Heart Treasure

Where is your heart?

Luke 21:1–4 NLT

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

Matthew 6:19–25 NLT

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Philippians 4:15–17 NLT

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Generosity is not about money. It’s not about giving to people who are less than you or less fortunate. Generosity is not about things at all. Generosity is about you.

When I was about 16 or 17 years old I got my first good paying job. JC Penney. Remember the JC Penney catalog? Well, I worked at a store that based off that catalog. I was still living at home, but I was making good money for a kid. And I was stupid.

In the mid 90’s in Cottonwood Sonic had just opened. I had a ton of friends that worked there as car hops. Well, I would go through and order a cherry limeade during happy hour when they were half price. Came out to a couple bucks. Then I would tip my friends like $20-30 bucks. Ah yes, the days of expendable income!

I wanted to start with these verse to set the tone for what we are talking about the next few weeks. Generosity.

Jesus spoke more about money that any other topic. (A close second was hell.) I don’t believe that is because Jesus wants or needs our money. He doesn’t. He spoke on this because He knows that the biggest pull on our hearts is comfort and security. Jesus wants our hearts.

So what can we learn from these 3 stories in the Bible.

The Widow

Quality over quantity

She gave everything she had

Rich only gave what they wanted to

Why over what

The why (heart) means more to God than the what (logic)

Are you sincere, dedicated, sacrificial, loving? Or just trying to feel better

Treasure in Heaven

Treasure (most important things to you) on earth

Consumed with earthly over heavenly

Temporary

You have control

Treasure in heaven

Perspective through Jesus eyes, not yours

Eternal

Builds faith

Paul’s encouragement

“Get to” over “have to”

They gave even when Paul was somewhere else entirely. They didn’t benefit from giving the gift

We get to do this. God, in His grace, allows us to be part of what He is doing through giving what He gave us

2. “For” over “from”

a. Paul said that he wants nothing from them, but he does want something for them

b. It’s sow and reaping

Our earthly treasure simply show where our heart treasure is. Check you bank account. Where do you spend most of your money? That is where your heart is. Is it food, toys, clothes, sports? None of those things are bad, until they become more important than Jesus. Then a good thing becomes a bad thing.

Exodus 20:1–6 NLT

Then God gave the people all these instructions: “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

Where do you spend the currency of your life? On yourself or on the things of God.

I want to be clear, things are not bad. Only when you begin to give those things your heart do they become idols.