Creator, Father, King #183

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

ON JULY 12, 1987, Valerio Viccei strolled into the Knightsbridge Safe Deposit Centre in London asking to rent a deposit box. Once inside the vault, he and another man brandished guns and stole an estimated $98 million.

For several days, Viccei ran free. Newspapers dubbed it “the crime of the century.” Indeed, the heist remains one of the biggest bank robberies in history. But eventually, authorities caught Viccei. In April 2000, on day release from prison, Viccei was killed during a shootout with police.

The allure of earthly treasures can be so tempting. Fame, fortune, big houses, fast cars—it all sounds so glamorous. But spiritually, it leads to a dead end.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke about chasing worldly riches:

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

You don’t have to be a vicious, gun-wielding bank robber to need this biblical truth. We all need to hear it.

What’s It Mean?

Every human heart—sinful by nature—desires worldly treasure. That’s why Jesus addressed the issue. Deep down, we all want another few zeros at the end of our bank account balances.

But money, mansions, cars, jewelry, and so on are all ephemeral possessions that come and go with the wind. When we die, our money and possessions won’t do us any good.

Are these fleeting treasures what your heart truly desires? If so, it says a lot about you. That’s because, according to Scripture, the heart is our moral center where a person’s emotions, reason, and will reside.

What do you long for most—more stuff on earth, or treasure in heaven? The false idols of worldly wealth or everlasting riches of eternal life with God himself?

You can’t have both. As Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”

The choice seems clear. But it’s up to you to make it!

Now What?

With a parent’s help, give some of your clothing and other possessions to a local shelter or other charitable organization.

Did You Know?

The largest bank robbery in US history was a $30 million heist at the United California Bank in 1972.