Category: Heart

  • Blessed to be a blessing

    Blessed to be a blessing

    When dealing with money, the ultimate issue is the state of our heart and mindset. This is crucial because money promises things that only God can truly provide.

    The topic of money is often difficult and rarely spoken about in church, leading to confusion about its role. Historically, some believed that to be poor meant being spiritual, while having money suggested one was backsliding. However, God loves you and desires to bless you, including financially.

    The key message regarding finances is that God blesses you to be a blessing; the wealth is not intended solely for your use. When dealing with money, the ultimate issue is the state of your heart and mindset. This is crucial because money promises things that only God can truly provide.

    We must recognize that money is both physical and spiritual, and this duality is where conflict often arises. If we only treat money physically (focusing on income and expense), we mistakenly think that obtaining more money will solve our problems.

    Tithing is essential for engaging the spiritual dimension of money. Tithing is an act of obedience, not generosity, returning to God what rightfully belongs to Him. When you tithe, you move the money from the physical realm into the spiritual realm. When money is placed in God’s hand, He works with multiplication and exponents, leading to exponential growth, rather than the world’s system of addition and subtraction.

    God is the Owner of everything; therefore, money is a resource, and God is the true source. We are simply stewards who will eventually have to give an account for what we did with the money entrusted to us.

    Debt, which the sources suggest is a form of bondage, is identified as a major weapon used by Satan to prevent us from fulfilling God’s intended purpose. If we find ourselves struggling financially due to past decisions, we must realize that we do not have to remain there.

    We are invited to the King’s table, meaning God has provided us with everything we need for life and living. To break financial bondage and see God’s blessing, we must put Him first. This shift involves changing our habits and behaviors. Even starting by committing 1% of income to God demonstrates placing Him first, which redeems the rest of our money, enabling God to provide.

    ReflecT:

    1. What is my attitude towards wealth and financial matters, do I secretly associate wealth with being unspiritual?
    2. Am I dealing with my money only in the physical sense (income/expense), and what steps do I need to take to acknowledge and address the spiritual aspect?
    3. In my current financial struggles, where might money have become my primary source of security, rather than trusting God as the true Source and Owner?
    4. Since God blesses me to be a blessing, how are my current resources enabling me to impact the lives of others and the community?
    5. What concrete decision can I make today to begin intentionally putting God first in my finances, trusting His power of multiplication over my current circumstances?

    Closing Prayer

    Father God, we thank you that you have given us everything we need and have invited us to come and feast at your table. We confess, Lord, that we have not always dealt with money in the way you planned. We acknowledge that you are the Source, and we are merely stewards. We pray for the discipline to deal with our finances in the physical realm, and the wisdom to honor you in the spiritual realm, so that you may bless us. Help us to put you first in our lives. We pray that you provide what is needed for us to move forward and receive the abundant life you promised in Jesus’ name, amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube.

  • Masters of the Heart

    Masters of the Heart

    Our hearts are central to our being, and God’s Word instructs us to guard them diligently.

    “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23

    Our hearts are central to our being, and God’s Word instructs us to guard them diligently. Jesus spoke extensively about money as a significant threat to our hearts, describing it as the only thing, other than God, that seeks to sit on the throne of our hearts. Money, like power and sex, has both a dark and light side.

    Jesus taught us about where our treasure truly lies:

    “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

    This calls us to choose between earthly and heavenly treasures. He also contrasted a “good eye” with a “bad eye,” referring to generosity versus stinginess. Ultimately, Jesus makes it clear: “You can’t serve two masters”—God or Mammon.

    Another challenge Jesus addressed is worry. He encourages us not to worry about daily needs, assuring us God will care for us, just as He cares for the birds. Jesus’ solution to worry is profound: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” This challenges us to examine our values and where we place our trust.

    Consider two wealthy men who encountered Jesus with distinct outcomes. The rich young man went away sad, unwilling to part with his many possessions. In contrast, Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, declared he would give half his wealth to the poor and repay anyone he cheated four times over, leading to Jesus declaring, “Today, salvation has come to this home.”

    Biblically, the “heart” refers to the totality of our being—our mind, emotions, and will. We are called to bring all that we are to God.

    The Bible refers to only one person as “a man after God’s own heart”—David, the King of Israel. Despite his failures, David remained “a man after God’s own heart” due to:

    • Wholehearted Devotion: He was utterly devoted to God, determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem and establish proper worship.
    • Genuine Humility: He recognized everything came from God, and his repentance for his sins was profound and sincere.
    • Faithful Trust: He demonstrated complete faith in God, as seen in his encounter with Goliath, declaring “the battle is the Lord’s.”
    • Worship: He was a profound worshiper, pouring out his heart in the Psalms and passionately dancing before the Ark.
    • Kindness: He extended kindness even to his enemies, seeking out Mephibosheth, Saul’s crippled grandson, restoring his inheritance.
    • Generosity: He was generous, giving extensively to the temple project and encouraging his people to give sacrificially.

    Today, Jesus knows our hearts intimately. He is gracious and loving, desiring for us to come to Him and find freedom. Our response might involve a step of faith like tithing, giving more generously, or repentance in a relationship. As we approach communion, we are invited to search our hearts and respond to God’s heart for us, remembering His immense grace and self-sacrifice.

    Reflect:

    1. What “thing” currently seeks to sit on the throne of your heart other than God, and how can you intentionally guard your heart against it?
    2. In what ways do you find yourself storing up “treasures on earth” rather than “treasures in heaven,” and what practical step can you take to shift your focus?
    3. Are you serving God or Mammon? When confronted with a tough choice, where does your true allegiance lie, and how does this make you feel?
    4. How does a “scarcity mindset” manifest in your daily life, and what does it mean for you to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness”?
    5. Reflecting on the examples of the rich man, Zacchaeus, and David, what aspect of having “a heart after God’s own heart” do you feel God is calling you to grow in right now (e.g., devotion, humility, trust, generosity)?

    Closing Prayer:

    Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You alone are worthy of the throne of our hearts. Forgive us for allowing other things to distract us. Help us to guard our hearts, store up treasures in heaven, live with generous “eyes,” and seek Your Kingdom first. We pray for a heart like David’s—a heart of wholehearted devotion, genuine humility, faithful trust, fervent worship, deep kindness, and abundant generosity. May Your grace empower us to respond to Your call, finding freedom and wholeness in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    Watch the sermon on YouTube.