Once we’ve placed our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit goes to work in our hearts methodically exposing those areas of our lives that still need to be turned over to God’s leading.
I think of it like a locker room. We tend to compartmentalize our lives: our work life, marriage, kids, dreams, our future—each has its own locker.
Way back at the end of the row is that one locker, the one we really don’t want to open. In fact, maybe we even convince ourselves that it doesn’t need to be opened!
You know: the one with the dollar sign on the front. Let’s peak inside!
But first, I have yet to meet someone who would say, “Hey, I’d really like to give less and help fewer people.” That just sounds wrong, doesn’t it?
The opposite is the case: We want to be generous people, able to meet needs, and support spreading the gospel. We believe, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). We know God is the supreme Giver who gave his Son for us.
So here’s the question: Does our life and handling of money reflect God’s brand of generosity? Or would we rather leave this in the locker?
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Why is generosity so important? Jesus turns the dial on the combination lock by linking our money with our value system. He said,
“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.….you cannot serve God and be enslaved to money” (Matthew 6:12-14, NLT).
Your heart will always follow your treasure, not the other way around. Do you want your heart “in the right place?” Then put your treasure in the right place and your heart will follow!
But it’s not easy. We accumulate some new items, maybe a new car or new house. Perhaps we travel and check dream vacations off our bucket list. We treat our kids to what they want, when they want it because we want them to have a better childhood experience than we did. Maybe we go into debt to do it.
New stuff becomes old stuff, the car breaks down, the vacation is remembered in pictures and credit cards to pay off. Little of this has any real staying power. It can vanish in an instant. But God’s financial plan is,
“Store your treasure in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves cannot break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20).
So, what can you do?
Start: If you aren’t giving, start giving to God’s work now. Pick a dollar amount or a percentage of your income and make it happen. This is a step of faith and obedience. Your heart will begin to follow!
Grow: Begin expanding your regular giving and look for unique needs, like resourcing a food pantry or helping a neighbor in a time of crisis.
Stretch: Give sacrificially, intentionally foregoing something we might enjoy in order to meet a greater need (1 Timothy 6:18-19).