Investing in Eternity: The Joy of Giving
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of "The Treasured Life," focusing on finding joy by living for things that matter for eternity. We began by acknowledging the recent violence in our nation and prayed for peace and protection. Then, we explored the life of John D. Rockefeller, who initially pursued earthly wealth but found true joy and healing when he started giving his fortune to charitable causes. This transformation illustrated the principle that while we can't take our earthly treasures with us, we can send them ahead by investing in eternal things.
We discussed how our hearts follow our money, emphasizing that where we invest our resources reveals where our hearts truly lie. Jesus taught that storing treasures in heaven aligns our hearts with God. We examined the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who experienced a heart transformation after encountering Jesus, leading him to give generously to the poor. This act of giving was a sign of his newfound devotion to God.
We also talked about practical ways to store treasures in heaven, such as tithing, supporting church ministries, and giving to those in need. By doing so, we align our hearts with God's purposes. We highlighted the importance of giving not just out of obligation but out of a desire to follow God's heart. God doesn't need our money; He wants our hearts. When we give, we participate in God's work and experience the joy that comes from investing in eternal things.
Finally, we invited everyone to examine their spending to see where their hearts are and encouraged them to give towards things that matter to God. We concluded with a prayer, inviting those who haven't yet given their hearts to Jesus to do so, and reminded everyone that God is after our hearts, not our money.
### Key Takeaways
1. Violence and Prayer for Our Nation: Regardless of political leanings, violence and murder are inherently wrong and satanic. Our nation needs our prayers for peace and protection, as only God can save and protect us. We must continually seek God's intervention in our nation's affairs. [31:33]
2. The Transformation of John D. Rockefeller: Rockefeller's life teaches us that earthly wealth cannot bring true happiness. Despite his immense wealth, he found joy and healing only when he started giving his fortune to charitable causes. This shift from earthly to eternal treasures brought him lasting joy and a long, fulfilling life. [35:41]
3. Heart Follows Treasure: Jesus taught that our hearts follow our treasures. If we invest in earthly things, our hearts will be tied to this world, making us fear death. Conversely, if we invest in eternal things, our hearts will be aligned with heaven, bringing us peace and joy. [39:25]
4. Practical Steps to Store Treasures in Heaven: We can check where our hearts are by examining our spending. By giving to things that matter to God, such as tithing, supporting church ministries, and helping those in need, we can change the direction of our hearts and align them with God's purposes. [45:40]
5. God Wants Our Hearts, Not Our Money: God owns everything and doesn't need our money. He desires our hearts. When we give, we show that our hearts are aligned with Him. This act of giving brings us joy and allows us to participate in God's eternal work. [52:22]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[31:33] - Violence and Prayer for Our Nation
[33:03] - The Treasured Life Series Introduction
[33:57] - The Life of John D. Rockefeller
[35:41] - Rockefeller's Transformation
[37:22] - God Owns Everything
[39:25] - Heart Follows Treasure
[40:05] - Practical Steps to Store Treasures in Heaven
[42:04] - The Story of Zacchaeus
[45:40] - Giving to Things That Matter to God
[49:34] - Impact of Giving on Youth Camp
[50:47] - Back to School Bash
[52:22] - God Wants Our Hearts, Not Our Money
[53:59] - Testimony of a Young Lady
[57:33] - God's Love and Our Response
[58:46] - Prayer of Commitment
[01:00:02] - Next Steps and Conclusion
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Treasured Life
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV): "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
2. Luke 19:8-9 (NIV): "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.'"
3. Psalm 50:12 (NIV): "If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it."
#### Observation Questions
1. What transformation did John D. Rockefeller experience when he started giving his fortune to charitable causes? ([35:41])
2. According to the sermon, what does Jesus teach about where our hearts follow? ([38:33])
3. How did Zacchaeus demonstrate his heart transformation after encountering Jesus? ([42:42])
4. What practical steps were suggested in the sermon for storing treasures in heaven? ([45:40])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of John D. Rockefeller illustrate the principle of storing treasures in heaven? ([35:41])
2. What does it mean when the sermon says, "My heart always goes where I put God's money"? How does this align with Matthew 6:19-21? ([38:33])
3. In what ways did Zacchaeus' actions reflect a change in his priorities and values? ([42:42])
4. Why does the sermon emphasize that God wants our hearts, not our money? How does Psalm 50:12 support this idea? ([52:22])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spending habits. What do they reveal about where your heart is? How can you align your spending with God's purposes? ([40:05])
2. Have you ever experienced joy from giving to others or supporting a cause? Share a specific instance and how it impacted your heart. ([45:40])
3. What are some practical ways you can start storing treasures in heaven this week? Consider tithing, supporting church ministries, or helping those in need. ([45:40])
4. How can you ensure that your giving is motivated by a desire to follow God's heart rather than out of obligation? ([52:22])
5. Think about a time when you felt convicted about your financial priorities. What changes did you make, or what changes do you feel called to make now? ([44:54])
6. How can you involve your family or friends in the practice of giving to things that matter to God? What steps can you take together to make this a regular part of your lives? ([47:52])
7. Reflect on the statement, "God is not looking for donors. He is looking for disciples." How does this perspective change the way you view your financial resources and your relationship with God? ([53:59])
Devotional
Day 1: Praying for Peace in Our Nation
In light of the recent violence in our nation, it is crucial to remember that violence and murder are inherently wrong and satanic. Regardless of our political leanings, we must come together in prayer for peace and protection. Only God can save and protect us, and it is our duty to continually seek His intervention in our nation's affairs. By doing so, we acknowledge our dependence on God and our desire for His peace to reign in our land. [31:33]
Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."
Reflection: How can you actively pray for peace and protection in your community and nation today? What specific steps can you take to promote peace in your immediate surroundings?
Day 2: The Joy of Giving
The life of John D. Rockefeller teaches us that earthly wealth cannot bring true happiness. Despite his immense wealth, Rockefeller found joy and healing only when he started giving his fortune to charitable causes. This transformation from pursuing earthly treasures to investing in eternal ones brought him lasting joy and a long, fulfilling life. His story reminds us that true joy comes from giving and aligning our resources with God's purposes. [35:41]
Acts 20:35 (ESV): "In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced joy from giving. How can you incorporate more acts of giving into your daily life to experience this joy more consistently?
Day 3: Aligning Our Hearts with Heaven
Jesus taught that our hearts follow our treasures. If we invest in earthly things, our hearts will be tied to this world, making us fear death. Conversely, if we invest in eternal things, our hearts will be aligned with heaven, bringing us peace and joy. This principle challenges us to examine where we are investing our resources and to make conscious decisions to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly ones. [39:25]
Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "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. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: Take a moment to review your recent spending. What does it reveal about where your heart is? How can you start investing more in eternal things today?
Day 4: Practical Steps to Store Treasures in Heaven
We can check where our hearts are by examining our spending. By giving to things that matter to God, such as tithing, supporting church ministries, and helping those in need, we can change the direction of our hearts and align them with God's purposes. This act of giving not only aligns our hearts with God but also allows us to participate in His work and experience the joy that comes from investing in eternal things. [45:40]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV): "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: Identify one specific way you can give to support God's work this week. How can you make this a regular practice in your life?
Day 5: God Desires Our Hearts
God owns everything and doesn't need our money. He desires our hearts. When we give, we show that our hearts are aligned with Him. This act of giving brings us joy and allows us to participate in God's eternal work. It is a reminder that our relationship with God is not about material wealth but about the condition of our hearts and our willingness to follow His lead. [52:22]
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to God? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Finding joy today by living for the things that will matter for eternity. There is treasure to be pursued here on earth. There is treasure that will last forever. And we find joy when our treasure is in heaven. But I think we often have this belief that if I just had more money, if I just had more stuff, then I'll be happy." [33:03] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Rockefeller discovered what we've been talking about the past few weeks, the treasure principle. You can't take it with you. All of his friends and family, all of his wealth, all of his power, all of his company, he couldn't take it with him. He was going to leave it all behind. You can't take it with you. But you can send it on ahead." [35:41] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God owns everything. I'm just the manager. And when God owns everything, that frees you from fear, frees you from frustration, frees you from worry, frees you from anything. And when you're in fear, you're in anger." [37:22] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God doesn't need your money. He's after your heart. God owns everything already. He doesn't need this money. He's after our hearts. In Psalm 50, God said, If I were hungry, I would not tell you. For the world is mine and everything in it. God owns all the water burgers. He doesn't need your money. He doesn't need that. He's after your heart. More than anything, He wants your heart." [52:22] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God loved us so much, he gave. He gave the life of his son, Jesus, his most precious possession. He gave his son for us so we could be free, so we could be forgiven, so we could have a home in heaven. Will you give him your heart?" [57:33] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "My heart always goes where I put God's money. Remember, all my money belongs to God. Every dollar I have in the bank, it all belongs to God. And my heart will follow where I put God's money. Here's what Jesus said. Store your treasure in heaven. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Jesus said our heart follows our treasure." [38:33] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we spend our lives pouring our time, our money, and our resources into the things that matter, the things that last, our hearts are in heaven. So how do we make sure our hearts are in heaven? How do we make sure they are in the right place? I want you to write this down. Number one, you can check where your heart is by looking at where your money is going. My heart follows my money. God's money, really." [40:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You can change the direction of your heart by giving to the things that matter to God. Look at what Jesus said. He said, sell all your belongings and give the money to the poor and save your riches in heaven. He said, when you give to the needs of the poor, you're storing your treasure in heaven. That's what Rockefeller did. That's what Zacchaeus did. And again, Jesus said this, for your heart will always be where your riches are. Your heart follows your money. So give to the things that matter to God." [45:40] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is not looking for donors. He is looking for disciples. He's looking for your heart. He wants you to follow him more than anything else. There's a young lady in our church who's learning this. Last fall, during our series on Created to Dream, she approached me and shared her dream, which was to start a hair salon, her own hair salon, here in Brownsville. And we prayed with her, and she's pursuing this dream that God gave her. And in that time since then, she has opened that hair salon. But she has encountered some challenges, and I want you to hear from her now." [53:59] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God owns the whole world, but he wants our hearts because love is a choice. See, God created you to love you. He created you to love you, and more than anything, he wants you to love him back, but love is a choice. Will you choose to love him back?" [57:33] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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