Everybody knows that their heart is on the left side of the body, for when the National Anthem is heard, our hand is placed over the heart as a sign of devotion to this land. It is likely that few have heard of dextrocardia situs inversus, but about one person in 10,000 suffers from this medical situation where the heart is located in the right side of the body. It is not often fatal to have the heart located in the wrong place, but there is another fatal condition called spiritualitus cardia situs inversus. Having the spiritual heart in the wrong place is always fatal.
The Bible uses the word “heart” 837 times and almost never uses it to refer to the muscle which pumps our blood. It uses the word to refer to our inner being, our souls and our emotions. Who has not heard of the greatest commandment, to love the Lord with all our heart? Our love is tied to our hearts.
Jesus indicated this when He said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). The context in which He said this is preceded by two commands:
(1) Do NOT lay up treasures for yourself on earth.
(2) Do lay up treasures for yourself in heaven.
Notice how vividly the Lord described the two options where our treasures, and therefore, our hearts, will be focused. Far too many are so focused on physical matters that their hearts are not heaven centered. There is no middle ground, for the verses that follow show that it is impossible for one to serve God and riches (mammon).
Now all of this is tied to the heart. Those in the world, and sadly many Christians, have their hearts located in the wrong place. There is no way anyone can live focused on the physical pleasures which money enables and stay focused on spiritual matters. Why? Because “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
With Mission Sunday immediately before us, consider what will happen. There will be great sacrifice by some, whose contribution will represent a great sacrifice in not using that money on themselves. Sadly, others will only give out of their abundance and be satisfied that “abundance giving”—read and pray about Luke 21:1-2 if you do not know understand this term—brings blessings from the Lord. There will be others who will barely be impacted by what happens on that day. In which of these three groups do you fit?
The last Sunday of this month is a perfect time to evaluate yourself. Only you and the Lord know the circumstances in your life, but your actions on that day mirror where your heart is located. Let’s hope it is on the “right” side, for where your treasure is found shows the location of your heart.