Treasure Principle # 2: My heart always goes where I put God’s money.
(Matthew 6:21)
I thought about starting this post with a nice little story. When I re-read this chapter, however, one sentence in particular stopped me in my tracks. “By telling us that our hearts follow our treasure, Jesus is saying, ‘Show me your checkbook, your VISA statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.’ (pg 42)” That’s it! The statement is so simple, yet so profound. The way we spend money reveals our interests, what we value, and where we place our stock.
Jesus is looking for a return on his investment. He wants the blessings that he has afforded you (in the forms of money and resources) deposited back into the work of his kingdom (which includes sharing the gospel by “revealing” Jesus to the lost world, caring for the “least” of those among us – or even getting among them – while teaching and training those that have accepted his message). Matthew 28:19-20
We have an eternal life to look forward to in Heaven. Why invest in temporal things that will not last? The Treasure Principle calls us to place stock in our eternal home, our final destination where we have so much to look forward to:
- There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4)
- Jesus will make all things new (Rev 22:5)! We cannot possibly imagine the experience of beauty and peace of the Garden of Eden prior to Adam and Eve’s rejection of God. Heaven will be significantly better than the home of the blue people in Avatar before humans came in to bulldoze their trees. It will be better than the Land of Oz minus the witched witches and better than Whoville before the Grinch came and stole Christmas. Heaven will be better than all of that put together and then some.
- There will be no impurity (Rev 22:27) – that means no hurt, no pain, no sickness, or suffering. Everything will be clean.
- Those who are faithful in their responsibilities on earth will be rewarded by the Lord in Heaven (Ephesians 6:8, Psalm 62:12)
When we are faithful over the earthly resources that God has allowed us to manage, he promises us Heavenly rewards. Start by consistently:
- Providing for those in need (Luke 14:13-14, Matthew 10:42)
- Giving generously (Matthew 19:21)
From personal experience, I know that God is not slack concerning his promises to me. He will fulfill exactly what he stated in his word (the Bible) and in due time (when he knows that I am ready). I trust that he will bless, honor and reward those wonderful opportunities that I have had to give.
I give because it brings my heart great joy to do so. I give because I am grateful for all of the wonderful blessings in my life. I give because there is always someone less fortunate than me regardless of my temporary hardships or setbacks. I give because Jesus gave, and when I fix my eyes on Jesus eternity looks much clearer and it’s easier to trade in the temporary pleasures of this life.
How about you? Why do you give?
© Natasha L. Robinson 2011
You may also like:
The Treasure Principle Introduction
TTP – Chapter 1 Buried Treasure
TTP – Chapter 2 Compounding Joy
Treasure Principle # 2: My heart always goes where I put God’s money.
(Matthew 6:21)
I thought about starting this post with a nice little story. When I re-read this chapter, however, one sentence in particular stopped me in my tracks. “By telling us that our hearts follow our treasure, Jesus is saying, ‘Show me your checkbook, your VISA statement, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.’ (pg 42)” That’s it! The statement is so simple, yet so profound. The way we spend money reveals our interests, what we value, and where we place our stock.
Jesus is looking for a return on his investment. He wants the blessings that he has afforded you (in the forms of money and resources) deposited back into the work of his kingdom (which includes sharing the gospel by “revealing” Jesus to the lost world, caring for the “least” of those among us – or even getting among them – while teaching and training those that have accepted his message). Matthew 28:19-20
We have an eternal life to look forward to in Heaven. Why invest in temporal things that will not last? The Treasure Principle calls us to place stock in our eternal home, our final destination where we have so much to look forward to:
- There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4)
- Jesus will make all things new (Rev 22:5)! We cannot possibly imagine the experience of beauty and peace of the Garden of Eden prior to Adam and Eve’s rejection of God. Heaven will be significantly better than the home of the blue people in Avatar before humans came in to bulldoze their trees. It will be better than the Land of Oz minus the witched witches and better than Whoville before the Grinch came and stole Christmas. Heaven will be better than all of that put together and then some.
- There will be no impurity (Rev 22:27) – that means no hurt, no pain, no sickness, or suffering. Everything will be clean.
- Those who are faithful in their responsibilities on earth will be rewarded by the Lord in Heaven (Ephesians 6:8, Psalm 62:12)
When we are faithful over the earthly resources that God has allowed us to manage, he promises us Heavenly rewards. Start by consistently:
- Providing for those in need (Luke 14:13-14, Matthew 10:42)
- Giving generously (Matthew 19:21)
From personal experience, I know that God is not slack concerning his promises to me. He will fulfill exactly what he stated in his word (the Bible) and in due time (when he knows that I am ready). I trust that he will bless, honor and reward those wonderful opportunities that I have had to give.
I give because it brings my heart great joy to do so. I give because I am grateful for all of the wonderful blessings in my life. I give because there is always someone less fortunate than me regardless of my temporary hardships or setbacks. I give because Jesus gave, and when I fix my eyes on Jesus eternity looks much clearer and it’s easier to trade in the temporary pleasures of this life.
How about you? Why do you give?
© Natasha L. Robinson 2011
You may also like:
The Treasure Principle Introduction
A SISTA'S JOURNEY 