Is there Thanks in your Giving?

The pictures flashed across the tv screen, and my numb eyes roll as I murmur to myself, “Here we go again.”

Homeless and emaciated children. Communities without clean water. Animals deserted and dying behind bars of steel. 

Their haunted eyes lock with mine; pleading for me to act, desperately seeking assistance. 

Irritated, I move onto the next channel as quickly as possible, not ready to be bothered once again by their plight.

I settle back into my cozy chair, pull a warm blanket under my chin, and take a long, relaxing sip of my steaming coffee. Life is good on this side of the tv, and I do not lend another thought to what I have witnessed.

Obviously, needs are not simply seen through the square window of our television screen.

 Need lives and moves about in our community; it walks with us through the store, drives with us through town, even sits next to us in church.

Need is everywhere – and it comes in many forms.

Need was also rampant when Jesus walked the earth. There were many who spent their lives begging; at the gates, in the temple, in the marketplace…anywhere they could. It was all they knew…for some, it was all they were capable of. Jesus often took pity on the poor and destitute, and recognized them. He instructed believers in His teachings to take care of their needs, and to do so with love and compassion in their hearts.

It would seem, in this act of service as with any other, it is the motive of our heart that speaks the loudest.

In Matthew 19:16-22, when the rich young ruler came to Jesus to seek how he could obtain eternal life, he presented a dissertation of all that he had done in his life to follow the commandments set forth by God. However, Jesus could see into the depths of his heart, and he knew where his true treasure lay. He told the young ruler, “if you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give it to the poor, for then you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew recounts when the man heard Jesus’ response, he went away sad, for he was very rich, and deeply treasured his earthly possessions.

Jesus always knows the motivation of our hearts in correlation with our actions. Whether it is dutifully placing our tithe into the plate each week, or giving money to starving children across the world, He sees. He knows what it is that compels us. Do we?

Is there “thanks” in your “giving” this year? 

I pray it would be for each of us, that when we offer an act of service – physical, monetary, prayerful, or spiritual – that it would be with a heart full of Jesus. 

That we would be willing to sell all that we have, and give it to the poor. We would be willing to give of our time, talent, ability, possessions, emotions, and essence without reserve. 

Let us be careful to store up for ourselves treasure in heaven, where “neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matt 6:19-21) For where our treasure is…there will our heart be also!!