether it’s in marriage, parenting, career, or health, the heart does not move first — investment does.
If you want to love your spouse more deeply, invest in them.
If you want to be more present as a parent, give them your best time and attention.
If you want to find purpose at work, bring your best effort and excellence.
If you want to value your health, start investing in it intentionally.
Where you put your treasure, your heart will follow.
So don’t wait to feel it — sow into what matters most, and your heart will grow to match what you faithfully invest in.
“The secret of lasting passion is not to follow your heart, but to lead your heart with your treasure.”
budi hidajat 