Money - The Treasure Test

MONEY – THE TREASURE TEST

Peter Yee

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34

Most of the times, we never do anything for only one reason. We find many desires, ambitions, and motives in our minds when we consider a particular decision. The logical question is this: If so many desires, ambitions, and motives run together in our minds (and many of those subconsciously), how can we ever know if we are living a fully surrendered life,a life pleasing to God?

Is there a litmus test that we can take to know ourselves? In one sense, you can never fully know yourself. Humans are capable of self deceit. "Who can discern his errors?" Psalms 19:12. However we can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature that is still in us.

Jesus knows that many myriad thoughts roam our minds when we make decisions. He knows that our hidden needs for approval, respect, love, and survival compel us in ways we know virtually nothing about

....Follow the Money

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Jesus says how we spend our money reveals what we love, our true affections. Look at where your money went - it reveals the first disposition of your heart. Is it in a nice car, an expensive state of the art hi-fi set, a luxury watch or in His Kingdom work? Where have you stored your treasure is the record of where you have walked, either a Biblical Christian or a cultural Christian. Follow the money.They don't lie !

Where does your money trail lead in your life? Does it please God? Have you been storing treasure like a Biblical Christian or a cultural Christian? The root of cultural Christianity is worry and deceit - worry over the temporal world and deceit over what money can accomplish.

If you find it difficult to segregate the multiple motives of your heart, if you find it difficult to know if you are pleasing God, then examine the record of where your treasure is.

"Heavenly Father, I confess that I have not been pleasing you. The record shows that I have been a cultural Christian. I want my life to please you, but I am weak and sinful. I have let the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of money choke the Word, and I have not been as fruitful as I should be. Empower me by the Spirit to make the tough choices to redirect my treasures. I surrender them to YOU. Do with them as YOU desire, according to the purpose of Your will. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen"

Source: modified from Devotions for the Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley