Better TogetherSample

DAY SIX: THE HEART'S TEST

Often when Christians think of money, their first thought is “you cannot serve both God and Money” which is a very true statement. This statement is also equally true, you cannot separate God and Money. Money is the earthly currency that God uses to build his Kingdom. Money also serves as a litmus test of our hearts. Money has the ability to tell us where our treasure is and where it is not.

Our heart doesn’t dictate our treasure; our treasure dictates our heart. It’s a subtle turn of phrase, but it is so powerful. If you want to make the house of God and the kingdom of God your treasure, you invest in it. If you want to see your family flourish and children grow up to serve God, you commit to having them in the house of God on a weekly basis. If you want to see your personal and professional life flourish and expand in influence, you show up on time, work hard, and make wise choices. If you want any area of your life to succeed you invest your time, your talents and your treasure into those areas! Things flourish when they are invested in. When we invest in something, an incredible thing happens, it becomes the focal point of our life. Our hearts follow our investment. 

Take a moment, maybe pause and begin to allow your heart to dream of what God has in store for you, for your family, for your church, for your neighborhood, for your city for our world. Does your life’s action and investment line up with that dream? Jesus speaks candidly with a young man who wants his life to be all in, to be fully committed to the cause of Jesus. When this young man finds out what that kind of investment looks like, the scripture tells us he “walks away sorrowful.”  Unwilling to invest himself fully in kingdom purpose, unwilling to take his treasure and place into kingdom purpose reveals what is truly in his heart. Our hearts can tell us they are passionate and invested, but it is when we are asked to step in and actually give, we find out if our hearts were in it at all. 

If you are reading this and you’re wondering if Jesus ask you the same question He asked this young man, would your response be different? If it wouldn’t be, can I encourage you to begin right where you are investing yourself into the house of God, and watch your life and your heart begins to turn toward the things of God. 

You may not be there today, but daily by putting God first, committing to healthy and vibrant community, by giving more than is comfortable, your heart will follow the investment of your life. Change is possible.