Transforming Hearts Through Generosity and Trust in God

Devotional

Day 1: Where Your Treasure Is, There Your Heart Will Be

The heart is the center of our passions, priorities, and desires, and Jesus teaches that our relationship with material things reveals what we truly value. When we invest our treasure—our time, resources, and finances—into the things of God, our hearts naturally follow, drawing us closer to Him. This principle is not about God wanting our money, but about Him desiring our hearts and our deepest affections. The way we steward what God gives us is a direct reflection of our love for Him, and aligning our treasure with His purposes leads to a more intimate relationship with Jesus. [07:40]

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: What is one area of your life where your spending or priorities reveal a love for something more than God? How can you intentionally redirect your treasure this week to reflect your desire to love Him first?

Day 2: Test God in Generosity

God invites us to test Him in the area of tithing and generosity, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings when we bring the full tithe into His house. This is the only place in Scripture where God challenges us to test His faithfulness, assuring us that He will provide, protect, and bless those who trust Him with their first and best. Generosity is not just about finances; it is a spiritual act that aligns our hearts with God’s purposes and releases His provision in our lives. [20:35]

Malachi 3:10-12 (ESV)
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Reflection: Are you willing to take God at His word and test Him in the area of generosity? What step of faith can you take today to put God first in your finances?

Day 3: Tithing Is Affirmed by Jesus

Tithing is not just an Old Testament principle but is affirmed by Jesus Himself, who instructs His followers to continue tithing while also pursuing justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus never abolished the tithe; instead, He reinforced its importance as part of a holistic, obedient life. Giving the first and best to God is a practice that predates the law and is meant for all believers as an act of worship and trust in our High Priest. [28:59]

Matthew 23:23 (ESV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Reflection: In what ways have you focused on outward acts of faith while neglecting the heart of obedience and generosity? How can you pursue both justice and faithful giving this week?

Day 4: Generosity Guards the Heart from Idolatry

Generosity is God’s remedy for the love of money, which is the root of all kinds of evil. By giving, we break the power of greed and prevent money from becoming an idol in our lives. God does not mind us having resources, but He does not want resources to have us. Giving is a spiritual discipline that keeps our hearts free, aligns us with God’s promises, and ensures that our trust remains in Him rather than in uncertain riches. [29:34]

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV)
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Reflection: Is there an area where money or possessions have become too important to you? What is one practical way you can use generosity to break the hold of materialism in your life today?

Day 5: Take a Stand—Put God First

There comes a time when you must draw a line in the sand and take a stand for God’s way, especially in the area of generosity. Putting God at the top of your budget and making Him your first priority is a declaration of faith and trust. Sacrifice may be required, but fire falls on sacrifice, and God honors those who put Him first. Taking a stand in generosity is not just about giving; it’s about aligning your whole life with God’s purposes and experiencing deeper intimacy with Him. [34:36]

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 would it look like for you to put God at the very top of your budget and priorities? Are you willing to make a sacrifice this week to honor Him first, even if it means going without something else?

Sermon Summary

God’s love for us is extravagant, and He desires our hearts above all else. At the core of our relationship with Him is the condition of our hearts—what we love, what we value, and what motivates us. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, teaches that where our treasure is, our heart will be also. This isn’t just about money; it’s about what we truly love and prioritize. God wants us to be passionate about Him, to love Him with all our hearts, and to let that love be reflected in every area of our lives—including our generosity.

Generosity is not just a financial principle; it’s a spiritual one. The way we steward what God has given us reveals the true state of our hearts. God doesn’t need our money—He owns everything—but He wants our hearts to be free from the love of money and the grip of materialism. When we give, we’re not just supporting the work of the church; we’re aligning our hearts with God’s heart. Generosity is God’s love language, alongside obedience. It’s a tangible way to express our love for Him and to trust Him with our lives.

Tithing is a principle that predates the law and is affirmed by Jesus Himself. It’s not about legalism or earning God’s favor, but about honoring God with the first and best of what He’s given us. When we tithe, we’re declaring that God is our provider and that we trust Him above all else. The tithe is a starting point, not a finish line, and it’s an invitation to participate in God’s work on earth. Through our giving, we help resource the local church to reach more people, serve our communities, and usher in revival.

There are practical steps to becoming a consistent giver: putting God at the top of our budgets, making sacrifices where needed, and taking a stand for generosity. It’s not always easy, but God promises to bless and provide for those who trust Him in this area. Ultimately, God wants to draw us closer to Himself, and generosity is one of the ways He shapes our hearts and deepens our intimacy with Him. The invitation is open: test God in this area, and watch how He transforms your life and your relationship with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. The Heart Follows the Treasure What we invest in—our time, resources, and finances—reveals what we truly love. Jesus teaches that our hearts are drawn toward whatever we treasure most, so if we want to love God more deeply, we must intentionally invest in His kingdom. This principle challenges us to examine our priorities and ensure that our passion for God is reflected in our stewardship. [07:21]
2. Generosity is God’s Love Language Obedience is foundational, but generosity is also a powerful way to express our love for God. Giving isn’t about meeting a need God has, but about aligning our hearts with His and breaking the grip of materialism. When we give, we participate in God’s nature—He so loved the world that He gave—and we open ourselves to deeper intimacy with Him. [09:23]
3. Tithing is a Spiritual Principle, Not Just a Law Tithing predates the Mosaic law and is affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament. It’s not about legalism or checking a religious box, but about honoring God with the first and best of what He’s entrusted to us. This act of faith positions us to receive God’s blessing and keeps our hearts free from the love of money. [27:29]
4. Sacrifice Unlocks Blessing and Intimacy True generosity often requires sacrifice—putting God at the top of our budgets and sometimes going without lesser things. Fire falls on sacrifice, and when we prioritize God above convenience or comfort, we experience His provision and presence in new ways. This is not just about financial breakthrough, but about drawing closer to God and living with a heart fully surrendered to Him. [34:10]
5. Testing God in Generosity Leads to Transformation God uniquely invites us to test Him in the area of tithing, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessing. Taking a step of faith in generosity can be a turning point, leading to spiritual growth, financial breakthrough, and a deeper relationship with God. The 90-day tithing challenge is an opportunity to experience God’s faithfulness firsthand and to let Him shape your heart for a lifetime. [36:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:23] - Introduction and Family Story
[01:35] - Honoring the Church and Pastors
[03:06] - Prayer and Setting the Stage
[04:12] - Matters of the Heart: Matthew 6:19-21
[05:09] - The Sermon on the Mount and Heart Focus
[06:09] - What is the Heart?
[07:21] - The Connection Between Treasure and Heart
[08:39] - Honoring God with Money
[09:23] - God’s Love Language: Obedience and Generosity
[11:32] - Personal Testimony: Financial Struggles and Breakthrough
[15:14] - The Tithing Test: A Turning Point
[19:35] - Malachi 3: The Principle of the Tithe
[22:03] - The True Purpose of Generosity
[23:11] - Four Key Principles About Giving
[27:29] - Tithing: Old Testament and New Testament
[29:18] - Benefits of Tithing
[31:55] - How to Become a Consistent Giver
[34:10] - Sacrifice and Taking a Stand
[35:16] - Four Types of Givers
[36:57] - The 90-Day Tithing Challenge
[39:28] - Salvation Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

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.”

Observation Questions

According to Jesus in Matthew 6:21, what is the connection between our treasure and our heart? How does this principle show up in everyday life?
In the sermon, what did Pastor Ken say is God’s “love language”? ([09:23])
What practical steps did the sermon mention for becoming a consistent giver? ([31:55])
What does the word “tithe” actually mean, and where did Pastor Ken say this principle started? ([19:55] and [26:44])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus links our heart so closely to what we treasure? What does this reveal about what God values most in our relationship with Him? ([07:21])
Pastor Ken said, “God doesn’t want your money. He wants your heart.” How does giving reveal the true state of our hearts? ([22:18])
The sermon described tithing as a principle that predates the law and is affirmed by Jesus. Why is it important to see tithing as more than just an Old Testament rule? ([27:29])
Pastor Ken shared that “fire falls on sacrifice.” What does it mean for generosity to require sacrifice, and how might that lead to deeper intimacy with God? ([34:10])

Application Questions

Pastor Ken said, “Where your treasure is, that’s where your heart is.” If someone looked at your calendar and your bank statement, what would they say you treasure most? Is there anything you want to change about that? ([07:21])
The sermon challenged us to put God at the top of our budgets, not the bottom. What would it look like for you to make God your first priority financially? Are there specific things you might need to sacrifice to do this? ([32:12])
Pastor Ken described four types of givers: consistent tithers, inconsistent tithers, those who refuse, and those who want to start. Which one do you most identify with right now, and what is one step you could take to move forward? ([35:16])
The message invited people to “test God” with a 90-day tithing challenge. What fears or hesitations do you have about taking a step of faith in generosity? What would help you trust God more in this area? ([36:57])
Pastor Ken shared how generosity broke the grip of materialism in his life and led to breakthrough. Is there an area in your life where money or possessions have too strong a hold? What’s one practical way you could loosen that grip this month? ([29:34])
The sermon said, “Generosity is God’s love language, alongside obedience.” What is one way you can express your love for God through generosity this week—whether with your finances, time, or resources? ([09:23])
Pastor Ken talked about drawing a line in the sand and taking a stand for generosity. Is there a “line” you need to draw in your own life when it comes to giving or trusting God? What would it look like to take that stand? ([34:36])

Sermon Clips

Your heart has to do with what you're really passionate about. And God wants us to be passionate about him. It also contains what you really love. And how many of you all know God really wants us to love him? Matter of fact, it's called the first and the greatest commandment. Every other commandment hinges upon our ability to love God. And I don't know about You. I want to make sure that I'm really following that commandment. I want to be good at loving God. I'm not good at a lot of stuff in my life, but this is the one that I want to maximize. [00:06:44] (27 seconds) #MaximizeLoveForGod

If you do not learn to honor God with your money, you will not be as close to Jesus as you have been designed to be. Are y' all with me today? Now, people don't like the way that sounds, but it does not change the fact that that's a biblical principle, okay? That's the essence of what Matthew 6:21 is saying. You can say you love me, but what you say doesn't matter. It's what you do that really matters. How many y' all know, Talk is cheap. People can say things all the time. I don't care what you say. I want to see what are your behaviors like and I've learned over the years that the love language of God is obedience. But the love language of God is also generosity. Did you know that? [00:08:44] (40 seconds) #HonorGodWithMoney

I lived as a Christian atheist for about 10 years of my life. I define that as a person who believes in God but lives like he doesn't exist. Ever been there before? Okay, I have. All right. I was the kind of person owned the Bible that I never read. I would go to church if it was convenient for me. Matter of fact, if you put me in a lineup with 10 of my closest unsaved friends, you couldn't see a difference between them and me. I drank like they drank. I partied like they partied. I slept around like they slept around. And that's not an indictment towards my friends. That's the reality of where I was. They didn't say they were saved. I said that I believed in God, but I was a Christian atheist. I believed in God, but I lived like he didn't exist. [00:09:37] (36 seconds) #ChristianAtheistReality

There comes a place where you gotta draw a line in the sand and say, for God I live and for God I Die. My way don't work. His way is gonna be better than my way. And I don't care what you take from me, you just ain't gonna take my obedience another day. Do I got any faith filled people in the house today? [00:17:43] (16 seconds) #ObedienceOverEverything

Tithing is not an Old Testament principle. It's a believer principle. Are you with me today? Y' all getting this? I need you to teach people in your small group, the church. Now, this is one of the fastest growing churches in America, statistically. I've seen what's been happening, okay? As new people come, you gotta share this with them. Cause people don't know I really feel like when people get saved, one of the first things they need to learn how to do is give to God because it has to do with their heart. [00:26:03] (27 seconds) #HeartOverIdols

At some place, you just gotta take a test. And if that bears witness with you, it's not for everybody, but I know it's for somebody. And you say, pastor, I want to take a stand. I don't even know how I'm going to do it, but I got the faith to do it right now. And for the next 90 days at least, I want to put God first. And I want to be a tither. [00:37:22] (21 seconds) #GivingShouldBless

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