Money Leads - Hearts Follow (Part 2)

By telling us that our hearts follow our treasure, Jesus is saying, “Show me your checkbook, your VISA and American Express statements, and your receipts, and I’ll show you where your heart is.”

The Gospel of Mark tells a story of the widow’s offering. In the story, Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Why did he do this? Why was Jesus’ watchful eye on the people’s giving habits? Because Jesus knew that money, more than anything else reveals our hearts’ motives and affections.

Jesus commended the widow’s offering over the large amounts of the rich people because she put in everything—all she had to live on. The rich just gave out of their wealth. In other words, their hearts were not wholly devoted to eternal treasures. Their motives might have been a selfish attempt to feel good about their life, or a vain attempt to buy favor with God. Whatever the case, Jesus was not impressed or pleased (Mark 12:41-44).

God wants your heart. He isn’t looking just for “donors” for His kingdom, those who stand outside the cause and dispassionately consider acts of philanthropy. He’s looking for disciples immersed in the causes they give to. He wants people so filled with a vision for eternity that they wouldn’t dream of not investing their money, time, and prayers where they will matter most.

Of course, giving isn’t the only good thing we can do with money. We need to feed, clothe, house, and transport our families. But when the basics are taken care of, why shouldn’t the rest go toward treasures in heaven?

Moses left Egypt’s treasures “because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:26). The person who lays up treasures on earth spends his life backing away from his treasures. To that person, death is loss. The person who lays up treasures in heaven looks forward to eternity; that person is moving daily toward their treasures. To that person, death is gain. The one who spends their life moving away from their treasures has reason to despair. The one who spends their life moving toward their treasures has reason to rejoice.

Are you despairing or rejoicing?

Money Leads - Hearts Follow

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Our hearts always go where we put God's money. As surely as the compass needle follows north, your heart will follow your treasure. Money leads; hearts follow.

When a rich young man pressed Jesus about how to gain eternal life, Jesus told him, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The man was obsessed with earthly treasures. Jesus called him to something higher—heavenly treasures.

Jesus knew that money and possessions were the best indicators of our heart’s affections. He also knew that money can have a god-like power over people. He realized that the rich young man wouldn’t serve God unless he dethroned his money idol. But the seeker considered the price too great. Sadly, he walked away from real treasures.

We are supposed to have our eyes, hearts and minds on eternity. Apostle Paul reminds the church at Colosse the rules for holy living. He said in Colossians 3:1-3, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (3) For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

Do you wish you cared more about eternal things? Then reallocate some of your money, maybe most of your money, for temporal things to eternal things. Watch what happens.

Treasures in Heaven

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:20a

In Cairo there is a grave and an exhibit that represent two opposing worldviews concerning true treasure. In a grave lies William Borden, a Yale graduate and heir to great wealth, who lived from 1887 until 1913. Borden rejected a life of ease in order to bring the gospel to Muslims. Refusing even to buy himself a car, he gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to missions.

After only four months of zealous ministry in Egypt, he contracted spinal meningitis and died at the age of twenty-five. In the epitaph on Borden’s grave is a description of his love and sacrifices for the kingdom of God and for Muslim people. The inscription ends with the phrase, “Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for this life.”

The Egyptian National Museum contains the mind-boggling exhibit of King Tut. Tutankhamen, the boy king, was only seventeen when he died. He was buried with solid gold chariots and thousands of golden artifacts. His gold coffin was found within gold tombs within gold tombs within gold tombs. The burial site was filled with tons of gold.

The Egyptians believed in an afterlife—one where they could take earthly treasures. But all the treasures intended for King Tut’s eternal enjoyment stayed right where they were until Howard Carter discovered the burial chambers in 1922. They hadn’t been touched for more than three thousand years.

Borden’s grave is obscure, dusty, and hidden off the back alley of a street littered with garbage. Tutankhamen’s tomb glittered with unimaginable wealth. Yet where are these two young men now? One, who lived in opulence and called himself king, is in the misery of a Christless eternity. The other, who lived a modest life on earth in service of the one true King, is enjoying his everlasting reward in the presence of the King of kings the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tut’s life was tragic because of an awful truth discovered too late—he couldn’t take his treasures with him. William Borden’s life was triumphant. Why? Because instead of leaving behind his treasures, he sent them on ahead. (Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle)

Why is America So Sad?

(10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:10

In this passage of Scripture, Apostle Paul is instructing Timothy to teach people about the dangers of loving money more than God. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Jesus warns people that money has a god-like power to master them. When people make money their god, it ends up becoming a curse instead of a blessing. Remember, there is nothing evil about money. In fact, God wants His people to prosper financially so they can be a blessing to others. It is the love of money that becomes a root in people’s hearts leading to all kinds of evil and many griefs.

If money is supposed to make us secure and happy, why are we so sad as a nation?

According to a recent study by the World Health Organization and Harvard Medical School, America may very well be the saddest nation in the world. Researchers found that 9.6 percent of Americans suffer from depression or bipolar disorder—the highest among 14 major nations polled. Those nations that scored better than the U.S. suffer from ongoing wars and rumors of war (Lebanon), vast unemployment (Mexico), and profound poverty (Nigeria).

In his Wall Street Journal article, "The Great Depression," Bret Stephens argues that perhaps America scores poorly as a nation because its population is generally comfortable and wealthy. Such luxuries allow that much more time for critically picking apart life situations and personal circumstances. Those who live in countries torn apart by varying social and economic issues have less time to fret over personal gain and ambition. They are simply too busy trying to survive.

So what could turn our sad nation around? The research shows that the citizens of the world's happier nations find a steady source of joy in their families, their religion, and their traditions.

I want to invite you to Every Nation Tallahassee this Sunday, October 14th, at 9am or 11am for the first sermon in our four week "Money Talks" series. Come discover what God says about money and what money says about us. Since money is something we all have to steward, and since money has a god-like power to control us, it is vital that we properly understand how to handle it.

Money Talks…what does it say about you? Hope to see you at ENT.