MATTERS OF THE HEART
Susan Murray
Today’s Scripture: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21, NIV
Theme: Invest your money in causes that advance Christ’s kingdom because He invested Himself in you.
TREASURE
Everyone has a set of priorities. We can’t do everything or have everything (although we try), so we prioritize. With limited resources – whether money, time or energy – we choose where to spend those resources. Something motivates those priorities.
We prioritize what we cherish and love the most. What we love is what we treasure. How do I know what I really treasure the most? I heard a preacher once say, “To identify your heart's treasure, ask yourself this question: 'What makes your money fly out of your wallet the fastest without much thought or struggle?'”
GENEROSITY
God calls us to be generous to others, and we all struggle with how generous we should be. There is this tension between asking how much do I need to give so that God is pleased and the fear that if I give sacrificially, I may need that money later. It’s possible that fear and not greed is what affects our giving.
HEART
Generous giving then has more to do with our heart motives than about an amount. I Corinthians 13:3 tells us we can give everything away, but if it isn’t motivated by love, then it is worthless. In Luke 21, Jesus praised the poor widow who gave everything she had – two small coins – saying she gave more than the large amounts that the rich gave. It was her heart of love and trust that God would provide for her needs that prompted her generous giving. It’s really a matter of faith and trust: “Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV).
Make It Personal: Where is your money going and why? What motivates your giving – fear or love? Do you give only when you have extra? Do you eagerly allow funds to flow or do you cling to your money, only giving begrudgingly? Hard questions indeed. Feel convicted? Then turn your eyes to Jesus. See Him generously giving up all the riches of heaven, sacrificing His life for you on the cross so that He could have you. You are His treasure. His love for you is not based on how much you give but is unconditional, based solely on who He is.
Pray: Father, Your generosity is beyond measure. Help me to see how generous Jesus was toward me till my heart overflows in gratitude. Help me be free of any fear and become overflowing with a willing heart to give generously to causes that advance Your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
Read: Matthew 6:19-21,31-33; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
Weekly Memory Verse: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21, NIV