A Test Of Love
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21
The third type of test God uses to spiritually develop us is a test of love. It’s easy to rely on earthly possessions to make us feel successful or important. However, those earthly possessions are not what give us worth. Our worth can only be found in Jesus. There are times that God needs to remove those earthly things so that we can realize where our heart lives—in earthly treasures or in Jesus.
Matthew tells the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. After the young man told Jesus that he has kept all the commandments, Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Matthew 19: 21). The man grieved because he had many possessions.
There is a myriad of things that we can place before God—people, work, hobbies, money, sleep, anything that we prioritize above spending time with God and doing what He calls us to do.
In these instances, God must remove those things in order for us to shift our perspective from the carnal to the spiritual. It may appear as though you are losing everything, but you are in an even greater position to recognize where your blessings actually lie.
Where is your heart at? What and whom do you invest your time in? If God is not at the top of the priority list, it is time to re-arrange things in your life. Make God a priority and everything else will fall into place.
The third type of test God uses to spiritually develop us is a test of love. It’s easy to rely on earthly possessions to make us feel successful or important. However, those earthly possessions are not what give us worth. Our worth can only be found in Jesus. There are times that God needs to remove those earthly things so that we can realize where our heart lives—in earthly treasures or in Jesus.
Matthew tells the story of the rich young man who asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. After the young man told Jesus that he has kept all the commandments, Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Matthew 19: 21). The man grieved because he had many possessions.
There is a myriad of things that we can place before God—people, work, hobbies, money, sleep, anything that we prioritize above spending time with God and doing what He calls us to do.
In these instances, God must remove those things in order for us to shift our perspective from the carnal to the spiritual. It may appear as though you are losing everything, but you are in an even greater position to recognize where your blessings actually lie.
Where is your heart at? What and whom do you invest your time in? If God is not at the top of the priority list, it is time to re-arrange things in your life. Make God a priority and everything else will fall into place.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a BurdenPray With Boldness
March
A Solid FoundationPositioned for BlessingMarked by LoveTrust God's JudgmentRest in God's DeliveranceLet Go of ControlWhat You Want MostWhy Church Still MattersFaith in the Midst of DisappointmentJoy for the JourneyA Place of SafetyStrength in CommunityPeace in the ChaosThe Purpose of the ValleySeasons ChangeUnshaken in the StormHold OnThe Power of ResilienceNever AloneGod Is Closer Than You ThinkLet Go of WorryLet Go of WorryBelieve Before You SeeResilient FaithHow to Be a Success God's WayTrue Success Starts with the SoulSuccess Through SurrenderCharacter That Speaks for ItselfThe Power of Being RealKeep GrowingSuccess in the Face of Opposition
No Comments