“The greatest deeds without heart do not convince the Savior that a person belongs to Him. To move mountains, to drive out devils, to heal the sick, does not mean that He acknowledges us as His own, for when people will say on that day,
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ Matthew 7:22-23
On the other hand the most completely powerless, the absolutely lowest, sin-laden person who comes to grace, who has not one moment of time left to work and act for [the Savior], is in for just as friendly, loving, sweet Lord and Master, as the one who has done works in God in huge number.”
Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) in Christian Life and Witness: Count Zinzendorf’s 1738 Berlin Speeches, excerpt from “The Sixth Speech” edited by Gary S. Kinkel (PTMS 140; Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2010) 50.
My family has a copy of this great old board game we love to play called “the Generosity Game” that is a parody on “the Game of Life.” Of course the winner of the latter is all about accumulation, while the winner of the former is the one who stores up the most treasures in heaven.
What I love most about the game is that before every opportunity to give you have to draw a card to see if your heart is right or not. If your heart is right you store up treasures in heaven and if it’s not you don’t. Before each time that each of us has an opportunity to give in real life, let us resolve to make sure our hearts are right, otherwise our acts are worthless.
Father in Heaven, please by your Holy Spirit, align our hearts with yours, so that our generosity reflects your love and grace to the world, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.