What Is Spirituality? (1 Of 7)

We are fooling ourselves when we think we are SPIRITUAL yet our TIME and MONEY reveals we are like the carnal people of this world who only care about cars, boats, campers, houses and clothes.

The way we spend our time tells a great deal about us. Because time is important to us, most of us wear watches so we can keep track of the time.

Illus: A man is at Grand Central Station waiting for his train that leaves at 6 p.m., but he has forgotten his watch. So he looks for someone to ask the time. He spots a guy carrying two suitcases and sporting this fabulous hi-tech watch, so he asks him for the time.

• The guy replies "Sure, which country?"

• The fella asked him, "How many countries have you got?" to which the man replies, "All the countries in the world!"

• "Boy, that's incredible. I wish I had a watch like that one. You wouldn't consider selling it by any chance?"

• "Well, actually the novelty has worn off for me, so for $900 it's yours."

• The watchless traveler can hardly whip out his checkbook fast enough to hand over a check for $900.

The seller takes off the watch and gives it to him. "Congratulations, here is your new hi-tech watch." Then, handing the two suitcases over as well, he says, "And here are the batteries."

Time is a very important part of our life, and the way we spend it reveals HOW SPIRITUAL WE ARE! But not only does TIME reveal our SPIRITUALITY, so does the way we spend our MONEY!

Illus: Herman and Henrietta were touring their brand-new house, a house that Henrietta had paid for with her money, a fact of which she often reminded Herman.

• In each room of the house, she said to her husband, “Herman, if it were not for my money, we wouldn’t be here.” Herman didn’t say a word.

• That afternoon, a truck delivered a load of furniture, furniture that Henrietta paid for with her money. After the furniture was in place, the couple toured the house again. As they observed each room, beautifully appointed and magnificently decorated, Henrietta reminded her husband, “Herman, if it were not for my money, this furniture would not be here.” Again, Herman was silent.

• Late in the afternoon, a truck came with a special piece of furniture which was to be the focal point of the den, a combination stereo-television-computer all wrapped into one gorgeous piece of furniture, which Henrietta paid for with her money. When it was in place, Henrietta again addressed her husband, “If it were not for my money, that piece of furniture would not be here.”

Finally, Herman spoke, “Honey, I don’t want to make you feel bad, but if it were not for your money, I wouldn’t be here!” (Harbour, Rising Above the Crowd, 7)

Our giving also tells a great deal about us. Just think about how much God gives us each day, and out of a heart of gratitude there should be a natural desire to want to give back to God.

Illus: Grandma, who appeared to become an ever-more intimidating personality as the years went on, was giving directions to her grown grandson who was coming to visit with his wife.

"You come to the front door of the apartment complex. I am in apartment 14T. “There is a big panel at the door. With your elbow, push button 14T. I will buzz you in. “Come inside, the elevator is on the right. Get in, and with your elbow, hit 14. When you get out I am on the left. With your elbow, hit my doorbell."

"Grandma, that sounds easy, but why am I hitting all these buttons with my elbow?" the grandson asked.

"You're coming empty handed are you?"

This is exactly what many do each week as they come to the house of God. God has blessed them many times with His goodness, and they come to see Him empty handed.

If you want to know something about SOMEONE, observe how they spend their TIME and MONEY. What does our Giving reveal about our Spirituality? It reveals:

I. WHAT WE THINK OF GOD’S WORD

For example, look at Malachi 3:10, we read, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Notice, God the Father tells us to BRING. This is not a hard word to understand.

Illus: In fact, we all have seen people throw a stick in their yard and tell their dog to bring it to them. And the dog has enough sense to know what it means.