“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b
“A debt-free multi-millionaire can fail these tests; an indebted college student can pass . . . While it is wise to follow plans and advice that lead to “financial freedom,” it is pointless to do so without first obtaining a freedom of the heart that only comes from passing the tests below — tests that carry wisdom governing how we should relate to God and money.
Test One: Are You Content in Your Circumstances? . . . Financially mature Christians will be content with their lives today, rather than impatiently waiting for a better tomorrow . . .
Test Two: Are You Guarding Against Greed? . . . Greed leads us to over-spend or over-save in pursuit of fulfillment outside of God Himself . . . So, where do you struggle with greed? Are you more prone to over-spend, or over-save?
Test Three: Do You Give Generously? Christians give generously in order to follow the model of Christ, as a response to God’s grace . . . When God pours money into our lives, our highest and best use of the funds is to pass them along to demonstrate His love to the world through generous giving.
John Cortines in his 29 September 2016 article entitled “What the Bible Really Says About How to Handle Your Money: Three Biblical Tests for Financial Maturity” shared with me by one of my former students, Peter Goehring.
This was a good little article. It hit home because I have been working on some talks that I will give over the next month linked to generosity and my focus has been on the condition of our heart. These three “tests,” or perhaps a better word might be “questions,” are great for anyone in ministry to ask themselves and those they serve to move toward the “freedom of the heart” that God desires for each of us!