For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. —MATTHEW 6:21
Devotional: DAY1
Jesus understands mankind better than anyone. And He taught much on money, giving, and God’s provision. He knows that people’s hearts are inextricably tied to their hands—that where their money goes shows what they value. That’s why Jesus urged the rich ruler to sell everything he had and give to the poor
(Luke 18:18-30).
It wasn’t because that was required for salvation. Jesus simply knew the man’s heart was tied to his possessions, and he had to give them away for his heart to be free to find its treasure in the kingdom of God. That’s the same reason our Lord said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money”
(Matthew 6:24).
Since the beginning, God has asked for mankind’s complete devotion, for us to love Him with all our hearts. After all, we were made for Him
(Romans 11:36).
So, when something demands our heart’s devotion as strongly and easily as money does, we must make a firm decision about where our treasure will be.
Giving helps, whether it’s to a church, a friend in need, or people trapped in poverty around the world. In much the same way that physical fasting can train our spirits to hunger for God, physical giving can teach our hearts to be generous towards God and fully devoted to Him. But attitude is everything. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”
(2 Corinthians 9:7).
Our gifts please God when we give with glad hearts out of a genuine desire to love Him first. It may take discipline initially, as with any new habit, but God can take a willing heart and transform it. Sure enough, we’ll soon find our grip on our possessions loosening and our hands spreading out in surrender towards God. As we do, God’s love fills us to overflowing.