Stewarding Our Treasure

Today’s readings are out of Matthew 6:19-24, Proverbs 3:9-10, and Malachi 3:8-10. Begin today’s devotion by reading these passages in your Bible.

We all have some “treasure” through our finances (even though it often doesn’t feel much like “treasure”!) that we are entrusted to be generous with and use to make an eternal impact. Are we willing to offer that to God for His purposes? We have the opportunity to use our finances to build the Kingdom of God through two main practices: tithing and giving of offerings. Giving a tithe (literally 10% of the first of our income) shows God how much we trust Him to provide for us. He promises a blessing if we are faithful in that. He promises to bless us with even more (and that “more” isn’t always necessarily financial, but plays out in lots of ways). God knows how difficult this can be for many of us and so He invites us to even “test Him” in this and see for ourselves if what He’s saying isn’t absolutely true.

As we see God’s faithfulness in blessing us with more when we are obedient to Him, we are going to want more opportunities to use what we have to bless others. When we use our income this way, it’s called offering. This is where we say, “God, you have provided so much for me. I want to help provide blessings for others. Use me to show Your love to other people.”

Read today’s verses again and answer the following questions.

Matthew 6:19-24 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….24 “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

Proverbs 3:9-10 9Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with wine.

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Reflect

1. In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Why do you think Jesus connected the heart with treasure?
2. Where are you currently on your tithing journey? How are you growing in your generosity to God?
3. When was the last time that you sensed God put on your heart to give to another person, or cause, and you responded? How did you feel when you acted in faith to be generous?
4. Was there a time in your life when someone was generous with you?

Act

Ask God to provide you with an opportunity to be generous to others. Decide the next step (which may be your first step) in your tithing journey and start this week.

Pray

Lord, please help me to release control over my finances and my resources to You today. I want to trust You more in this area of my life. Amen.