A Life Ablazeنموونە

Day 6: Ablaze With Generosity

Giving is an issue of the heart. When we love someone, we naturally want to give to them, just like Jesus said: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21 KJV). It’s not difficult to determine what a person really loves. When you love the Lord, you give to the Lord. When you love your spouse, you give to your spouse. Where your heart is, that is where you will put your resources like money, time, and attention, so we need to include generosity among our spiritual fuels.

Money is an easy resource to examine because it is so important to the way we live in this life. If we want clothes, food, transportation, or even a home, we need to pay for those things. Everywhere we go, people are asking for money, money, money!

So why does it surprise so many people that God would address this issue? Jesus spoke about money more than any other single topic He addressed during His ministry, which tells us that it is important. It is the treasure that most people seek, and as such, it is an excellent revealer of the heart! Where your money is, that is probably where your heart is too.

That is why we have to be generous with our wealth. A lot of people quote Philippians 4:19 KJV concerning financial blessing from the Lord:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

It sounds like a pretty good promise, but it is not for just anyone. If you study the context of this verse, you will find that Paul was writing to the Philippians, who were believers burning with the fire of God. Their hearts were set on the work of God, and their treasure followed the course of their hearts, so they were generous and sacrificial in their giving.

This verse is a promise made to the generous, not the stingy, so if you have failed in this area in the past, don’t fall under condemnation — repent! Turn around and commit your finances into the Kingdom of God to demonstrate where your heart is. Talk to the Lord about it, and He will respond to you. Allow Him to ignite His holy fire in your heart as you give, and He will trigger all kinds of heavenly blessings in your life!

For Your Consideration:

• Find out what Jesus said in the Bible about giving. Why did He devote so much of the Bible to the subject of money?
• Money is important to earthly life, which makes it a useful indicator of the heart. Are your finances reflecting a life focused on God right now?