The Heart of the Matter

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

– Romans 12:2

Did you know that cardiovascular disease claims more lives each year in the United States than all forms of cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease combined? According to a 2022 report from the American Heart Association, heart disease is the nation’s leading cause of death. And every 40 seconds, an American suffers a heart attack.

It’s obvious that we face a cardiac crisis. But there’s another serious heart problem that doesn’t involve obesity, cholesterol management or low-fat diets. Instead, far too many Christ-followers lack a heart that’s willing to give generously through their time, talents, and finances according to the resources God has richly given them. And when they do open their schedules and pocketbooks, it’s often done grudgingly.

That’s not the example God gives us through the Bible. If there’s a two-word lesson that we can learn from his principles about time, money, and possessions, it’s that we should be generous. After all, God is the ultimate giver. Think about the many gifts that he’s given us. Everyone's varies somewhat, but they tend to include health, employment, home, family, friends, and church. And of course, there's God's ultimate gift: the forgiveness of our sins and an eternal relationship with him through our faith in Jesus.

God also wants his followers to be cheerful givers — particularly those who refuse to hoard their blessings. But to do that, we must trust him rather than our riches. After all, bank accounts and retirement funds can be wiped out overnight through unexpected circumstances and economic turmoil. Just look at some of the current headlines about inflation.

What's the benefit of being generous with our resources? As the apostle Paul explains through the book of 1 Timothy, giving back richly toward God and his purposes renders much more than just a warm feeling of satisfaction. Think of it as a guaranteed high-yield investment with dividends that you'll enjoy forever in the world to come. In fact, God challenges us on our preconceived notions. Through his design, giving richly results in getting more:

"By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future," Paul explains. "Then they will be able to have the life that is true life."

It's every Christ-follower's mission to help usher in God’s kingdom. And how do we do that? It’s by doing his will on Earth by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, housing the homeless, and striving for justice. So, by making generous giving a spiritual habit and being rich toward God, we'll become more like Jesus to help change our community, the world — and ourselves — for the better. That’s the heart of the matter.