A Life of GenerositySample

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus makes clear that our treasures and heart are inextricably bound with one another. We can learn a lot about what really matters to a person by the way they use their treasures. For example, those who have a passion for fashion tend to spend their treasure on clothes. Those who love golf spend their treasure on clubs, balls, and green fees. Those who believe in education spend a great deal on tuition. This principle holds true for everyone, including God.

We know what matters most to our Heavenly Father by the way He used His great treasure, His only Son, Jesus Christ. God was willing to make the greatest sacrifice in history for one reason: people. People are God's primary, unending passion. His heart is overflowing with love for sinful, rebellious, unholy people. He proved it by allowing His righteous, obedient, and perfectly holy Son to die for our sins. Perhaps you've heard the saying, "Whatever makes my boss happy, makes me happy." If that holds true for a relationship with our earthly boss, how much more than should be true for our relationship with God?

When God sacrificed Jesus on our behalf, He not only secured our salvation but also provided a pattern for Christian living. He expects we will make significant sacrifices on behalf of lost people. A sure sign of a sacrificial heart is loving as he loves and valuing what he values. Through sacrificial giving, we can demonstrate to ourselves, the world, and to God that our heart is with people.

What about you? How often do you think about lost people? What evidence does God have that your heart breaks for people who don't know Him? What does your use of your treasure say to God about the condition of your heart, especially when considering the lost?

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