The Treasure Trove of Generous GivingSample

Principle #1: Study the Money Flow

Did you know that Jesus pays close attention to the money flow?

Please stop thinking, “I just don’t think preachers ought to make money such a big deal.” Jesus made money an extraordinarily big deal. Look at the line in Mark 12, “And he sat down opposite the treasury.” How do we know He pays attention to money? Because He sat down right next to the treasury to watch the money flow! It’s not like He didn’t have plenty of other options for where to sit that day. You need to realize this was happening in a specific portion of the courtyard of the temple, so He had to go out of His way to sit down beside the treasury box just to behold how the people gave.

Why does Jesus seem to care so much about money?

From this, we know that Jesus went to the temple that day for one particular reason—to sit down by the offering buckets and watch what people were putting in them. Why is Jesus so interested in money? Because it belongs to Him. He has an investment. Think about the truth laid out in the law of possession: He owns it all, and He clearly cares how you use it. He wants to distribute it wisely to the correct people, and to do that He needs to know what each person gives.

What does money have to do with the heart?

Ultimately, Jesus pays attention to the flow of money because money is connected to your heart. He’s the one who taught us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21). So, He indeed pays attention.