Test Your Treasure—Test Your Heart
=====Now—Part One=====
Is your Heart tied up in your money?
Is your Time tied up in your money?
Is your Energy tied up in your money?
Is your Thinking tied up in your money?
Is your Talking tied up in your money?
Is the record of your Time, Energy, Thinking, and Talking actually a record of your Heart?
=====Now—Part Two=====
Is your Heart tied up in what else you could do to make more money?
Is your Time tied up in what else you could do to make more money?
Is your Energy tied up in what else you could do to make more money?
Is your Thinking tied up in what else you could do to make more money?
Is your Talking tied up in what else you could do to make more money?
Is the record of your Time, Energy, Thinking, and Talking actually a record of your Heart?
The One Thing—The One Word—The One Test—
M O R E
The widow of a big neighboring farmer once told me this about her husband: “He said he never wanted all the farmland in this area—just the land next to him.”—more.
Many people may not be fully devoted to what’s on TV—just devoted to what else is on TV—more.
Many people boast of their accomplishments—but they talk most about doing something bigger—more.
Many people boast of their property and possessions—but they talk most about getting something better—more.
Many people sound like they’ve arrived—but they always talk about “someday” and “somewhere” when they’ll really get it all together—more.
Many people talk proud if they’re better off than you—but their focus and talk is on getting ahead of the next person (real or imagined) just above them, who inspires jealousy.
And some people really seem to have it all—and seem content—but they keep adding to what they have just because they can—more.
=====Now, Part Three=====
G I V E
Do you give already?
Do you give a whole lot?
Do you give some percentage?
Do you give up some thing to give?
Do you ever sacrifice personally to give?
Do you ever suffer personally, by choice, to give?
Do you notice this line gets longer as the challenge grows?
In your world, does making more mean giving even more, and more?
How about getting off the chart?
How about getting rid of the chart?
How about giving all you don’t need to someone who does need?
How about giving what you do need to someone who has less?
How about giving just because someone asked?
How about giving just because Jesus said to?
How about asking Jesus how much He wants you to give?
How about giving until you get different test results above?
– People are not satisfied until they are successful with . . .
+ “Godliness with contentment is great gain (success).”
– Many people are not content with . . .
+ “Having food and clothing, let us be content.”
– People are afraid to give today because . . .
+ “Give to him who asks.”
– Everyone I talk to says you have to take care of yourself first before . . .
+ “Look not everyone on his own things, but also on the things of others.” “Value others higher than yourself.”
– All Americans with a job are expected to have money in the bank, money for insurance, money for retirement, and . . .
+ “Do not lay up treasures on earth.” “Take no thought for tomorrow.”
– American Christians really believe they can have their money stashed on earth for things of this world, and still follow Jesus, and . . .
+ “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
– I say, if your theology and your economics and your ideas about compassion don’t apply to everyone around the world, change your theology first; then the rest will follow . . .
+ “Seek first (seek only) the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.”