Living A Generous LifeSample

The Choice 

So, why does generosity matter to God? Well, just like we learned in yesterday’s Scripture, God’s after our hearts, not our wallets. See, God asks for our money because He knows it’s often the key to our hearts.  

And that’s why giving is so important. Because it takes our focus off ourselves and helps us focus on God. Turns out, giving is actually an act of worship. Why? Because worship isn’t just singing songs to God—it’s anything that puts God first. And giving is one way we do that, because when we give, we’re saying that God is our first priority in every area of our lives. 

In one of today’s Scriptures, we’ll see that we have a choice to serve either God or serve money. Isn’t it interesting how Jesus chose those two options? Jesus could have said, “You can either serve Me or Satan.” But He didn’t. Jesus said no one can serve two masters—God and money. Why did He pick money? Because a lot of us are tempted to turn our items into our idols. 

That’s heavy, but it’s true. When we put anyone or anything above God, we’ve got the wrong priorities. And that’s one of the ways the enemy can keep us from God. The enemy tries to keep us from what God can give by distracting us with what we can get. 

He’s done it from the beginning! Adam and Eve, the first people God created, fell into this trap, and sin entered the world because of it. God told Adam and Eve they could eat from any tree in the garden except one. So, what did Satan do? He tempted Eve by what she could get, and it kept her from what God wanted to give. 

A lot of us fall into that trap, too. We can become so focused on what we don’t have that we forget what God has given us. 

Challenge: Today, make a list of five things you’re grateful for. Then, spend some time in prayer to thank God for them.