Hand Him Your Heart

Proverbs 23:26

> “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”

That single verse is a tender invitation.

God doesn’t demand—He asks. He reaches out His hand and says, “Give Me your heart.”

Not your résumé, not your reputation, not your records of what you’ve given or done—just your heart.

This morning’s message is titled “Hand Him Your Heart.”

That’s really what stewardship is all about—not what God takes from us, but what we choose to place in His hands.

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The Body of Christ

Before we dig into the main thrust of the message, I want to take a moment to reflect on something familiar—the analogy of the church as the body of Christ.

What is that body, according to the New Testament?

Think about it. What we have here this morning is a body—the body of Christ—the church.

And the church isn’t made of bricks or cement. The church is you and me.

Every part of the body plays a vital role, an interconnected function.

Imagine your lungs deciding to stay home this Sabbath. After all, they’ve been through a lot—fumes, smog, and pollutants. But if our lungs stayed home today, how long would we last?

Eyebrows—those little bushy things riding above our eyes—do they serve a purpose? You bet they do. How about toes? Who needs toes? Every part, no matter how small or hidden, has its function.

So it is with the body of Christ.

Now imagine your arms suddenly deciding to become active—waving, wiggling, moving every which way—and then your legs decide to join in. With all that motion, could the rest of your body stay still and lifeless? Of course not.

Here’s a principle worth remembering: Life stirs up life.

Say that with me. Again.

Life stirs up life.

Zeal stirs up zeal.

Courage stirs up courage.

Power generates power.

And on the other hand—sin stirs up sin.

Unfaithfulness kindles unfaithfulness.

Doubt breeds more doubt.

Weakness creates weakness.

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A King’s Face in Stone

You may remember the old Hawthorne story about a kind and wise king who died, beloved by his people. They honored him in two ways: they carved his face into the side of a mountain, and they vowed never to crown another king unless he matched the goodness and wisdom of their beloved ruler.

For years they searched, until one day they found him—not in a palace but in a humble house at the mountain’s base. He was a man who had grown up gazing at that noble face. As a boy, he had studied it day after day—and, over time, he became like it.

There are two lessons there.

First: when we look long enough at the face of the King of Kings, we become like Him.

Second: greatness stirs up greatness.

What was that principle again?

Life stirs up life.

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Relationships that Shape Us

Relationships never stand still. They’re not static—they’re always moving. Every interaction leaves us either one step closer or one step further from the goal. Every relationship changes both people in it. I’m not the same person since knowing you, and you’re not the same person since knowing me.

In every church I’ve pastored, I’ve met good and godly people. I remember them with deep gratitude because they stirred me up to righteousness.

Looking back, I marvel at the patience of those who could’ve broken me with criticism—but didn’t. Their courage, faithfulness, and zeal stirred something alive within me.

And it works both ways. What about you? What do your family and friends stir up in you—and what do you stir up in them?

Are you stirring up goodness, kindness, compassion, and love?

Because relationships are never neutral. They always influence the direction of the heart—and nowhere is that more true than in the body of Christ.

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Stewardship and Sanctification

Today, we’re going to talk about Christian stewardship.

Contrary to popular opinion, money is a spiritual subject. Over 700 times the Bible speaks directly about it—and hundreds more indirectly.

The principles that govern Christian life also govern how we handle money.

Here’s what I mean.

Justification is when you realize you can’t save yourself, and you trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection as your only hope. The moment you accepted that gift, you were justified before God.

But that was just the beginning. Sanctification began right then—a process of becoming more like Jesus in every part of life.

Sanctification affects your diet (and everybody said, Amen!).

It affects your sexual outlook (Amen!).

It affects your language—you shouldn’t cuss as much (Amen!).

It affects your witness at home, at school, and at work (Amen!).

It affects your Bible study habits (Amen!).

It affects your family relationships (Amen!).

And yes—it should affect your pocketbook.

(Now wait just a minute! You’re going too far, preacher!)