The voice was not audible, but came from within, yet as I slept, it was around me at the same time. It was a voice as old as creation and calm, factual, profoundly authoritative; self-evidently supremely wise. In a way, the voice was not speaking at all, but just revealing truth. This information was unmovable and which I knew instantly to be unquestionably true. As the information was revealed it was as though it was both explained and at the same time was something I already knew – something I was just being reminded of. There was no need to ask more, because the voice and the revelation were perfectly complete.

Actually, the voice did not use discernible words as such, but ‘spoke’ profound truth direct to my understanding. In that place of being partly asleep, not yet awake, the ‘voice’ bypassed my conscious mind. I didn’t need to unravel a meaning from words – it was instantly comprehensible. This truth was revealed as one single idea, like a download, yet it contained a few component parts. For me to repeat the same truth would take much longer than the moment it took to receive it.

Once awake, I knew I had witnessed or experienced something significant, something that should be investigated and corroborated. After all, if this really was the Holy Spirit speaking, there should be some reference to the concept He shared, in the Bible. As I pondered what I’d heard, the sense of ‘treasure’ and ‘heart’ were quietly present in my thinking. Sure enough, I found a relevant passage, in Matthew’s gospel, where Jesus is giving instruction on possessions:

“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.”

Matthew 6: 19-21 NLT

So, I believe God wants us to know that our attitude towards our possessions could be holding us back from other blessings He has for us. There are other riches in store which currently are unattainable because, simply put, our hearts and hands are already full of treasure.

And, our attitude towards possessions is a significant stumbling block for some of His people. How do I know? Because as well as Jesus taking the trouble to include it His teaching from the mountainside (Matthew 5-7), the Spirit of God revealed this to me – today – and in a way that I could not help but hear!

I don’t believe this instruction applies to all our belongings. When the voice spoke, He seemed to be referring to items that we might collect or gather around us, to make us feel better; items that might have little function or purpose, perhaps. I suspect these are items that we might find difficult to get rid of, without God’s help, because these items are, in effect, controlling us.

Yet, there is some other purpose, work, task or activity that God would have you pursue, but for which you are currently too ‘occupied’. Your non-functional, ornamental possessions currently occupy your capacity for the new venture or, put another way, they are keeping you in a limiting place, preventing you from fulfilling your potential. Yes, in effect, they are controlling you.

But, I should say, there is no sense of criticism in this – God is not criticising you. He’s just presenting fact – it’s just the way it is.

So, ask God to help you see whether your treasure is your ornamental possessions and ask Him to show you what to do about them. Incidentally, I don’t think there is any compulsion to get rid of those possessions – He is not forcing you to do anything. But, God the Holy Spirit is making you aware of a fundamental truth, so you can make a choice.

It’s like you’re at a crossroads where 2 paths lie ahead: one path is where you will be held by the power of your ornamental possessions and the other path is towards a freedom and heavenly treasure. He’s informing us that our ornamental possessions is not the best treasure for us, the pursuit of which might well disappoint us ultimately, but that other, more gainful and beneficial treasure is available, in Him.

Now you know. Over to you … the choice is yours.