Monday Morning Pause
Matthew 6:19–21
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
— Matthew 6:21
If you’ve ever ridden Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney, you know that treasure is everywhere. Pirates guard overflowing chests of gold. Coins and jewels are piled high. Everyone seems to be searching for something, protecting something, or trying to get their hands on just a little bit more.
It’s playful and exaggerated—but perhaps it isn’t so far removed from real life.
We may not spend our days chasing buried treasure, but we are always pursuing something. Success. Security. Recognition. Comfort. Possessions. Experiences. A full calendar. The approval of others. Even good things can become treasures when they begin to claim too much of our hearts.
Jesus says:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Jesus’ words invite us to consider not simply what we have, but what we are pursuing.
Because whatever we treasure begins to shape us. It receives our attention, our energy, our time, and often our worry. Our treasure has a way of revealing where our hearts have settled.
Perhaps the question for this Monday morning isn’t, “What do I own?” but rather:
What am I chasing?
What occupies my thoughts?
What do I believe will finally make me secure or satisfied?
What am I afraid of losing?
Where am I investing the best of my time and energy?
Jesus invites us toward a different kind of treasure—a life rooted in God and invested in what lasts: love, generosity, compassion, mercy, relationships, faithfulness, and the kingdom of God.
The pirates can keep chasing their gold.
Today, perhaps we can pursue something better.
Pause & Reflect
Take a quiet moment and ask:
What treasure am I pursuing right now?
What does the way I spend my time, attention, and energy reveal about what I treasure?
Is there something God may be inviting me to loosen my grip on so that my heart can become more centered on what truly matters?
Prayer
Gracious God,
there are so many treasures competing for our hearts.
We chase after things we believe will bring us
security, happiness, or worth.
Help us notice what we are pursuing.
Loosen our grip on the things that do not last
and turn our hearts toward the treasures of your kingdom.
May we invest our lives in love,
practice generosity,
treasure the people you have placed around us,
and seek you above all else.
For where our treasure is,
there our hearts will be also.
Amen.
Copyright © 2026 Ronda Welander
