A Blessing in Disguise
What is your first reaction at church when the calls for offering, resources for the homeless, or volunteers for the work bee are made? If you’re like most of us, it’s probably hesitation followed by justification as we contemplate the sacrifices to be made while grappling with our carnal nature. It’s no surprise that love of self is one of the strongest and most destructive temptations. After all, it was the cause of Ananias and Saphira lying to the Holy Spirit, the rich young ruler saying no to salvation, and even Judas betraying the Savior in Gethsemane.
What makes a preference for self so dangerous is that it is an all-consuming pursuit. Matthew 6:24 says that “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Loving the world and loving God is mutually exclusive. The former leads to our own tribulation and anguish (Romans 2:8-9) while the latter results in the indwelling of God (John 14:23).
While this looks like an easy choice on paper, in reality, it is anything but. But there’s hope! When we make a decision to put God first, taking a step of faith and believing that our life’s purpose is to serve, God begins to do a special, supernatural work in our hearts where our will becomes wholly united with His. Where we once desired to live for ourselves, we now wish to live for Christ! In this, the chains that once made us helpless to our carnal selves are broken and our guilt is gone. A heavenly peace settles on our hearts as we trust God with our needs. He has set us free!
You see, God doesn’t need your money, time, or skills. He’s the Creator of the universe. What He really wants is your heart – your whole heart. He asks us to store our treasures in heaven because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Questions for Discussion
- Why is a lack of stewardship really a heart problem?
- When was a time when God proved His faithfulness to you? How does the goodness of God impact your attitude on stewardship?
- What are some ways you can contribute your resources to God that you aren’t currently?
I pray the next time an opportunity arises to give, we would be the first to raise our hands, counting on the sweet promise of Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” May we be rich towards God.
This post was written by Angela Hui
Leave a Response