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There is an age-old question of whether the chicken or the egg came first. And whether you believe the chicken came first or not, in the light of eternity it doesn’t really matter. But this leads us to consider another question – does the heart follow money or does money follow the heart? This may seem as unimportant as the chicken/egg question, but in the light of eternity it is VERY important. Most people would say they choose to spend their money on things because they love them but God’s Word says that we love what we spend our money on.

And so, if you spent more on your family vacation than you gave to missions last year, you did that because you love your family and fun more than lost souls. If you spend more on eating out at restaurants during a month than you give to missions, it is obvious where your heart is.

Many people are making a fortune by giving financial advice. They tell you to get out of debt, beware of credit cards, have an emergency fund, etc. All of this is good advice, but what seems to be missing, even from the “Christian” authors, is an emphasis on GIVING. It is not a popular theme because most people put their money into a nice home, a good car and a comfortable lifestyle – that is where their heart has gone. When people invest in boats or campers they soon spend their Sundays on the lake or at the campground. Why? Their money is invested in those “toys” and their heart has followed.

Evangelist Dr. Ray Bearden often says, “God will give you to give what He will never give you to keep.” That statement indicates a heart for giving. When we give and our heart follows our money, God knows He can trust us with more money, because He knows where it will be invested.

People often talk about longing to have a “heart for God.” Matthew 6.19-21 gives us the formula for this:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

If I want to have a heart for God and the things of God, I must invest my money in the work of God.

One well-known author tries to motivate his followers to financial freedom by repeatedly telling them if they will live differently than others, they can live differently than others. In other words, if they will live more simply and save while they are young, they will be able to live better than others when they are older.

But a Christian should be motivated by the thought “if I live differently than others, I can GIVE differently than others.” And the truth is, if you GIVE differently than others, God will allow you to live differently as well (Malachi 3.10).

What is the largest “expenditure” in your life? For most people, it is rent or a house payment. Are you willing to live differently so that you can GIVE differently? One doesn’t have to watch very many HGTV home shows before he hears a client express, “I couldn’t live with that,” or, “That definitely has to go.” Most of the time what you see and hear expressed is a matter of personal preference, not a situation that is unlivable. Are you willing to live with something you may not prefer so that money can go to the work of the Lord?

If your largest expenditure is a car payment, are you willing to drive something older or simpler so that you can give more? Your heart will follow your money and if you spend too much on your home or vehicle, your heart will find those to be more important than God and His work.

We may think we know our heart and where it is, but Jeremiah 17:9 gives the solemn warning, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” The best way to know exactly where your heart lies is to use God’s map – follow your money.

Solomon, the wisest and arguably the richest man to ever live, gave the following advice in Proverbs 23:19 – “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.” How can I guide my heart in the Lord’s way? Send my money His way, and my heart will follow.

–Robert T. B. Johnson

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