But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:31-33
“Jesus talked more about money and possessions than anything else. He understood the pressures and anxieties we all face. He also knew the pull of the world to make money our ultimate goal. And He wants more for us than that. Jesus wants to train each of us to use the money He’s given us in a way that honors Him, loves people, and sets our hearts free. Giving is about more than money; it’s about our hearts.”
John Rinehart wrote a great book called Gospel Patrons. His next book will be called Giving Together. The thinking therein is rooted in “Ten Convictions about Giving.” Read them here. This post is conviction #2.
When our focus is on money, we feel nothing but pressures, pull, and anxiety. But when our focus is on obeying what Jesus wants to train us, we find the teaching sets us free. It trains us to honor Him and love people.
But we don’t learn this in a day. We learn it one step at a time, because it’s challenging.
Fear limits us when we think we have to supply our needs. But when we let go of what we have, we learn by experience that God sustains us and, in the process, become free of the pressures and anxieties that aim to enslave us. His training sets us free.
Want to learn from our journey? Visit this “It’s never about money podcast” that I recorded recently.
Jesus talked about money and possessions a lot because He knew how strong the pull of the world be. If I asked someone close to you what your handling of money reveals, what would they say about your giving and your heart?