The Test of Two Hearts…Whole or Hole?
Matthew 6:19-21 - ©Dr. Larry L. Thompson (2006)
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt. 6:19-21
INTRODUCTION:
The Bible tells us that money is both wonderful and deadly. It is one way God blesses people, and, what may surprise you, it can actually enhance our relationship with God. However, equating prosperity with godliness is a biblical blunder that must be avoided. Money or possession can also destroy you according to the Bible. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LIFE AND DEATH RELATED TO THE BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION ON MONEY AS TO DO WITH THE HEART. It is actually a test of the heart. The test reveals what kind of heart you have within you. The question of this day is for you to decide: “Do I have a whole-heart” or a “hole-heart?”
You don’t have to go very deep into Scripture to discover that God loves to lavishly provide for His creation. The Garden of Eden was a place of abundance according to the word: "the gold of that land is good" (Gen. 2:11). And consider the description given at the end of the Bible of our eternal Heavenly home: "The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass" (Rev. 21:21).
God wants us to trust Him in every part of our lives, not just the spiritual parts. What we must determine on this last Sunday of our “Whole-Heart” series is this: “Will I trust God will my whole-heart” or will I respond to Him with a “Hole in my Heart?”
Catherine Marshall writes:
"If we are to believe Jesus, His Father and our Father is the God of all life and His caring and provision include a sheepherder’s lost lamb, a falling sparrow, a sick child, the hunger pangs of a crowd of four thousand, the need for wine at a wedding feast, and the plight of professional fishermen who toiled all night and caught nothing. These vignettes, scattered through the Gospels like little patches of gold dust, say to us, ’No creaturely need is outside the scope or range of prayer."
I. THE POTENTIAL OF A WHOLE-HEART
Back in the day when I first came to Jesus there seemed to be many very serious believers. Some of the ones I refer to where called, “Jesus Freaks.” However, when you listened to them you realized that they talked only about surrender, sacrifice, and giving up their lives for the cause of Christ—the talked often about the deeper life. I remember one discussion as a sophomore in college where I listened to a group of “Jesus Freaks” sit around and discuss how cool it would be to actually die for their faith, like the apostles of old.
As a young Christian we never thought much about praying for God to provide for us. We thought faith was about surrendering control to Jesus Christ—if He provides, great; if not, we die smiling. It appeared to be a die-to-self, enjoy the suffering type of crowd.
The Whole-Heart Conflict
Difficulty, disaster and death seemed to become a badge of spirituality for that group of committed Christians. Honestly, many walked around looking as though we were baptized in lemon juice. They were big on the deeper life, but things got so deep that it became harder and harder to breathe and somewhere in the process the joy of “Whole-Heart” Christianity was lost. What many failed to realize was that those who were willing to follow Christ with their “WHOLE-HEARTS” had ever right to expect Him to care for the daily needs in our life.
One of the first times I remember Cynthia and I hearing that God wanted to answer specific prayers about material things, it was a bit of a stretch for us. It seemed so selfish and wrong; it seemed so worldly. But it was hard to ignore and deny the promises we were being taught…they were everywhere in the Bible. Verses like:
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). And though I tried to spiritualize this to mean "spiritual needs," our small group teacher in our young married department had us read the verse in context…it is obviously related to the financial issues of life. After some study it became clear to me: If you have given your whole-heart to the Lord then you will come to the place you realize that God cares about the money and physical provisions of your life.
OUR FIRST "PROVISION" MIRACLE HAPPENED WITH OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ACT AS RENTAL PROPERTY MANAGERS IN AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. We were both going to college and had virtually no money to live on. Our rent before finding this opportunity was $87.50 a month and we were still struggling to get by. I remember praying and asking God to help us find something that we could afford or would be better for us with such a limited budget. I made $350 a month in my part time job while finishing college. I had heard someone in our young married class talk about how they had prayed and asked God for help with their house and then they shared His amazing answer and I thought I needed to do that…I needed to ask God for help in this area. We prayed, and then we watched the paper.
Just a few days after we prayed, an ad appeared for a couple who would live rent free in an apartment complex and in return we would serve as apartment managers. We went to see it, I was afraid to do a Jericho march around it for fear the old apartments would really come tumbling down. However, it was an answer to prayer. Not more than a mile from Oklahoma City University and less than a mile from the insurance company where I went to work after my college classes in the morning.
I remember that after the interview the owner of the apartments said he would be interviewing a few other couples and get back with us. Amazing as it sounds, I walked away from the interview feeling a perfect peace that God would provide. And he did. We began our first brief journey as managers of an apartment complex.
We were elated. It humbled us. We felt loved and cared for. We were humbled by the fact that almighty God cared about something so domestic, and so common as affordable housing for newlyweds. God moved on our behalf to make this possible. We knew this answered prayer wasn’t proof of our spirituality; it was a simple God-story, what I would later call a Memory Marker from the Maker!
When you see God provide for you, it impacts you spiritually. The Bible says one spiritual result of God’s supernatural provision is joy: “…For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” Deut. 16:15
But the potential is even greater. You feel His love and embrace. When He acts in response to our prayer we have hope for our future. Jesus said: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matt. 7:11
It is an absolutely amazing discovery when you realize with your whole heart that He really is our Father!
JESUS SAID OUR HEARTS COULD BE KEPT CLEAN IF WE DEAL RIGHTLY WITH THE MONEY WHICH IS ENTRUSTED TO US AS A STEWARD. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt. 6:19-21
YOUR HEART FOLLOWS YOUR TREASURE…NOT YOUR TREASURE FOLLOWING YOUR HEART! Show me what you invest in and I will show you what you LOVE.
THIS SPIRITUAL ADVENTURE OF BEING A “WHOLE-HEART” FOLLOWER OF CHRIST IS ONLY POSSIBLE WHEN WE POSSESS MONEY WITHOUT BEING POSSESSED BY MONEY. It is being possessed by money that turns a Whole-Heart into a “Hole-Heart.”
II. THE PROBLEM WITH A HOLE-IN-THE-HEART
Money can be deadly. Tragically, the same possessions that God has entrusted to you that lead you to potentially live with a “WHOLE-HEART” are the same possessions that can present a problem and leave you with a “HOLE-IN-YOUR-HEART!”
The warnings given in the Bible are severe.
Jesus said “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” Luke 6:24
He warned…“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15
In at least one case, Jesus went so far as to command, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”
Several times in scripture we see where possessions become a problem and that problem moves individuals from WHOLE-HEART living to HOLE-IN-THE-HEART losing.
a. RICH YOUNG RULER – Matt. 19
b. FOOLISH FARMER - Luke 12:16-21 “But God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:20-21
c. PRODIGAL SON – Luke 15
d. ANANIAS AND HIS WIFE SAPPHIRA – Acts 5:1
What do you see in these texts? You see the problem with a HOLE-IN-THE-HEART lifestyle. Something begins to emerge when we get still and let these texts speak for themselves. It’s a little terrifying to listen, but we all need a good scare now and again: money or our possessions can be a threat to our faith. It is a subtle attack; never satisfied, always wanting more, and always thinking that it is the possessions that will make them happy but never willing to follow biblical leadership in order to experience true joy that springs from WHOLE-HEARTS.
Contrast this attitude with the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE – Matt. 13:46 “When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” WHOLE-HEART!
YOU HAVE A HOLE-IN-THE-HEART PROBLEM WHEN YOUR POSSESSIONS OR YOUR MONEY BEGINS TO COMPETE FOR YOUR DEVOTION.
People serve money the way they serve God. Why? Because money problems create a HOLE-IN-THE-HEART by transferring the idea to the steward that they are OWNERS and with ownership comes certain godlike features. For example:
God is omnipotent (all-powerful), but those who possess lots of cash feel omnipotent, as though they can do anything they want.
God is omnipresent, (everywhere but wealth also carries a hint of omnipresence, because the wealthy believe they can go anywhere, anytime.
God alone is omniscient (all-knowing), but the rich come to believe they can find out whatever they want.
We cannot be casual about this. The first commandment is "You shall have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3). And when you all possessions or money to be a rival god then make no mistake about this money will do everything within it’s power to turn your WHOLE-HEART in a HOLE-IN-THE-HEART.
Paul warned: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Tim. 6:10
Many preachers who overemphasize prosperity are completely silent about the dark side of possessions. Some are afraid to tell you that money and possessions, if not put under the authority of Christ’ rule in your life will turn your “WHOLE-HEART” into a “HOLE-IN-THE-HEART.” It’s as if they believe money is only good, and the more we get control of money, then things will only be better. Remember, Jesus never bought into the idea that affluence was a sign of spirituality. In fact, he tended to espouse quite the opposite. He said it would be “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matt. 19:24 No spiritual warm fuzzies here in Jesus’ words.
CONCLUSION:
THE GRACE OF GIVING – THE SECRET OF THE WHOLE-HEART!
The secret of knowing the joy of “WHOLE-HEARTED” Christianity is what I call, the “whole-heart” act of grace giving!
Giving touches a nerve in us that nothing else does. We reflect the image of our Heavenly Father when we do it: “For God so loved the world that he gave. . .” (John 3:16).
When you give with a WHOLE-HEART, you defy the fear that you won’t have enough. You insult greed, you reject the impulse to acquire or possess more than one really needs or deserves.
Once the “Whole-Hearted” Christian really believes God owns it all and that He is your source and provider, grace giving will become a very simple act of obedience.
“The WHOLE-HEART” or “The HOLE-IN-THE-HEART?” It all boils down to this one area: The arena of your giving is the only place that will give you a clear indication of which heart you actually possess. WHOLE-HEART or HOLE-IN-THE-HEART. Giving reveals your theological perspective of the truth that either you have a WHOLE HEART where God is God or you have a HOLE-IN-THE-HEART where Goods are God. Whole-heart vs. Hole-Heart.
According to Jesus, giving keeps your whole-heart in motion toward God and away from material things. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." YOUR WHOLE-HEART WILL FOLLOW THE DIRECTION OF YOUR GIVING. When we release money or possessions at those things that bring glory to God, our whole-hearts will be running toward God.
Paul calls “whole-hearted” giving a grace “But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Cor 8:7
IT’S A GRACE BECAUSE WHOLE-HEARTED GIVING IS BASED ON HIS ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF LOVE. The whole-heart giving gesture was modeled by Jesus: “I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Cor 8:8-9
WE JUST MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE “WHOLE-HEART” GIVING AND THE “HOLE-IN-THE-HEART” GIVING. ONE SEES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST; TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE; TO HOLD LOOSELY ONTO WHAT IS ENTRUSTED TO US BECAUSE THE WHOLE-HEARTED CHRISTIAN KNOWS THAT POSSESSIONS ARE NOT HIS GOD.
“HOLE-IN-THE-HEART” VIEWS THIS PROCESS MUCH DIFFERENT. THE HOLE REMAINS BECAUSE THERE IS A CONTINUED SEARCH FOR SATISFACTION WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN SATISFIED; THEY ALWAYS FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING; THERE MUST BE SOMETHING MORE AND THE HOLE-HEART GROWS EVEN LARGER WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL EMBRACES THE THEOLOGY OF WORSHIPPING AT THE ALTAR OF POSSESSIONS. Tragically, in the physical life, as well as the spiritual life, if you have a HOLE-IN-THE-HEART then you are sick, there is a problem and you need to see a Physician. I would suggest the best I know…the GREAT PHYSICIAN.
Whole-Heart or HOLE-In-THE-Heart….there is an eternity of difference between the two. Today, once again, the test of two hearts is before us.
