Give And It Shall Be Given
Matthew 6:19 is about treasures. The common translation says don’t lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, but instead lay up for your selves treasures in heaven. In the Greek text, this verse reads, treasure not treasures upon earth but instead treasure treasures in heaven. The word treasure is used both as a verb and a noun. What is it that you value most? For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. To determine where a man keeps his treasures, look at his calendar and his checkbook. These are records of our time and money…. two of the most precious resources that God has entrusted to our stewardship. Jesus said, you’ll know my disciples by their fruit. If you were accused of being a follower of Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
Some Christians ask, “how little can I do and have people still think I’m a Christian? How much can I get away with and still survive?” However, it’s not about what we can get away with, but rather how we can serve our Lord Jesus Christ from a heart of love. God has called us to his mission. When we accept his calling our co-mission is to lovingly serve our Lord Jesus Christ and those to whom he has called us to minister. What is it that you value? The things of this earth will take wings and fly away. The worth of one soul won for Christ is more valuable than all the material treasures of this world. Jesus said, “what shall it profit a man if ye gains the whole world but loses his soul?”
There’s a difference between believing in God and trusting in God. The scripture says, even the demons believe and tremble. When we come to the end of ourselves, when we can no longer trust in the things of this world, we have nothing to trust in except God himself. As Mother Theresa said, “God works best with nothing.” As Paul said, Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness…thy grace is sufficient for me.
Our next paycheck can be either that which we value upon earth or it can be an investment into eternity for the kingdom of Heaven. The gospels say, give and it shall be given unto you…pressed down shaken together and running over shall men give unto your blossom. For with the same measure that you give it shall be measured unto you again. According to Malachi, bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse and prove ye now herewith saith the Lord of hosts and see if I shall not pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. The blessings may not be in the material realm, for the things of this world are here today and gone tomorrow. The blessing is in the pure act of giving… For a cheerful giver loves God. That we may give our lives to the praise of the glory of His grace who has made us acceptable in the beloved.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael