“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(Matthew 6:21)
What kind of heart do we have and what kind of treasure are we seeking? Do we have a modest heart, or an immodest heart?
In continuation with my “Modesty” series, my first being on modesty and cosmetics, this deals with addressing the core of modesty, which is the heart. 
In Scripture “heart” is generally used figuratively as the innermost being of a man. When we have circumcised hearts, we yield to the yoke of righteousness placed upon us through the blood of Yeshua, and humble ourselves as we crucify the flesh or sinful nature, and take on the nature of Messiah. As we crucify our flesh, and our wicked desires of our heart, Yeshua gives us the desires of His heart, and they become ours. Treasure from the Master’s heart, into the hearts of men; and treasure laid up in our heart will overflow to how we speak, how we behave, and how we dress.
Part of this series is also sharing my personal testimonies as I will begin with, however, it also ties into a parable I broke down concerning the young rich man from Matthew 19, as well as what we are “purchasing” when we “buy or sell” and “building our house”, which is the building our faith.
(December 23, 2016)
I was doing a little reading tonight, and came across this passage:
1 Tim 2:9Likewise, that the women dress themselves becomingly, with decency and sensibleness, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or COSTLY GARMENTS,
10but with good works, which is becoming for women undertaking worship of Elohim.(ISR 98)
This made me remember a time a couple years ago, when Tony and I were 
cleaning out our house of things that we did not need, or were unpleasing in the sight of Yah…we were going to have a garage sale, and that didn’t work out, so we donated most of the things. I remember so clearly, I had a whole bunch of Coach items, as well as Burberry, and I was going to give them away, but Abba spoke to me, and said “No, you throw these things away in the trash, you idolized these things, and placed them of value, but they are of no value to Me. You do not give them away as they are idolized by people as a status of wealth.”
I readily threw them away, as I knew that I had indeed placed value on them, and the way it made me feel while wearing them, as if I was some how better than those who did not have them, yet in my appearance of wealth, I was spiritually poor in that area of my heart.
And this reminded me of a post I recently did, as well as a comment I made on it, because I threw away things that I had placed as idols in my heart, and Abba got at it, and in turn I gained more faith, and treasure in heaven.
If Abba calls to downsize your belongings, then there is also a spiritual element to it…there is something at the heart He is trying to get at, a treasure there, that is seeking a place over a treasure in heaven….is it pride, contention, greed, lust, lack of faith, fear….etc…for where our heart is, there our treasure will be…
(December 17, 2016)
I have come to find that many come to a point that when Abba calls them to forsake something, that they are unwilling, yet tend to believe that they are still in right standing with Abba. Many believe themselves to be rich, yet they are actually poor…
Rev 3:17“Because you say, ‘RICH I AM, and I am made rich, and need none at all,’ AND DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE WRETCHED, AND PITIABLE, AND POOR, and blind, and naked.
18“I ADVISE YOU TO BUY FROM ME GOLD REFINED IN THE FIRE, SO THAT YOU BECOME RICH; and white garments, so that you become dressed, so that the shame of your nakedness might not be shown; and anoint your eyes with ointment, so that you see
In the passage of Matthew 19:16-30, concerning the ‘rich man’ who had obeyed some of the commands of Abba, but when confronted by Yeshua to 
give up his possessions, and follow Him, he refused.
Matthew 19:20The young man said to Him, “All these I have watched over from my youth, what do I still lack?”
21יהושע said to him, “IF YOU WISH TO BE PERFECT, GO, SELL, WHAT YOU HAVE and give to the poor, and YOU SHALL HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN. AND COME, FOLLOW ME.”
22And when the young man heard the word, he went away sad, because he had many possessions.
23And יהושע said to His taught ones, “Truly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the reign of the heavens.
It is not specifically the common thought of rich being associated with money/wealth standard, but that the value placed on the things of the world/family etc. that come from the treasure of one’s heart.
These possessions of the ‘rich man’ were of much more value than that of the riches of Messiah.
Hebrews 11:24By belief, Mosheh, having become great, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,
25choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of Elohim than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
26deeming the reproach of MESSIAH GREATER RICHES than the treasures in Mitsrayim, for he was looking to the reward.(ISR 98)
Even though the man thought himself to be rich, he was poor, as he choose to enjoy the pleasures of the world/sin, then to walk the narrow path of affliction; and stored up his riches on earth rather than in heaven. Even though he obeyed some of the commands, it was proven to be of no value, as he refused to do as Yeshua commanded him to do, or following Him; therefore also revealing what was in his heart. Yeshua knowing this already, is the reason why in the very beginning he asked the man why he called Him good, since if the man realized He was good, He would follow Him:
•Luke 6:45“The good man brings forth what is good out of the good 
treasure of his heart, and the wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of the wicked treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.
46“But why do you call Me ‘Master, Master,’ and do not do what I say?
•Mt 6:19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21“FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART SHALL BE ALSO.
So when Yeshua states that it is hard for a ‘rich’ man to enter the kingdom of heaven it is not specifically just talking about monetary wealth, but those unwilling to become poor(of contrite spirit/circumcised heart) and abide in Him, and follow Him; and as we do, so we are ‘selling’ and ‘buying’, then able to give or pour out to others.
•2 Cor 8:2THAT IN MUCH TRIAL OF PRESSURE THE OVERFLOWING of their joy and their DEEP POVERTY OVERFLOWED INTO THE RICHES OF THEIR GENEROSITY.
•Phil 2:16holding on to the Word of life, for a boast to me in the day of Messiah, that I have not run in vain or laboured in vain.
17In fact, even if I am being POURED OUT as a drink offering on the offering and service of your belief, I am glad and rejoice with you all.
•2Cor 8:9For you know the favour of our Master יהושע Messiah, that being rich, He became poor for your sake, SO THAT YOU MIGHT BECOME RICH THROUGH HIS POVERTY.
•Rev 2:9“I know your works, and pressure, and poverty – YET YOU ARE RICH –
Which is why the disciples were astonished, and replied “Who is able to be saved, and we have left ALL and followed You, what then shall we have?”
Then Yeshua states in Matthew 19:28-29:
28And יהושע said to them, “Truly I say to you, when the Son of Aḏam sits on the throne of His esteem, you who have followed Me in the rebirth, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Yisra’ĕl.
29“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.(ISR 98)
To follow Him is to walk as He did, leave ALL that He calls you to, and become His taught one(disciple), this is the great commission, if you refuse, then do not call Him “Master, Master”, since you do not do what He says:
Luke 14:25And there went great multitudes with him: and he(Jesus/Yeshua) turned, and said unto them, 26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.(KJV)
(Note: This is important to keep into perspective, when we see others prospering around us, yet are not righteous, because Abba uses the foolish things to shame the wise. )
Counting the cost of following Messiah, means that you allow to be tried, tested, and refined. Gold being refined in the fire, is most certainty a process, yet, if the potter says to the clay, I need to remove this dross, and the clay refuses, then the clay dries up, becomes hardened and is no longer pliable.
The outward possessions of someone’s life will generally show what is spiritually going on within their heart. The young rich man thought himself to be rich, and to the world he was; yet, he lacked the very thing that Messiah calls us to not only have but do: faith. It is faith that follows Him, it is faith that crucifies the flesh, it is faith that looks to the reward, storing up the riches in heaven, counts the cost and allows to be sanctified allowing the gold to be refined, this is purchasing gold.
The concept of counting the cost to build a house is using a process of buying and selling. We are either buying and selling to Yah, or to our flesh. I have seen many housing developments, where a lot of houses were started, yet the companies became bankrupt because they did not invest wisely. This in turn, is the same cost one must each count while building their house upon Yeshua:
Luke 14:28For which of you, intending to build a tower(house), sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish…
A house built upon anything else will fall, wither away, or simply be burned up. If Abba calls to downsize your belongings, then there is also a spiritual element to it…there is something at the heart He is trying to get at, a treasure there, that is seeking a place over a treasure in heaven….is it pride, contention, greed, lust, lack of faith, fear…etc..for where our heart is, there our treasure will be…
Matthew 13:44Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hidden in the hearts of men; and those who see the riches in Messiah will sell all they have, and follow Him.
What do you need to “sell”? Is it pride? Is it idolatry? lack of faith?
Do you know the cost to follow Him, or will you end up walking away from a house(faith) you began to build?
