So often we think that as we give and live for God we are building our treasures in heaven. I have seen bumper stickers that joke about the poverty of the current car.
Yes, Jesus is indeed very clear about treasure in heaven. “”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ” (Matthew 6:19–21, NIV) We are not to pursue earthly treasures. We are to pursue heavenly treasure. Jesus even told the rich young ruler that he should give everything away to find treasure in heaven. “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” ” (Matthew 19:21, NIV)
It would be easy to believe that those who follow God much choose a live of poverty in order to find Kingdom treasure. That is not the case.
“”I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.” ” (Luke 18:29–30, NIV) “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ” (Luke 6:38, NIV)
These verses clearly say that as we give, we will receive much more in this age. Godly giving results in Godly prosperity. This age means this current life. The verse says that in the age to come, we receive eternal life, but in this current time, we receive back more than we give.
Godly giving gives for the sake of the Kingdom of God. That means the gift is to God. In all that we have and do, we acknowledge God as the source and the provider and the owner. We are stewards of God’s possessions. Godly giving understands that in every situation, God is still good and He is still loving. Job understood Godly giving. He lost all things for the sake of the Glory of God. Job refused anything but the character of God and let go of all things. His end result was that in the current age, all things were restored in even greater measure.
Giving to God is giving freely as stewards of God’s treasures. It is more of looking forward with our eyes on God, than looking at our circumstances and our desires. It is letting go of what we think we need in order to receive what God wants to give to us.
If we will treasure God more than anything, we will not be sad when he tells us to let go of our material dreams. If we value God’s church, we will not consider it a hardship to spend more time building God’s church than our own house. If we seek that God’s Kingdom, His love, holiness, and character would be established in our lives, then we become free to let go of the possessions that bind us.
God wants to bring His wealth into the church and into His people. His eyes are looking for those who choose God over wealth.
If you are thinking about how much you gave and that it was a sacrifice, your eyes are still on your money and not on God. If you are thinking and expecting that the $100 check you gave will bring you $1000, then your eyes are not on God.
We must understand:
- I was created by God for God’s pleasure
- God created everything
- God has entrusted me with some things. They still belong to God.
- God gets to use any thing that I have in any way that He wants.
- I do not question God’s plan when He asks me to give
- When I can faithfully surrender all I have when I do not have very much, and can consider my life a joy because God is good, God then can and will give me more.
If you are ever challenged to lay everything material down for the sake of God and His Kingdom, you are in a good place. Choose to let go and you will find the prosperity and the provision of God that will meet and exceed your expectations.
Think about it – who gets the glory with everything you do?
