Giving - why is it such a hard area of obedience? Why are we so enamored by what we think we possess? (For in all actuality we possess nothing - everything we think we have, everything we touch, everything we try to hold on to so tightly - it all belongs to God. He can take it away in the blink of an eye.) I cannot help but think of Corrie Ten Boom's words regarding possessions, “Hold everything in your hands lightly, otherwise it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”
When we finally get it through our heads that nothing is ours, that all is God's, then it becomes much easier to release material goods for God's use. Whatever we have, He has given us for a moment. And He asks us to use everything for His glory...what we give away AND what we keep. For whatever we use for Him has eternal value, everything else will fade away into nothingness.
This is what Jesus was talking about when He said to lay up treasures in heaven. When we turn our focus to eternity rather than this temporary world, then we will start moving more of our money into areas that will make a difference for eternity, rather than our momentary earthly pleasures and comforts.
I wrestle with this...does this mean that I never spend money on my home, or on a wonderful trip with my husband? It's one of those areas that we cannot answer for others, only for ourselves. And I think it's one of those areas where God really wants us to bring things to Him and ask for His guidance. He will lead our hearts where He needs them. Sometimes, He may know that I am wanting to do something in my home that will enhance our family time, or just to make my home more inviting to others, possibly to be used for relationship building. If those are truly my motives, He may give me a big nudge of approval; but if He sees in my heart that I'm simply trying to keep up with others, or trying to impress...huh uh...He's not going to confirm that direction.
If He sees my heart desiring time with my husband to deepen our relationship, if we've been tired and busy and our marriage just needs some special time together, then I may very well feel confirmed in spending the money necessary to do just that.
I guess what I'm trying to say is we can never look from the outside in and determine that someone else is not spending their money in a godly manner....all we can do, and all we are called to do, is to surrender our financial decisions to God's direction, to bring our spending choices before Him in prayer, and to constantly seek to deposit our treasures in the eternal bank of our heavenly home where we will enjoy the dividends forever!
Give as you decide in your heart...but make sure that heart is surrendered to the direction of the Holy Spirit. When that's the case, you will always be a cheerful giver.
When we finally get it through our heads that nothing is ours, that all is God's, then it becomes much easier to release material goods for God's use. Whatever we have, He has given us for a moment. And He asks us to use everything for His glory...what we give away AND what we keep. For whatever we use for Him has eternal value, everything else will fade away into nothingness.
This is what Jesus was talking about when He said to lay up treasures in heaven. When we turn our focus to eternity rather than this temporary world, then we will start moving more of our money into areas that will make a difference for eternity, rather than our momentary earthly pleasures and comforts.
I wrestle with this...does this mean that I never spend money on my home, or on a wonderful trip with my husband? It's one of those areas that we cannot answer for others, only for ourselves. And I think it's one of those areas where God really wants us to bring things to Him and ask for His guidance. He will lead our hearts where He needs them. Sometimes, He may know that I am wanting to do something in my home that will enhance our family time, or just to make my home more inviting to others, possibly to be used for relationship building. If those are truly my motives, He may give me a big nudge of approval; but if He sees in my heart that I'm simply trying to keep up with others, or trying to impress...huh uh...He's not going to confirm that direction.
If He sees my heart desiring time with my husband to deepen our relationship, if we've been tired and busy and our marriage just needs some special time together, then I may very well feel confirmed in spending the money necessary to do just that.
I guess what I'm trying to say is we can never look from the outside in and determine that someone else is not spending their money in a godly manner....all we can do, and all we are called to do, is to surrender our financial decisions to God's direction, to bring our spending choices before Him in prayer, and to constantly seek to deposit our treasures in the eternal bank of our heavenly home where we will enjoy the dividends forever!
Give as you decide in your heart...but make sure that heart is surrendered to the direction of the Holy Spirit. When that's the case, you will always be a cheerful giver.
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