Aligning Our Treasures with God's Heart
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of "Habits of a Healthy Heart," focusing on the concept of treasure and its significance in our spiritual journey. We began by reflecting on the story from Mark 12:13-17, where Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus' response, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," serves as a powerful reminder of our dual responsibilities as citizens and as followers of Christ. This passage challenges us to consider what it means to give to God what is inherently His, which includes our time, talents, and treasures.
We delved into the historical context of giving, tracing back to the Old Testament practices where Israelites were called to give a significant portion of their income to support the temple and its ministries. This practice was not merely about fulfilling a duty but was deeply rooted in the understanding of living a life that reflects God's image. Jesus, in His teachings, emphasized the heart's posture in giving, urging us to examine our motivations and the sincerity of our offerings.
The story of August Franck, a Lutheran pastor who founded an orphanage, illustrated the principle of trusting God with our resources. Despite his own financial struggles, Franck chose to help a widow in need, and God responded by abundantly blessing his ministry. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's provision and to give generously, knowing that our acts of faith can lead to unexpected blessings.
As we reflect on our treasures, we are reminded that our giving should be an expression of our love for God and our commitment to His kingdom. It's not about the amount but the heart behind the gift. Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also, challenging us to align our financial priorities with our spiritual values.
In conclusion, as we partake in the sacrament, we are reminded of the greatest treasure—God's gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. This sacrament symbolizes the eternal relationship God desires with us, a relationship that calls us to live out our faith through generous and heartfelt giving.
Key Takeaways:
- Dual Responsibilities: Jesus' teaching to "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" highlights our dual responsibilities as citizens and followers of Christ. We are called to be good citizens while prioritizing our spiritual obligations, ensuring that our lives reflect God's image in all we do. [34:06]
- Historical Context of Giving: The Old Testament practices of tithing and offerings were not just about fulfilling religious duties but were deeply connected to living a life that honors God. These practices remind us of the importance of supporting our faith communities and ministries. [45:10]
- Heart of Giving: Jesus emphasized the importance of the heart's posture in giving. Our offerings should be sincere and reflect our love for God, not just a fulfillment of obligation. This challenges us to examine our motivations and ensure our giving aligns with our spiritual values. [54:12]
- Trust in God's Provision: The story of August Franck illustrates the principle of trusting God with our resources. When we give generously, even in times of scarcity, we open ourselves to God's abundant blessings and provision. [39:18]
- Aligning Priorities: Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This challenges us to align our financial priorities with our spiritual values, ensuring that our resources are used to further God's kingdom and reflect our commitment to Him. [55:45]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [20:42] - Introduction to Discipleship Focus
- [21:13] - Upcoming Consecration Sunday
- [21:54] - Invitation to Breakfast
- [32:09] - Series: Habits of a Healthy Heart
- [33:15] - Scripture Reading: Mark 12:13-17
- [34:06] - Jesus' Teaching on Giving
- [35:08] - Prayer for Guidance
- [36:52] - Story of August Franck
- [39:18] - Trusting God with Resources
- [41:01] - Jesus' Teachings on Money
- [42:55] - Giving to Caesar and God
- [45:10] - Old Testament Giving Practices
- [54:12] - Heart of Giving
- [55:45] - Aligning Priorities with Faith
- [01:00:15] - Story of the Peasant Farmer
- [01:02:44] - CS Lewis on Giving
- [01:03:47] - Closing Prayer and Sacrament
- [01:10:30] - Invitation to Communion
- [01:16:22] - Closing Remarks and Offering
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Habits of a Healthy Heart
Bible Reading:
- Mark 12:13-17
Observation Questions:
1. What was the intention of the Pharisees and Herodians when they approached Jesus with the question about paying taxes? [33:15]
2. How did Jesus respond to the question about paying taxes to Caesar, and what was the reaction of those who heard His answer? [34:06]
3. In the sermon, what historical practices of giving were highlighted from the Old Testament? [45:10]
4. How did the story of August Franck illustrate the principle of trusting God with our resources? [39:18]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' statement "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" imply about our responsibilities as both citizens and followers of Christ? [42:55]
2. How does the historical context of Old Testament giving practices inform our understanding of generosity and support for faith communities today? [45:10]
3. In what ways does the story of the widow's offering challenge our understanding of what it means to give from the heart? [57:43]
4. How does the sermon suggest that our financial priorities should align with our spiritual values? [55:45]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current financial priorities. Are there areas where you feel your spending does not align with your spiritual values? What changes could you make to better align them? [55:45]
2. Consider the dual responsibilities mentioned in the sermon. How do you balance your obligations as a citizen with your commitments as a follower of Christ? [42:55]
3. Think about a time when you gave generously, even when it was difficult. How did that experience impact your faith and trust in God's provision? [39:18]
4. The sermon emphasized the heart's posture in giving. What steps can you take to ensure your giving is sincere and reflects your love for God? [54:12]
5. How can you actively support your faith community, not just financially, but also with your time and talents? What specific actions can you take this week? [45:10]
6. Reflect on the story of the widow's offering. How can you apply the principle of giving sacrificially in your own life? [57:43]
7. As you partake in the sacrament, how can you remind yourself of the greatest treasure—God's gift of His Son—and let that influence your daily actions and decisions? [01:03:47]
Devotional
Day 1: Balancing Earthly and Spiritual Duties
In Mark 12:13-17, Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes to Caesar. His response, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's," highlights the dual responsibilities we hold as both citizens and followers of Christ. This teaching challenges us to consider how we can fulfill our civic duties while prioritizing our spiritual obligations. It calls us to reflect God's image in all aspects of our lives, ensuring that our actions and decisions align with our faith. As we navigate our daily lives, we must strive to balance these responsibilities, recognizing that our ultimate allegiance is to God. [34:06]
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you better balance your responsibilities as a citizen and a follower of Christ today?
Day 2: Giving as a Reflection of God's Image
The Old Testament practices of tithing and offerings were deeply connected to living a life that honors God. These practices were not merely about fulfilling religious duties but were a reflection of the Israelites' understanding of their relationship with God. By supporting the temple and its ministries, they demonstrated their commitment to living in a way that mirrored God's image. Today, we are reminded of the importance of supporting our faith communities and ministries, not out of obligation, but as an expression of our love for God and our desire to live in accordance with His will. [45:10]
"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can your giving today reflect your commitment to living a life that honors God?
Day 3: The Heart's Posture in Giving
Jesus emphasized the importance of the heart's posture in giving, urging us to examine our motivations and the sincerity of our offerings. Our giving should not be a mere fulfillment of obligation but a genuine expression of our love for God. This challenges us to align our financial priorities with our spiritual values, ensuring that our resources are used to further God's kingdom. As we reflect on our treasures, we are reminded that it's not about the amount we give, but the heart behind the gift. [54:12]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: What motivates your giving, and how can you ensure it aligns with your love for God?
Day 4: Trusting God with Our Resources
The story of August Franck, a Lutheran pastor who founded an orphanage, illustrates the principle of trusting God with our resources. Despite his own financial struggles, Franck chose to help a widow in need, and God responded by abundantly blessing his ministry. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's provision and to give generously, even in times of scarcity. When we open ourselves to God's abundant blessings, we can experience unexpected outcomes that further His kingdom. [39:18]
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God more with your resources today?
Day 5: Aligning Financial Priorities with Spiritual Values
Jesus taught that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. This teaching challenges us to align our financial priorities with our spiritual values, ensuring that our resources are used to further God's kingdom. As we reflect on our treasures, we are reminded that our giving should be an expression of our love for God and our commitment to His kingdom. By aligning our priorities, we demonstrate our dedication to living a life that reflects our faith and values. [55:45]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you realign your financial priorities today to better reflect your spiritual values?
Quotes
1. "We are in the middle of a series entitled Habits of a Healthy Heart, things that we can do to follow Jesus that impact our relationship with Him, our relationship with the kingdom. We've talked about time and the gift, that time is a gift from God that we need to use to benefit His kingdom, to benefit the world, to share Jesus with the world. We talked about talents, how we can better serve and utilize our gifts. As Andy talked about that last week, again, to come together, to be all in, to build ourselves up, but also to build up the church and to reach out the community, to be the hands and feet of Christ." [32:09] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "August Franck was a Lutheran pastor back after the Reformation in the middle to late 17th century, early 18th century was when he lived and where he had his ministry. As he served, there were many factors wars, diseases that brought about many homeless children. And so August took it upon himself to found an orphanage and a foundation which is in existence even unto this day. And he founded that orphanage to help meet the needs growing in the community, to help take in as many children as he possibly could. But it was certainly a test of faith and a test of perseverance because it was difficult running an orphanage. It was expensive as more and more children to care for and to feed and to clothe and to provide for." [36:00] (70 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, as we reflect on treasure today, it's a topic that a lot of us maybe don't like to talk about. Money, finances. Wells Fargo, a couple years ago, did a survey. 44% of you said you don't like. You don't like to talk about money and finances. So, I'm already standing up here and this will be the worst sermon I give this year. Right? 44% say that. And yet Jesus, as he taught, as he ministered, he talked about money. He talked about finances. About one in seven of his words in the red letters. Now let me give a caveat to that. He didn't teach. He didn't teach about giving. He didn't teach about finances in all of the times he mentioned money. He taught some of the time, like in our lesson today. But he also used finances, money, as a object lesson in the parables." [41:01] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's. Give back to God what is God's. Now, the Greek word, as you look at what is God's, was a word that was used when God created the world at the beginning. It was a world that he created males. It was a world that he created males. And females in his own image. Right? And so, he's saying, give back to God what is in God's own image. Right? Give back to God a life that is living in God's image. That is being that disciple. The one you're created to be. You're created in the image of God. So, give back in all you do and say. Your time. Your talents. Your treasures. Give back to God like you are. The image. The image of God for the church. For the world. For your community." [43:48] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus challenges us time talents treasures to examine it all to lay it all down and to pick up our cross and to follow him friends. We do that in all those ways. We talked about going through as burying the support. And And so that is Jesus's way in the passage today give back to God. What is God's? Well, we're never going to decide on exactly how much that is. We know it's somewhere between the minimum tithe and near that forty to fifty percent. There's going to be no way that we can discern that but Jesus was a faithful Israelite. And when he said that he was talking from the ancient Israelite tradition. That he tall he tall foundationally from the Ten Commandments from the Mosaic law. And so for Jesus it was giving from the heart all that we can to honor our God to honor our Lord." [58:52] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "CS Lewis said this. He said I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give when it comes to our treasure. I am afraid. The only safe rule is to give. Give more than what we can spare. God gave it all. May we do what we can to give as much as we can for his glory. And to build up his church and to build up his kingdom." [01:02:44] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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